Now more than ever polyester is being used in the bulk of our retail clothing and other fabric products.
If you want to put a number on it, over sixty percent of goods contain at least a bit of polyester.
The great thing about this fabric is the fact that it is naturally wrinkle resistant, this is due to the synthetic fibers that are woven into the fabric.
But even with this natural ability to not wrinkle polyester can sometimes….well….wrinkle.
If you would like nothing more than a quick answer to this question, the easiest way to get wrinkles out of polyester fabric is to steam the garment or place it in a dryer that has been put on a ‘permanent press’ setting.
If neither of these methods work you can use an iron on a low heat. Just be careful not to expose your polyester to high heats as it has a tendency to melt or burn if it gets too hot.
In this article we are going to explore these methods in more detail so that you can easily get rid of any annoying wrinkles in your polyester clothing or other polyester household items.
So, without further ado, let us get started!
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100% Polyester – Does It Wrinkle?
A hundred percent polyester has outstanding wrinkle resistance. It is often blended with other fibers like cotton to create a fabric that is less likely to get wrinkly.
But even with its natural tendency not to wrinkle, polyester or polyester blends can actually wrinkly if they are met with the right circumstances.
Polyester was invented in the 1940s as a way to help with the war effort, but this amazing fabric did not gain fame until the late 1970s when fashion began to utilize it due to the affordability and the versatility of this fabric.
Ever since polyester gained its fame it has only grown more popular.
With the science of textiles improving all the time there have been many breakthroughs in adapting this fabric so that it can be used in all kinds of innovative ways.
Polyester is made from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, which makes up most of the polymer chain.
These chemicals are then spun together to form strands that are later woven into fabrics to create a material that is both durable and versatile.
This unique combination of properties allows for polyester to be used in everything from clothing to home furnishings.
The fabric itself is relatively easy to care for.
Since it is one of the fastest drying fabrics it is recommended that you do not machine wash polyester unless it is specifically designed for this purpose.
Instead, you should handwash polyester garments or place them in a lingerie bag and hand wash them using a mild detergent.
You can also use a gentle cycle while washing your polyester laundry. This will prevent the fabric from getting stretched out or damaged during the process.
After being washed you should hang the item to air dry.
Another good tip to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your polyester clothes is to make sure you don’t throw away those old plastic bags.
They can be recycled and reused by taking them to a local recycling center where they will be processed and turned back into something new.
This is a smart move because polyester takes a long time to biodegrade, but recycling helps reduce the amount of waste created by our society.
So, next time you go shopping remember to bring along some reusable bags so that you can avoid creating unnecessary trash.
If you need to find out if a garment or other item is made from 100% polyester you will need to firstly check the label.
Another test you can perform is to take the clothing item, cloth or whatever you are purchasing and scrunch it up in your hand.
If the fabric is 100% polyester when you open your hand the cloth should not retain any wrinkles or creases.
So, if polyester is so wrinkle resistant, what can cause this amazing fabric to actually wrinkle? There are two main reasons this could happen.
The first reason could be because your polyester fabric is actually a blend. Which should lessen the risk of wrinkles but because the fabric is no longer pure polyester the fabric will wrinkle more easily.
The second way that polyester might wrinkle is if the fabric has been ‘trained’ in a certain way to retain a new shape.
This shape, even if it is wrinkly, will be the default form of the fabric and this happens most often when 100% polyester is heat set.
This is a method that uses heat to shape this fabric, it is frequently used to create pleats in garments.
So, if you have left your polyester in the dryer on a high heat or subjected your polyester to a high heat for a while the fibers might start to get soft.
When the polyester cools again the fabric may have ‘molded’ into a new shape which in this case could be an unsightly wrinkle.
How Do You Get Wrinkles Out Of Polyester Fabric?
So, if your polyester garments wrinkle. What are you supposed to do?
The majority of the time all you have to do is shake the fabric out and your clothes should be wrinkle-free. But this does not always work.
