How to Wash Polyester

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Your guide to machine washing & hand washing polyester items

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Machine Washing Polyester

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Hand Washing Polyester

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Drying Polyester

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FAQs

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Polyester is a synthetic fabric that generally resists wrinkles, fading and shrinking when taken care of properly. If you have some polyester items that you want to wash, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll take you through the process of washing polyester garments, whether you want to use the washing machine or clean them by hand. We’ll also cover how to dry polyester and answer a couple FAQs about the fabric, so keep reading!

Washing Polyester Clothes in the Washing Machine

Check the care label for any special instructions, then pre-treat stains with the stain treatment of your choice. Turn the item inside out before placing it in the washer and pick a gentle wash cycle that uses cool or warm water. Add detergent and fabric softener, then start the cycle.

Section 1 of 4:

Machine Washing Polyester Clothes

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1
Read the care tag on your polyester garments before washing them. Polyester is machine washable, but it’s sometimes blended with other fabrics (like silk, cotton, or rayon) that require specific care instructions. Check the care label for any special directions you’ll need to follow to keep your garments looking good as new.^{[1]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}
- For example, the care label may indicate that your garment should only be washed in cold water, or that it should be washed on a delicate cycle.
- Items that indicate "Dry Clean Only" should be taken to a professional dry cleaner instead of washed at home.
This helps target and lift stubborn stains more than washing alone. Just apply a bit of the stain treatment of your choice (such as Shout or Oxiclean) directly to the stain, and let it sit for a few minutes before washing. If you don’t have a specific stain treatment product, you can also use a bit of your regular detergent, or a bit of white vinegar.^{[2]XResearch source}
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Sort your polyester garments by fabric type, and turn them inside out. A polyester-knit blend fabric can easily snag on clasps, buttons, and chunkier fabrics. To avoid any pilling or damage, only wash polyester with other polyester items. Make sure to fasten any zippers, buttons, or hooks on your garments, then turn them inside-out before washing.^{[3]XResearch source}
- You’ll also want to separate your garments by color so your dark colored items don’t bleed onto your light colored items.
Because polyester snags and pills easily, avoid heavy duty cycles. Instead, opt for the “gentle” or “delicate” cycle options on your washing machine.^{[4]XResearch source} This helps prevent any damage to your garments.
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Set the water temperature to cool or warm. Most polyester items can be washed in warm or cool water, but you should avoid using hot water.^{[5]XResearch source} Hot temperatures can break down the fibers in polyester clothing, causing damage over time.
- Double check the care labels before choosing the water temperature. Some polyester items can only be washed in cold water because they're blended with other fabrics, like silk or rayon.
- If you can’t find a care label on your garment, it’s best to wash them with cool water, just to be safe.
6
Add your regular detergent and fabric softener, then start the cycle. Most standard laundry detergents will work well on polyester, but try to avoid heavy duty detergents that are advertised as being “tough on stains.” They might fade the color of your fabric.^{[6]XResearch source} Polyester is also very susceptible to static cling, so add fabric softener to reduce static electricity.^{[7]XResearch source}
- And that’s it! Let the washing machine do its job, then promptly remove your clothing when the cycle is done.
- From there, you can tumble dry or air dry your items as needed.^{[8]XResearch source}

Section 2 of 4:

Hand Washing Polyester

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1
Fill the sink or bathtub with warm water and a bit of detergent. Your regular laundry detergent should work just fine for this, and you only need a small dollop.^{[9]XResearch source} Swirl the water around with your hand until the detergent is mixed into the water and you see some suds.
- If you’re only washing one small item, you can use a large bowl instead of the sink or tub.
Spray the stains with a commercial stain remover like Shout or Oxiclean, or apply a small bit of your regular laundry detergent directly to the stain. Let the treatment soak for a few minutes before moving on to the next step.^{[10]XResearch source}
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Add your clothes and swirl them around in the warm, soapy water. You don’t need to do any harsh scrubbing or wringing–just sweep the items around gently in circular motions.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If you’re worried about the detergent irritating your hands, wear a pair of rubber cleaning gloves to protect your skin.^{[12]XResearch source}
Make sure to rinse until the detergent is fully rinsed out, and the clothes are no longer soapy or sudsy.^{[13]XResearch source}
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Gently press the clothes against the side of the tub or sink. This helps get rid of the excess water, which cuts down on drying time. Don’t wring or squeeze the clothes, as this can damage the fabric or cause wrinkles.^{[14]XResearch source}
- If your clothes are still too wet, wrap them inside a clean towel and gently squeeze to get rid of more water.
- Your clothes are now ready to air dry or tumble dry in the dryer.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Dry Polyester

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1
You can safely tumble dry most polyester garments in the dryer. Just make sure to choose low heat and a short, gentle cycle.^{[15]XResearch source} Since polyester is prone to static cling, you may want to add a dryer sheet that contains fabric softener, as well.
- Double check the garment’s care label for instructions if you’re not sure what temperature to use.
If you’re worried about shrinkage or damage to your clothing items, it’s always safest to air dry them.^{[16]XResearch source} You can lay them out flat to dry, or you can hang them on a clothes line or drying rack.

Section 4 of 4:

Polyester FAQs

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Polyester is a synthetic (man-made) fabric known for its durability. Some garments are made out of 100% polyester, but polyester can also be woven together with other fabrics to make them more durable. These polyester blends may contain fabrics like cotton, silk, or rayon.^{[17]XResearch source}
100% polyester does not shrink in the washer. However, if polyester is blended with other shrinkable fabrics, such as cotton, it may shrink when exposed to higher temperatures. This is why it’s very important to check the care labels on your clothing for instructions.^{[18]XResearch source}
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Can you iron polyester clothes? Yes, most polyester garments can be ironed, but you should still double check the care label to make sure. You’ll likely also need to use a low heat setting or a steam iron to ensure there’s no damage to your clothes.^{[19]XResearch source}
- If your clothing item can be ironed, you’ll see a small iron icon on the care label.
- There should also be dots inside to alert you to the proper temperature setting. One dot means low heat, two dots means medium heat, and three dots means high heat.
- If you see an iron icon with an X through it, this means it is not safe to iron the garment.^{[20]XResearch source}

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What temperature can I wash a polyester rugby shirt?
Community Answer
Warm or cold. Warm might get it cleaner, but if you're concerned about the heat of the water, wash it with cold water. Air dry after wash.
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Will washing a white polyester tablecloth in hot water and drying on permanent press cycle reduce wrinkles?
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Don't wash it with hot water. Wash it with warm water and use permanent press. This will help reduce wrinkles.
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My coach told us to wash our jerseys in cold water and to not put it in the dryer, but the tag says to wash in warm water and tumble dry low, what do I do?
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Do what he says. He's telling you the method that is least likely to cause any damage to the fabric.
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