How to wash polyester

Hand wash polyester

Labels and Tags

First of all, you need to read the label of the item you are going to wash; it may indicate:

• material structure;
• how to clean polyester (by machine or by hand), recommended water temperature, bleaching and dry cleaning options;
• drying requirements and spin modes in automatic machines;
• ironing conditions for the product.

Many people are unfairly afraid of hand washing because they don’t know how to do it correctly. There is nothing complicated in this process, you just need to follow certain rules:

1. Control the water temperature – it should not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer. To monitor, place a regular baby bathing thermometer in the basin;
2. Arm yourself with a soft rag – she should rub the contaminated areas. Avoid brushes, sharp jerks and any other intense impacts - they can lead to deformation of the canvas;
3. When the process is complete, do not wring out the item. Depending on the size and weight, place it on hangers or place it on a flat surface.

Advice: if the clothes are saturated with the smell of sweat and do not have any other contaminants, then in this case you can get by with soaking and rinsing in conditioner.

It is important to strictly follow the instructions for use and remember that things made of polyester:

• do not like high temperatures (too hot water or boiling), at which they can become deformed and change color;
• cannot be treated with bleaching compounds;
• should be dried in the shade or at home, since bright sun damages the structure of the material.

Permissible water temperature when washing polyester

Everything is quite simple - you just need to remember the composition of the material, which includes both natural and synthetic components. As you know, the main enemy of artificial fabrics, in addition to harsh detergents, is high temperature. Manufacturers of fabrics with this composition indicate that washing in water heated to 40 degrees or higher promotes rapid splitting of the fibers. Outwardly, this will not have the most pleasant consequences, not to mention the fact that there will be no question of any practicality of the thing.

Therefore, the optimal condition for washing is to use water at room temperature or slightly higher/lower - about 20–25 degrees.

Interesting fact: cold water does not harm things made of polyester fabric in any way, without affecting its properties, so if you need light rinsing or removing minor dirt, a temperature of around 10-15 degrees is quite suitable. However, it will be difficult to use washing powder or detergent in such water - they will simply dissolve too slowly.Therefore, if there are deep, stubborn stains, it is better, following numerous instructions in this regard, to use water at room temperature.

Machine wash polyester

To understand how to wash, you need to understand the basic rules for caring for such things. They include several important points, knowing which you can constantly maintain the quality of the fabric at the proper level:

• Before loading, all items should be carefully sorted by type of material and color. It would be better to pre-pack the most delicate items of clothing in a special washing case;
• Stains on the fabric must be removed with your own hands before the items are placed in the car.

If the dirt is shallow, a possible option is to use the pre-wash or soak mode;

• To care for colored items, you must select a separate detergent. When choosing, you need to be guided by the mark “for color” / “Color”, which should be contained on the label. As noted earlier, the selected powder (gel, shampoo, etc.) must be soft enough to allow washing in a gentle mode without damaging the fabric;
• When programming the number of revolutions, you should not exceed the value of 800 - it is optimal for polyester. At the same time, if the washing machine chamber is loaded to the limit, it would be useful to use the additional rinse function;
• The required washing mode is delicate or manual. If the machine provides the ability to clean sports items in a separate mode, it is worth using;
• To maintain the volume of clothes made of polyester fabric, and at the same time give it softness, it is better to additionally use conditioner.After washing, you will need a dryer for faster drying; you can also wipe the items with a terry towel.

How to remove stains from polyester fabric

In everyday life, various unforeseen situations occur when clothes get splashed from passing vehicles, drops of coffee or tea, ice cream or ketchup, stains from sweat, etc. In these cases, pre-treatment with a mild stain remover is necessary. It should be tested on an inconspicuous area of ​​the product to avoid damage to the fabric.

It is recommended to carry out processing on a hard surface using the convex side of a spoon. It does not damage the fibers or deform the base, as when rubbing the fabric with your hands. After the required time has passed, you should wash the item by hand or machine. Folk remedies also work effectively:

• Ordinary table salt is applied to the moistened stain, the crystals of which adsorb all the dirt. Wash off with soapy water and rinse thoroughly;
• A 10% borax solution removes stubborn stains on colored clothes - applied with a cotton pad, neutralized with lemon juice or a solution of the same acid, rinsed in cold water.

Polyester fabric - briefly about properties and applications

For the most part, everyone is accustomed to thinking that polyester is used for sewing skirts, trousers and similar clothing. This is true, but the list of things in which polyester fabric is the main component does not end there - it also includes coats and jackets, and sometimes you can find polyester umbrellas on sale.The material has an antistatic effect - this was achieved thanks to the ideal combination of natural and synthetic fibers during the manufacturing process. This was also the reason for the extraordinary strength of the fabric.

Interesting fact: To care for a polyester product, it is always important to know exactly whether it is 100% natural or contains fiber impurities - wool, viscose, cotton, etc. In each specific case, the basic washing rules - permissible temperature conditions and other important recommendations will be displayed in the form of an inscription on the label, on the collar, on the belt or on another part, depending on the type of product.