So, for those times you have stubborn wrinkles that will simply not shift, we have three of the most popular methods that should help you smooth out your favorite polyester clothing items.
Before we get started it is important that you first read the label on the garment, you should find it inside your article of clothing, this is so that you can check what the requirements are for your particular garment.
Some fabrics for example might need special care or may even need to go to the dry cleaners. So, make sure to read your label before you attempt any of these methods.
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You Can Use The Iron Method
You can use an iron to get wrinkles out of polyester, but this particular method can be very tricky.
This is because if you are not careful you can easily melt the polyester fabric.
Because this is very likely to happen while ironing it is recommended that you do not iron polyester unless you absolutely have to.
Below you can see a rough step-by-step process on how you can get rid of wrinkles in polyester using this method:
Step 1 – Before you can start ironing, you will need to turn your clothes inside out.
Step 2 – Next, make sure that your iron is at the lowest temperature. Your iron may even have a setting called ‘synthetics’ which is ideal for polyester.
Step 3 – Now, give your iron a few moments to heat up before you start. While you wait for that to happen you can get yourself sorted.
Arrange your wrinkled garment on the ironing board so that everything is as smoothed out as it can be.
Step 4 – You will need to make sure that you have a spray bottle that you can use for ironing. On the flattened portion of your garment spray some water. Not too much, just a few spritzes.
Step 5 – Next, lay a cloth over the smoothed out part of the garment. You will need one that is not made of polyester and one that is not fuzzy for the best results.
Step 6 – Now that you have all of that prepared you can run the iron over the garment.
Be careful to only iron on the piece of cloth and try not to rest in one spot for too long otherwise you may risk burning your polyester garment.
If you are careful and follow these steps your polyester garment should be good as new.
But, if the worst should happen and your polyester garment melts on your iron you can use a baking soda and water paste to remove the melted fabric with ease.
You Can Use The Dryer Method
Dryers can be the best friend or the worst enemy of polyester. This is because fabrics made with this fiber have a tendency to melt or scorch when exposed to high temperatures.
But, our modern driers have plenty of settings that are ideal for this synthetic fabric. So, really there is nothing to worry about.
In fact if you use the ‘permanent press’ setting you will easily be able to avoid creating any new creases, and it can also be used to get rid of some of your more annoying wrinkles that may have set in.
So, how do dryers work to get rid of wrinkles in polyester fabrics?
Well a tumble dryer will switch between mild heats and cool down periods, this fluctuating temperature will help to make sure that the garment does not get too hot and thus does not get hot enough for wrinkles to set into a synthetic fabric.
If your dryer does not have this setting you can even use a regular setting, this is because polyester very rarely shrinks.
So, your polyester clothing should be safe, but if you want to avoid wrinkles you should always try to use a setting like permanent press.
Let’s look into how you can get rid of wrinkles by using the dryer method:
Step 1 – The first thing you need to do before you can start is put your clothes inside out.
Step 2 – Next, wash your garments using the recommendations and instructions that the manufacturer’s label gives you.
If there are no instructions just make sure to wash your clothes in cold water or a permanent press setting.
Step 3 – Before you turn on your washing machine, add your fabric softener and detergents so that the fabric gets cleaned properly.
Step 4 – When you are washing, make sure that you are quick to take your clothes out of the washing machine.
If you leave wet crumpled up clothes like that you are sure to have more wrinkles than you started with.
Step 5 – With your nice clean washing now you must add your laundry to the dryer.
Put your machine on a permanent press setting and make sure that the heat is quite low before you put the machine on.
As with washing, try to keep an eye on it so that you can take your clothes out and fold them as soon as they are dry. This is to help avoid wrinkles too.
Step 6 – Once your polyester clothes are pleasant and dry you will need to either fold or hang them up quickly so that there are no new wrinkles created, it is best to act while your clothes are still warm.
