Does Polyester Shrink? How to Shink Polyester

Polyester is among the most popular materials used in the apparel industry. “Does polyester shink?” – This is also a common question asked by many people, whether they want to keep polyester fabric from shrinking or to actively slim down polyester items. In this blog post, we will find the exact answer to this question along with useful care instructions for this synthetic material.

What is polyester?

For a short introduction, polyester is a synthetic material made from petroleum. First introduced in the mid-20th century, polyester has become the most widely used textile thanks to its outstanding durability and versatility.

Polyester is a commonly used material for not only fashion clothing but also for other products like home furnishing and other industrial products. In many cases, polyester is blended with other fibers, like wool or cotton, as a way to create materials that inherit the characteristics of polyester like durability, wrinkle resistance, and qualities of natural fibers like breathability and softness of natural fibers.

If you are still wondering what fabric is better, polyester or cotton, read our comparison article to know which type is the best choice for your apparel product.

Does polyester shink?

Yes. Polyester fabric can still shrink under certain conditions.

It is commonly known that polyester fibers are resistant to shrinkage, unlike other natural materials like wool or cotton. But the truth is that polyester fabrics are not entirely immune to shrinking.

It should be noted that polyester fabrics do shrink but not as significantly as other natural fibers. The shrinkage degree can also vary, depending on the composition of the fabrics. Poly blends are likely to shrink more than 100% polyester fabric. And the higher the percentage of polyester, the more resistant it is to shrinkage.

In addition, knitted polyester fabric is less resistant to shrinkage than woven polyester. Whether the fabric is woven or knitted also affects the level of shrinkage of a material.

Woven, pure polyester fabric is less likely to reduce in size while knitted poly blends can definitely shrink to a noticeable degree.

In case you want to learn more about polyester fabric and other types of fabrics, read our complete guide on all the Best shirt materials and learn how to choose the right fabric for your T-shirt product.

How can you shrink polyester?

In many cases, you might want to consciously shrink your clothing to make it better fit your preference. Whether it’s made from cotton, polyester, or blends, you will need heat to cause the cloth to shrink.

In the following, we will introduce a few ways you can shrink your clothes, using heat.

But before starting to cause some irreversible changes to your clothes, you should be careful to examine the care instructions to see details about the fabric composition as well as check if the fabric is woven or knitted. This way, you can adjust the heat exposure to get the desired impact. Or at least, you will know whether these methods are appropriate for the garment because exposure to a high level of heat can cause the material to lose its integrity, wear out faster, or even cause uneven shrinkage.

Use washing machine

Modern washing machine usually comes with heat and dry settings, in which heat is used to wash or dry the clothes.

1. Prepare your clothes for washing. Make sure the garment is flipped inside out, in order to protect colors and prints from fading during the heat exposure.
2. Set the longest cycle and hottest setting. Especially, do not use detergent in this process.
3. After washing, if the garment hasn’t shrunk enough, you can continue to air dry or tumbler dry on low heat.

Boil the fabric

If you want to shrinkage your clothes even more, you can try boiling your clothing to make it shrink even more.

1. Flip the clothes inside out and wet the entire garment in cold water.
2. Put your clothes into a large pot filled with water. Make sure that there is enough water to submerge the entire garment.
3. Start to boil the water pot. Boil the pot for up to an hour. Occasionally stir the pot and check how much the garment shrinks.
4. You can let the water cool out before taking the garment out. Afterward, you can use your washing machine to air dry or tumbler dry the clothes. Note that you should set the heat low if the garment has shrunk enough.

Use dryer

Normally, you won’t have to worry that polyester fabric will dwindle in the dryer. But if you want to actively shrink a garment, using a dryer can come as a viable option.

1. Put your wet clothes into the dryer.
2. Set the heat to the highest setting and apply maximum cycle length if your clothes are pure polyester. For poly blends, you can work up from the lower temperature and shorter dryer cycle.

Use iron

If you apply all the previous methods but haven’t got the result you expected, you can level up and use iron heat to downsize your clothes.

Normally, polyester fabrics aren’t recommended for ironing. Firstly, polyester fabrics are wrinkle-free, which means that it doesn’t need to be ironed. Secondly, direct exposure to extreme heat from iron can cause melt and damage the polyester fibers.

Polyester’s heat resistance ability is much lower than other natural fabrics. Especially when blended with other synthetic materials like spandex and elastane, they are even more sensitive to heat.

