Polyester is one of the best fabrics to wear. These clothes don’t quickly wrinkle, fold or crease, even when you wear them for long hours. Plus, the fabric is as durable as wool, silk, cotton, and other fabrics. Does polyester shrink? Clothing manufacturers mix polyester with other fabrics because it does not shrink. However, the compression of this clothing material is not impossible.

Have you ever wondered, “Does polyester shrink in the wash or does polyester shrink in the dryer?” before doing your laundry. These questions often cross people’s minds after noticing that polyester is written on almost every label on their clothing. The size of the garment decreases when you wash it with harsh detergents and hot water.

How to shrink polyester without damaging it

You may want to take extra care when cleaning clothes after learning about fabric shrinkage. However, someone else might use their knowledge to downsize her loose tops and other clothes that don’t fit well. Do not use harsh detergents to compress clothes. You can use hot water and heat, but learn how to do correctly.

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1. Minimum shrinkage polyester

First, make sure the cloth is clean before compressing it. Can you shrink 100% polyester, or 100 polyester shrink? It is difficult to compress it if it is 100% pure, which means that no other material has been added. This is why manufacturers mix the material with different fabrics which can shrink.

So do cotton and polyester shrink? You will use less heat to compress cotton-polyester blends than 100% polyester fabrics. This method is best for this type of fabric. Wash the clothes in an automatic washing machine in lukewarm water and then put the clothes in the dryer on medium heat.

2. Hot water shrinkage of polyester

Put a pot full of clean water on the heat and carefully put the clothes in it when the water starts to boil. Cover the pan and wait about ten minutes. Drain off the water and allow the cloth to cool to room temperature. Dry it later on the clotheslines or in the dryer. Repeat the process if the fabric is still too large for you to wear.

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3. Shrinkage of polyester using a tumble dryer

What happens if you put polyester in the dryer? The artificial polymers used to make the synthetic fibers of this material are resistant to shrinkage. Therefore, drying the fabric in the high heat of the dryer will compress it temporarily.

Wash the rag in a machine and let the heat of the hot water shrink it while it dries on the clothesline to dry. If you want it to reduce its size further, put the garment in a dryer, set it on high, and check that it doesn’t compress too much.

4. Maximum shrinkage polyester

Turn the cloth over and wash it in hot water, but do not put it in the dryer. Lay it on an ironing board. Set the ironing box to low or medium heat and press down on the fabric until dry. Do not use steam and avoid strong heat while ironing the fabric. Otherwise, it will become stiff and unusable.

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5. Moderate shrinkage polyester

Turn the cloth over before doing laundry in an automatic washer on high heat. This prevents the fabric from discoloring. After washing and rinsing the fabric in hot water, put it in a dryer and put it on high heat. The high temperature of the dryer compresses it in less than half an hour.

6. Minimum shrinkage polyester

Do everything you did, compressing the material moderately. However, make sure the automatic washer and dryer are on medium heat. In addition, the water should be lukewarm. It is always recommended to avoid distractions when clothes are in the dryer or automatic washing machine to avoid wasting electricity and water. Once the fabric has reduced in size, take it out of the machines in time.

7. Shrink polyester without discoloring it

This clothing material is more resistant to fading than cotton or any other fabric. However, it will bleed and fade if you wash it with hot water. The best way to avoid this is to flip the cloth over and add vinegar to the automatic washer. You can then dry it in a hot dryer.

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8. Permanent polyester shrinkage

Temporarily compressing the fabric can be tedious. So how do you permanently shrink polyester? Use high heat when you tumble dry it or iron it while still damp. Heat is the only thing that can permanently compress this material but be careful not to burn the cloth.

Does polyester stretch? The material is soft and stretchy, but it does not lose its shape and size. In addition, it dries quickly. These features make it easy for anyone to compress it at home. Now to your question, “Does polyester shrink?” was answered, and you’ve learned how to do it, grab that oversized shirt or top and cut it down today.

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Source: Briefly.co.za