You Can Use The Steamer Method
If you are looking for a super easy method of getting rid of any wrinkles in your polyester garments, you should look into using a hand-held steamer.
It is safe, easy and almost always works. If you don’t have a steamer you can use the steam setting on an iron to get the same effect.
But if you use an iron you will need to be extra careful not to melt or scorch your clothes.
Step 1 – Before you get started it is very important that you make sure that your polyester clothes are inside out.
Once you have done that, you should hang your clothes on a hanger and place it on a curtain rod, or towel hook so that you can easily accomplish the next steps.
Step 2 – Next, you will need to fill your steamer or iron and turn on the device so that it can heat up before you use it. Wait until there is a little puff of steam coming out of the nozzle.
Step 3 – When your steamer has heated up sufficiently you will need to hold it so that the nozzle is about one inch away from your garment.
Move the steamer up and down slowly and try to make sure that every inch of your item of clothing is steamed.
You might even want to pull the garment taught so that no crevices or wrinkles hinder the garment from getting steam.
This might seem obvious but while you are doing step three, make sure that you are not getting steam on your skin as you could easily burn yourself.
Also, do NOT wear your garment while you are steaming it as you may get burned in the process.
If you find yourself without a steamer you can easily use an iron and ironing board to get the job done.
Simply arrange your garment on the board and hold the iron a few inches away before you use the steam setting to rid yourself of those unsightly wrinkles.
Hanging Polyester Fabric And Avoiding Wrinkles
So, now that you have wrinkle free polyester clothing you might want to know what the best way to hang them is.
If you properly store your polyester garments you can easily avoid wrinkles from even happening.
Below are a few tips you can follow to help you store your polyester clothing without getting any wrinkles.
- Once your dryer has finished its cycle, or you have finished ironing your clothes it is essential that you hang up your clothes very quickly while everything is still warm. This is so that the clothes do not have the time to cool down and wrinkle. while they are in the machine.
- While it is important to hang your clothes up as quickly as you can after they have dried, it is equally essential that you do not place your clothes in your wardrobe while they are warm or damp.
- If you have the space it would be beneficial to allow space between each garment in your wardrobe it will be less likely that wrinkles will set into your polyester clothes.
- If you happen to be traveling, and you have polyester clothes you don’t want to wrinkle it is recommended that you use a garment bag. You may not have space, or you do have one of these items you can fold or roll up your clothes and make sure not to shove them into a bag. Carefully pack to avoid wrinkles.
- If you are wearing polyester clothes you can avoid wrinkles by making sure that the clothes you’re wearing aren’t damp or too warm. If you get the chance, you can smooth out your clothes when you stand or sit to avoid those unsightly wrinkles forming.
Is Wrinkle Release Effective On Polyester Fabrics?
Wrinkle-release products. Do they actually work on polyester? The sad answer is no.
This is because synthetic fabrics, like polyester, are not very absorbent and wrinkle-release is designed to work on fabrics that absorb it.
So, natural fibers like cotton or wool will be more likely to work with these products.
With that being said, you can use a wrinkle-release product on polyester blends with better results.
What Are The Best Ways To Get Wrinkles Out Of Polyester Blends?
While some polyester blends need a little TLC to get rid of wrinkles. A lot of retailers like adding polyester to their natural fibers because of the traits this synthetic fiber brings to the table.
Polyester is fairly wrinkle resistant and is very durable which are both great features to have in any fabric.
If you combine several fibers into one fabric you can get an amazing product and one that is a mixture of the best qualities of the fibers that are combined.
But, how do you get rid of wrinkles in these polyester blends? Let’s take a look!
Polyester & Satin Blend
When polyester and satin are combined they create a fabric that has one smooth side and one rough side.
With this in mind it is important to note that when you are trying to get rid of wrinkles with this blend you will always need to work with the rough side.
Below is a simple step-by-step guide on how you can do this:
Step 1 – The first thing you will need to do is turn your garment inside out, make sure that the smooth side is on the inside and the rough side is on the outside.