You must immediately understand that the main enemies of synthetics are temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius and aggressive cleaning agents that destroy their structure with each new wash. Accordingly, it is necessary to wash such items by machine only when using water at room temperature, with a permissible deviation in any direction of only a few degrees, as well as soft washing powder.

Plus, not all polyester items are machine or hand washable. For example, it is preferable to dry-clean jackets filled with this material in order to avoid rapid deformation and, as a result, acquiring an unpresentable appearance.

Polyester has the following features:

• high strength and wear resistance;
• light weight;
• ability to perfectly maintain shape;
• practically does not wrinkle;
• The fabric is resistant to light and heat. Polyester is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, however, the fabric should be protected from direct sunlight so that the paint does not fade;
• easy to wash;
• dries quickly;
• resists stains, it is difficult to stain the material;
• has antistatic properties;
• does not require special storage.

Based on the listed characteristics, it is logical to formulate rules for caring for products made from this material. Items made from polyester can be washed just like items made from any other fabric. Let's look at the labels on things.

Washing outerwear with filling

Jackets and down jackets can be washed either by hand or by machine. The general recommendations are the same as for washing simple items, but there are a few subtleties.

To prevent the filler from forming clumps (this applies to natural down and feathers), add several tennis balls to the drum when washing. It is recommended to dry the product on a hanger, periodically distributing the fluff evenly over the lining. Filling made from padding polyester is less prone to forming lumps, but it should also be dried on hangers. Do not use heating devices to reduce drying time.

Ironing polyester

An icon in the form of a schematic drawing of an iron with one dot inside. Items made from this material most often do not need to be ironed, except in cases where the fabric contains mixed synthetic and natural fibers, or if, as a result of a violation of the washing regime, the material jams in the machine drum.

Smooth out the unevenness of the lavsan fabric with an iron heated to 110 degrees. In some cases, cotton cloth is placed between the sole and the fabric to lower the temperature of the plate and not spoil the item. A polyester product can “shrink” if it is overheated. The melting point of the fabric is 200 0C. When values ​​close to critical are reached, polyester fibers begin to break down.

Dry cleaning

Information about it is indicated in a capital letter inside a circle in the list of special information icons on the clothing label. For polyester, fabric can be cleaned using all solvents that contain hydrocarbons and chemically bound chlorine. Nevertheless, dry cleaning establishments do not guarantee clients 100% results when working with items containing polyester fibers.

Drying polyester items

To indicate drying modes, manufacturers indicate the following icons on product labels:

1. A square with three vertical stripes. It is recommended to hang dry the items without pre-squeezing, for example, on a hanger in the bathroom, so that there is an adjustable flow of water.
2. A square with an inner circle and a dot. Polyester items can be dried for a short time in a drum-type washing machine on a delicate cycle and heated to 60 degrees. The main condition is a small amount of laundry to be dried. A prolonged process can reduce the strength of the fabric.
3. A diagonally crossed square with an inscribed circle. Prohibits the use of multifunctional washing machines for drying items containing polyester (lavsan). Drying products is possible only with natural air circulation and ambient temperatures up to 40 degrees.

Positive qualities of polyester. Clothes containing this material wash well and dry quickly. The service life of things can be extended for many years, thanks to the wear resistance and strength of the material. Polyester retains its given shape well and is not prone to shrinkage.Jackets and outerwear have remarkable windproof properties and do not allow moisture to penetrate into the inner layers of the item.

To restore the lost moisture-resistant qualities, it is enough to wash the product with special impregnating emulsions.

Polyester items have different fiber densities because the composition is not the same.

If the majority of the fabric is polyester, it is washed as 100% clean material. If the mixed fabric contains less of this synthetic fiber and more of flax or cotton, then a higher temperature regime is used.

To wash polyester in a washing machine, you need to know the prohibitions in order to avoid damage to products made from this material.

Do not leave zippers, zippers, or buttons undone.

Do not deform the products by squeezing or proximity to traumatic rough materials and fittings.

Washing polyester thermal underwear

The task of cleaning in this case is to maintain heat exchange. To ensure that the thermoregulation function is not disrupted and that the person in the underwear does not freeze, it is necessary to do the washing correctly and in a timely manner. The main thing is not to deform or squeeze the fabric, so spinning is prohibited. Dry powder and chlorine-containing bleaches are not recommended, as these products cause irritation.

Sports thermal underwear is washed after each workout, everyday clothing - 2-3 times a week. Other washing tips are listed in the “General Rules” section.

More detailed article Read about washing polyester thermal underwear here.

Conclusion

Thus, washing polyester by hand and in a machine does not present any difficulties. To ensure that the fabric retains its properties, it is enough to follow a few simple recommendations.

If you follow all the instructions on labels, tags and tips on how to wash polyester in a machine, then the washing will be as effective as possible.