Polyester is a synthetic fibre that is gotten from a derivation of coal, air, water, and petroleum. It is used to produce a wide range of clothes, and even upholstery for furniture. A lot of people are likely to have many polyester clothes in their wardrobe.
Due to its comfortability and resilience, polyester is most widely used for everyday clothing items like T-shirts. The fabric is lightweight, resistant to shrinkage, wrinkles and stretching, and very easy to maintain.
Polyester is often mixed with other fabric items like cotton and nylon to strengthen their durability. You might spot some care labels that are written “50% Polyester and 50% Cotton.”
Even though polyester is easy to care for, it is important that we know the right way to take care of them to make them last longer. We spoke to a laundry professional at Eden Life, Prosper, and he shared easy tips on how to handle your clothes that are made from polyester.
Read: How To Take Care Of Your Cotton Clothes
Pre Washing Polyester
According to Prosper, soaking your polyester clothes before you wash makes your life easier. Soak with regular detergent for at least 20 – 30 minutes. If your polyester has oily stains, you can also add a bit of vinegar to the water to help in breaking down the stains.
Washing Polyester Clothes
Check The Care Label
It is important that you check the care label of your clothes before you wash them. This will enable you to know the best way to wash them without destroying the fabric structure or causing them to fade.
The care label is a small, usually white tag that is attached to the insides of any clothing material. It specifies the fabric type and describes the washing and maintenance process. Ignoring the care label of your clothes basically means washing them blindly.
For example, polyester clothes are best washed with regular detergent and should be ironed with very low heat. You will only get this if you read your care label.
Turn Inside Out
Prosper advices that when washing your polyester clothes, it is important that you turn it inside out to reduce the incidence of fading. Polyester is very durable and anti-shrinkage but it can weaken over time. Washing it inside out will help to reduce this occurrence.
Water Temperature
Your polyester fabric should only be washed with warm or cold water. Cold water is usually the best choice to wash clothes. Unless you are trying to get rid of some stubborn stains, you should always wash with cold water. Clothes that are made from 100% polyester also do well with warm water as it helps to retain their colour, prevent shrinkage and remove stains.
Drying
Polyester is very light so it doesn’t need much heat to dry. If you’re using a machine, you can spin for minimal minutes on low heat. If you are handwashing, you can air dry your polyester under shade. It isn’t advisable to expose polyester to the full glare of the sun because it causes it to fade heavily. This happens for all synthetic fabrics. Hang your polyester clothes immediately after washing to reduce the need to iron them.
Ironing
As previously mentioned, polyester doesn’t do too well with heat and should be ironed at very low temperatures or not even ironed at all. Turn the clothes inside out to also iron your clothes. This will prevent the incidence of burning while ironing. To minimize the need for ironing, polyester clothes should be hung immediately after drying.
Read: 8 Ironing hacks for people who hate ironing
Sweat and Discolouration
Sweat causes a lot of discolouration in polyester clothes. If your polyester clothes are sweat-stained and not washed immediately, it can cause the clothes to lose colour, especially in sweaty areas like the armpits and necks.
How to Wash Your Polyester Clothes
Detergent – Light detergent
Water Temperature – Cold or warm water.
Washer Cycle – Normal.
Drying Cycle Type – Short with low heat.
Storing Polyester Clothes
Your polyester clothes should be hung or folded neatly and put in a box or dresser in order to prevent wrinkles and give them space to breathe. Polyester is very comfortable and hardly wrinkles. That’s why you can take your t-shirt immediately from your box and just put it on.
Washing, ironing and the general maintenance of clothes is a stressful chore that you should outsource whenever you can. Despite the fact that it saves you time, you’re also handing your clothes over to the people who can take care of it best, laundry professionals.
Eden Life laundry will take special care of your clothes, regardless of size and fabric type. Our laundry experts are experienced and skilled in the art of laundry. We know what your clothes need at every given stage and we will provide them.
Try out the best laundry service in Lagos. Try out Eden Life laundry.