Polyester
characteristics
and How to
care for

Polyester is a man-made fiber. It is derived from a chemical reaction involving petroleum, water, air, and recycled post-consumer plastic waste. In other words, wearing clothes made from polyester is like wearing plastic. These make polyester has unique characteristics and caring ways.

Polyester characteristics

Good at retaining
its original shape

Polyester fiber does not have elasticity. It is good at retaining its original shape even when wet or dry. On the other hand, the fiber can not reform well when you stretch it too much.

By the way, if you need clothes with more elastic and stretch but still reform well, you can choose clothes or fabrics blended with Polyester and other fiber such as spandex to achieve specific fiber characteristics.

Very durable

Polyester fiber is very durable. It is hard to get easily torn or stretched out like natural fibers. Furthermore, the fiber is resistant to many chemicals, making it very popular for outdoor clothing.

Moisture-resistant

Polyester fiber is moisture-resistant. The fiber is hydrophobic, which means it does not let the water penetrate. Polyester fiber is suitable for making outdoor accessories such as tents, backpacks, and raincoats because it is moisture-resistant and can dry out quickly.

It's not a good idea to wear polyester clothes in hot weather because your sweat will not evaporate and will be trapped between your skin and the clothes layer, making your clothes sticky.

Mildew-resistant

Polyester fiber is mildew-resistant. The fiber is smooth, dry, and moisture-resistant, making it hard for mildew to stick and grow on this fiber.

In contrast, natural fiber is easily moldy. It includes animal protein and plant cellulose, which are favorite foods for mildew and mold. They cause your clothes and home textiles unsightly, bad smell, and unhealthy.

How to care for Polyester

Turn your polyester clothes
inside out before washing

It is normal to turn the inside out before washing any clothes. First, is to clean the inside of the clothes, where contact to our skin. Second, is to avoid causing damage to the outside of the clothes, where visible to the public, from any rough movements of the washing machine.

Do not use too hot water

Polyester is a kind of plastic that starts to shrink after excessive heat. For example, soaking polyester in water over 140°F (60°C) for too long can cause shrinkage.

Do not use fabric softener

Do not use fabric softener on polyester clothes. Due to its chemical properties, It does not mix well with polyester, can reduce absorbency, moisture-wicking, and cause a spot on your polyester clothes.

Just low-temperature
dry or air-dry

Polyester is hydrophobic and water-resistant; it does not need too much time and high temperature to get dried.

As you know, high temperatures can cause polyester shrinkage, so do not set your drying machine at a too high temperature or just air dry them to avoid causing any potential damage.

Warm or medium heat iron

Ironing polyester clothes are not as difficult as you think.

First, check the care label on your clothes to set the right temperature on the iron. Most polyester clothes need only a "warm" temperature, but it might require a higher or a lower temperature sometimes, depending on when the clothes are blended with other fabrics.

Second, ironing your clothes from side to side is better than top to bottom because it shortens the time your clothes contact with the iron; avoid leaving your iron in one place for too long.

Third, if there are still wrinkles left on your polyester clothes after ironing, do not forget to spray a little water to reduce the temperature on the clothes before ironing them again.

Hang or fold

You can either hang or fold polyester cloth due to its wrinkle resistance.

However, to keep your clothes in good condition, we recommend you insert the hanger from the bottom instead of the top to avoid stretching out the clothes' collar too much and ensure the seams at the shoulders line are in the same plane as the edge of the hanger.

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Man-made fibers

Polyester
characteristics
and How to
care for