Usually, when we go shopping, we look not only at the clothes themselves, but also at the labels. Knowing what your clothes are made of before you buy them can prepare you for care and can help you decide which pieces to invest in. In general, it’s wise to prioritize natural fibers like cotton and silk because they’re hypoallergenic, breathable, and more sustainable than synthetic fabrics like polyester. But that’s not to say that polyester doesn’t have its advantages: in fact, you could even say that it’s the fabric of the people. According to textile expert and educator Deborah Young (aka “Textile Expert”), polyester is loved for two main reasons, aside from its affordability: it doesn’t shrink (usually) and doesn’t wrinkle easily. But notice what we usually say? Polyester can shrink at times, depending on how it’s constructed, so it’s important to take proper care of your polyester so you can keep your favorite clothes looking their best, and luckily, it’s easy to do. Read on to learn about polyester shrinkage and the best ways to avoid it.
What Is Polyester?
Polyester is a synthetic fabric made in a laboratory with chemicals, and as we mentioned, it is one of the most common materials in affordable fast fashion brands. “Polyester is a durable, versatile and quick-drying fabric; However, because it’s technically synthetic, it’s not as popular as some of its counterparts,” says Shauntina Lilly, fabric expert and PR, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Joann. While polyester is generally less valued than cotton, bamboo, and silk, Eli Lilly says it’s a premium fabric for a wide range of clothing. Given its durability, polyester parts can often be rotated for a long time if properly cared for.
Does Polyester Shrink?
Polyester fibers don’t shrink as easily as many other types of fabrics, but they can still shrink in some cases. “Whether polyester shrinks or not depends on the specific structure and manufacturing process of the garment,” says Hannah Yokoji, brand director at The Laundress. “That being said, polyester fibers are generally durable and can withstand daily washing and drying methods.”
Jennifer Ahoni, chief scientist at Procter & Gamble’s Fabric Care, said that shrinkage occurs mainly when the polyester composition is not 100 percent. “There’s very little chance of shrinkage in a garment made of 100 percent polyester,” she says. “If your polyester garment is blended with other fabrics like wool or cotton, or if it’s knitted rather than woven, then there’s a higher chance that it will shrink.” This is because cotton, rayon, and silk are known to shrink, as is knitted fabrics.
Why Does Fabric Shrink?
“During the making and finishing of garments, when the fabric is under tension, it causes contraction, and when the fabric gets wet, it relaxes to the lowest energy state, which is why this process is sometimes referred to as stress relaxation,” Ahoni explains. “Clothing made with natural and recycled fibers, such as cotton and rayon, is more susceptible to shrinkage. Knitted fabrics such as t-shirts and sweaters shrink more, but they also have more stretch, making it easier to regain shape than woven fabrics such as dress pants.”
How to Prevent Polyester from Shrinking
Since polyester can shrink at times (especially for blended fabrics), it’s important to know how to prevent shrinkage so you don’t damage your favorite clothes. Next, our fabric experts will provide tips on how to customize the wash and dry cycle to keep your polyester in its original condition.
How to Clean
- Sort your items: To keep your polyester fibers looking their best, Yokoji recommends sorting your items by color first. When doing so, she recommends checking each label for special washing instructions.
- Pre-treat any stains: From there, Yokoji says, pre-treat the stain with an enzyme formula.
- If you want, use a mesh bag: before throwing your clothes in the washing machine, consider their design. Anything small, ribbon-like, or delicate should be placed in a mesh laundry bag to prevent tripping and tearing, Yokoji says.
- Choose the right cycle: When you’re ready to wash your polyester items, add the detergent to the machine and choose a normal or gentle spin cycle. “Polyester is a synthetic fiber, so to make sure it doesn’t break down due to overheating, choose cold or lukewarm water when washing,” says Yokoji. If you think that only hot water can effectively clean clothes, consider this:”Polyester fibers are made up of tiny plastic filaments that shrink when exposed to extreme heat,” Lily tells us. ” “To solve this problem, if your machine has this option, wash your polyester pieces with cold water or a permanent press.”
- Use a good detergent: There’s another thing to keep in mind when washing: Ahoney points out that polyester tends to get dirtier and smellier, so you may want to choose a strong detergent, let alone one with a scent. “As synthetic fibers, polyester garments are what we call dirt and odor magnets – they absorb body dirt more easily than natural fibers, which can cause odors,” she reveals. “Therefore, I recommend using a high-quality detergent when washing polyester garments.”
How to Dry
Just as you should not wash polyester in hot water, you should not dry it at high temperatures. “We generally recommend air-drying all synthetic fabrics, including polyester, to help protect the fabric,” Yokoji says. If you can’t wait for items to air dry, she says you can put them in the dryer at a lower temperature or air dry. “The addition of wool dryer balls helps reduce static electricity and improve drying efficiency,” she advises.
Whatever you do, just don’t let the heat rise. “Avoid high temperatures to prevent damage or melting of the polyester fibers,” Ahoni stresses.
How to Purposefully Shrink Polyester Fibers
If you find a polyester garment that you like, but want it to be a little smaller, you can deliberately shrink it. “If you want to intentionally shrink polyester, put your items in a high-temperature dryer that should be above 100 degrees Fahrenheit,” Lilly says.
Don’t get your hopes up too much, though:”Because polyester is very resistant to shrinkage, there’s no guarantee that a polyester garment will shrink,” Ahoni admits. ” Still, she says blended polyester fabrics tend to shrink more easily. “One way to try shrinking clothes is to dry them completely in a dryer,” she adds. “The mechanical action will bring the fibers and yarns closer together. This is true for fabrics such as cotton, so polyester-cotton blended products can experience this shrinkage.”
In addition to the dryer, pre-soaking polyester fibers in hot water may promote shrinkage, Yokoji said. “It’s hard to shrink a garment that’s already pre-shrunk during the manufacturing process,” she admits. “With that in mind, soaking your belongings in hot water for up to an hour and then spinning them in a warm dryer may cause shrinkage.” Remember: if you shrink your polyester garment, smaller sizes may not fit because you have no control over which areas of your garment will shrink.
At Last
Polyester is an affordable, durable fabric that is easy to care for overall, which makes it a popular choice for more approachable fashion brands. Although it is resistant to shrinkage, if blended with natural fibers, heat during washing and drying may alter the size and fit. Therefore, it is best to wash the polyester fibers in cold water and dry them over low heat (or better yet, hang them to dry).