To protect the garment from being destroyed by extreme heat, here’s what you can do:

1. Boil or wash the garment in high heat beforehand
2. While the garment is still wet, put the garment on the ironing board
3. Cover the garment with a pressing cloth or towel
4. Set your iron to low or medium heat, with no steam
5. Iron the garment, and move the iron in a circular motion

How to wash polyester properly?

Unless your clothes are too large for your size, you would never want them to shrink. Many people are careless when it comes to taking care of their polyester garment for these items normally doesn’t shrink much.

But as far as we know, even pure polyester fabric can shrink under certain circumstances. To maximize the lifespan of your garment, you should learn how to take proper care of your polyester items and avoid accidentally shrinking your clothes. Here are a few tips on how to wash polyester fabrics without making them shrink.

Follow the care instructions on the label

Care labels contain all the important instructions needed to make sure that your clothes are always in good care.

Many care labels include detailed text instructions that are easy to understand and follow. However, sometimes these care instructions are illustrated in laundry symbols only. In these cases, you should check the meaning of these symbols.

From these symbols, you can decipher how to take care of your garments. Here is some key information that you need to pay attention to:

• What is the suitable water temperature for washing?
• Is machine wash allowed? Or is it hand-washed only?
• Is there any specific requirement for detergents (mild-detergent, non-chlorine bleach)?
• What is the best way to dry the garment, air dry, or machine dry?
• What is the suitable temperature for tumble dry?
• What is the suitable temperature for ironing?
• Is it safe to use steam during ironing? Is it required to use a pressing cloth while ironing?
• Is it safe to dry clean?
• Is there any special warning or special care instructions for your items?

Pretreat the polyester clothing item

Before putting your clothes into the washing machine or starting to handwash the entire garment, you should check again for any area that requires a special pre-retreat. Cuffs, neckline, and underarms are areas that usually get stained, and should be carefully examined before washing.

It is also recommended not to soak the garment in water for too long as it can degrade the quality of the fabric.

Wash the clothes properly

For this step, make sure to strictly follow the instructions given on the care label. Use a suitable and safe detergent that won’t bleach or affect the colors of your garments. Don’t forget to set your washer to the proper cycle.

Also, heat is an extremely important factor that can dwindle polyester fibers. That’s why you should always set your washing machine to the right temperature and make sure to set the right cycle.

Some types of clothing might require washing in hot water in order to get rid of all the odor and bacteria. However, make sure the temperature is within the acceptable range.

Dry your clothes carefully

Air drying is the best way to dry most fabric materials, including polyester. Still, polyester, with its durability and resistance, can hold up very well when put in the dryer. To keep the polyester fabric in the best condition, don’t use the highest temperature for drying.

FAQ:

1. Does polyester shrink in the dryer?

Yes, polyester can shrink in the dryer if exposed to high heat settings. To prevent shrinking, it’s best to use a low heat or air-dry setting when tumble-drying polyester garments. Hanging them to air dry is often a safer choice.

2. Does polyester shrink in the wash?

Generally, polyester is resistant to shrinking in the wash. However, excessive heat can cause some shrinkage. To maintain its size and shape, use a gentle or cold water wash cycle and avoid high heat when drying.

3. Does pure polyester shrink?

Pure polyester fabric is less prone to shrinking compared to natural fibers like cotton. It has good dimensional stability, meaning it retains its shape well. Still, it can shrink if subjected to high heat or improper care, so it’s essential to follow care instructions.

4. Is polyester odor-resistant?

Polyester is known for its moisture-wicking properties, which can help reduce odors by keeping you dry. While it’s not entirely odor-resistant, it is less likely to retain odors compared to some natural fibers. Regular laundering should keep it fresh.

5. Is polyester wrinkle-resistant?

Yes, polyester is naturally wrinkle-resistant due to its synthetic fibers. It tends to hold its shape well and resist creasing. However, if wrinkles do form, they are often easy to remove by hanging the garment or using a steamer.

6. Can polyester be ironed?

Yes, polyester can be ironed, but it requires caution. Use a low heat setting, and consider using a pressing cloth to protect the fabric. Avoid excessive heat, as polyester can melt or become shiny when exposed to high temperatures. Steam can be helpful for smoothing out wrinkles without direct contact with the iron. Always check the care label for specific ironing instructions.