Polyester is a man-made synthetic fiber that is used in manufacturing clothes nowadays. PET is one of the widely used polyesters as it’s cheap and easy to manufacture. Mixing polyester with other fibers increases its durability and lifespan.
Polyester garments are long-lasting, durable, cheap, and wrinkle-free. This synthetic fiber has a water-resistant property, making it ideal for outdoor use, especially in a rainy or damp environment. Even most of the sports gears are manufactured with polyester. Polyester is still at the top when choosing the favorite material for clothing.
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Can You Wash Polyester Clothes?
Polyester clothes can be washed at home by reading instructions on care labels. These polyester cloth care labels are attached with clothes after testing them. In their test, they check everything, including the cloth heat tolerance, ironing, and washing. After this, they insert this label on garments with all the instructions for their customers.
Washing polyester is much easier if you do it correctly by following their instructions and using a synthetic-friendly detergent. Today, we will discuss washing polyester clothes and different steps to wash them, including preventive measures.
Water For Polyester Washing
Polyester is washable, but it doesn’t mean that you can wash them with water of any temperature, either with hot or cold water. Polyester is durable but still a delicate fiber, so it might melt and deform if you use hot water.
It’s good to use warm water but determining the temperature might be an issue for you; sometimes, it might get too hot, which will melt the polyester. So, it’s best to use cold water as it will not cause any damage and maintain the quality. Coldwater is safe for washing polyester and prevents shrinkage of fibers, due to which it lasts longer.
Detergents For Polyester Washing
All the detergents are safe for polyester washing; you can use the usual detergent present at your home. But, if you are washing sports gear or clothes with stains, then prefer heavy-duty detergent. These detergents contain special enzymes that break all the stains by maintaining the quality of clothes.
Bleach For Polyester
Avoid bleaching your Polyester clothes because bleach is harsh for all fibers that can damage the fabric. Bleaching polyester clothes lead to discoloration by stripping off-color from it. Significantly chlorine bleach lightens the clothes, turning them yellow that’s why bleach is recommended for only cotton.
Although Oxygen bleach can brighten the color and is not much harsh compared to chlorine bleach, if your clothes’ color fades away, use oxygen bleach to get rid of dull colors and make them brighter.
How to Wash Polyester
If you want to know how to wash polyester, check out the care label on garments with all the instructions. If you want to maintain your clothes, glow then wash them with the suitable detergent and the right temperature. Let’s talk about washing polyester in the machine and with hands.
Machine Washing
Washing polyester in the machine is not the same as washing other cotton clothes. Polyester is a delicate synthetic fiber that needs a lot of care to sustain its look and quality. Mostly it is considered that washing polyester with hands will retain the quality, but some stains can’t be removed with hands.
So, these stains are only removed by using the machine. If you can’t wash it, the more smelly it becomes. Here you go with the step-by-step guide for washing polyester in the washing machine.
1.Turn Cloth Inside Out
The first step is also known as the Preventative step, in which clothes are turned inside out to avoid pilling. If there’s any zipper on the machine, turn it upside down because it might tear the polyester fiber. So safety of polyester comes first.
2.Select Machine Setting
Now change the machine’s regular setting according to the polyester washing setting in which you select the cold or warm wash and reduce the spinning speed. Spinning can only cause wrinkles, and sometimes it tears the fibers. It’s better to turn off the spinner if your machine doesn’t have the option to reduce its speed.
3.Add Detergent
Instead of buying detergents from well-known brands, choose the specially manufactured detergent for polyester. Washing polyester with modern-day detergents can cause discoloration and peeling. Moreover, they are fabric softeners that will decrease the durability and quality.
4.Set Temperature
Before dropping clothes in the machine, ensure that the temperature is below 40°C (104°F). Coldwater is ideal, but if you have added cotton clothes with them, then warm water is safe for polyester. Check all the settings again before washing to avoid damage.
5.Drying
After washing them, take your cloth out of it and hang them somewhere to air dry. Don’t leave it for longer outside on a hot sunny day; the heat can melt the polyester. But if you don’t have much space for this and want to use a spinner, use it at the lowest speed for a short time. Over-spinning can cause pilling shrinkage and increase wrinkles.
Hand Washing
There’s always the fear of pilling in the machine, due to which hand washing polyester is considered the safest and most reliable method of washing. In handwashing, everything is in your control. It’s a bit time-consuming and reduces the risk of discoloration and peeling.
1.Warm Water
Add warm water to the sink or tub where you want to wash your clothes. Water should not be too hot; put your hand in it to check the temperature if it feels comfortable, then use it. Add detergent and mix with your hand until the water becomes soapy.
2.Submerge Clothes
Now place the polyester cloth in the water and submerge it. Place your clothes one by one, so all of them get wet completely.
3.Soak For A While
After submerging the clothes in water, allow the clothes to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Soaking will draw the dirt particles from fabric fiber to the water’s surface.
4.Gently Swirl
Now gently swirl the polyester cloth around and move it back and forth. Don’t scrub it because it can damage the fiber.
5.Drain and Rinse
When you see that your item is spotless now, lift the cloth and drain it. Now rinse your cloth with clean water. Do this until all the soap in the item disappears and now drain the fabric.
6.Dry
After draining the fabric, hang your cloth somewhere in an airy place but protect it from direct sunlight. It won’t take long to dry, so keep an eye on it.
FAQs
Q1.Does polyester shrink after washing?
Polyester resists shrinkage, but in some cases, it can shrink, like if you use hot water to wash them or iron them at a higher temperature.
Q2.Can you wash polyester in hot water?
No, polyester can’t be washed in hot water as it will melt it, resulting in deformation and discoloration.
Q3.Can you dry clean polyester?
Yes, you can dry clean polyester because this process is only for cleaning gentle clothes and polyester clothes are already delicate. Shrinking is a rare case in dry cleaning of polyester.
Conclusion
Polyester can be washed easily if you’re aware of chemicals and other factors that can damage it. This material is used in most items, so knowing about it is crucial to take care of your item. If you follow all the steps mentioned above, then you’ll never damage your polyester clothes.
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