Step 2 – Next, fill your iron with distilled water for the best results, but you can use filtered water if you really need to.
Step 3 – You will need to use the steam setting on your iron for this next step. So, turn it on and allow it to heat up before you move on.
Step 4 – With your iron on the lowest heat setting you will need to run it over your garment.
Take care to run it on the rough side of the garment and do not longer too long to avoid scorching or melting your fabric.
Step 5 – At this point your clothes should be without wrinkles, but if you have a particularly stubborn one you should repeat the steaming and ironing process again.
Polyester & Spandex Blend
If you have a polyester and spandex blend your fabric will likely be quite stretchy. This is why this particular blend is so popular with athletes.
But, this polyester blend is particularly sensitive to heat. This is because spandex does not cope well with heat and polyester is likely to melt if it gets too warm.
This is why fabrics using this blend will often have instructions suggesting that you air dry these clothes instead of using a tumble dryer.
Below are some tips for getting any wrinkles or creases out of clothes made of this blend:
- When a polyester and spandex blend is wet, one way you can get rid of wrinkles is by allowing the garment to drip-dry. The water weight is very helpful in pulling out any creates in the fabric while it dries.
- If you have a hand steamer handy you can use it to help get rid of any wrinkles. If you use a steamer on this blend you will need to make sure that it is held at least three or four inches away from the fabric before you use it.
- If neither of these methods work, your next bet would be using an iron. This should be your last resort. Place an extremely wet towel over your garment and iron over the towel to try to get rid of any creases.
Polyester & Cotton Blend
If you want a fantastic blend that is one of the best wrinkle-free fabrics in the world, you have to try out a polyester and cotton blend.
This blend is remarkable because not only does it have the polyester’s natural ability to not crease. It also reacts well to wrinkle release products.
Of course, it will wrinkle a bit due to the cotton but as a whole this is considered the holy grail of polyester blends.
Below you can see how you can get rid of wrinkles in a fabric like this:
Step 1 – Because of the nature of this blend any of the methods we have mentioned will work well with a cotton and polyester blend.
The one that will yield the best results would be using the steam method. This is due to the cotton in the fabric which is very absorbent.
Step 2 – If you do not have a steamer you can simply hang your clothes in the bathroom while you shower.
The steam from the hot water should help get rid of the vast majority of the creases in the garment.
Step 3 – If you would rather iron this blend it is recommended that you make sure that the garment is really damp before you get started.
By doing this you will have a much easier time getting rid of those pesky wrinkles.
Step 4 – Depending on the percentage of cotton in your garment you can use a wrinkle-relaxant to help quickly get rid of the creases.
This is more likely to work if the cotton content is higher than the polyester.
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How Do You Get Wrinkles Out Of Polyester Products That Are Not Garments?
While any of the methods we have talked about will work on polyester there are some items like curtains or tablecloths that will need a lot more work to get looking smooth and wrinkle free.
Below are some things you can do to get rid of wrinkles in these tougher polyester items.
Tablecloths
Tablecloths rarely get creases and wrinkles when they are being used. But they may have wrinkles when you open the package.
Because of this you may need to find some ways of getting rid of these unsightly wrinkles.
The first thing you should try is washing your tablecloth on a permanent press or delicate setting and then drying the items on the same setting.
If this does not get rid of the wrinkles you may want to hang your wet tablecloth on a washing line or a railing of some sort.
Allow it to hang and dry for about four hours and after this time there should be no wrinkles on your table cloth.
If both of those methods fail you can use an iron to get rid of the creases. Just make sure that you iron on the back side of the table cloth and use a very low heat setting.
It is even recommended that you use another cloth between the iron and the tablecloth to avoid melting or scorching.
Tapestry
This item has a tendency to get wrinkled when you first buy them. But once they are hung they usually stay flat and wrinkle free.
The best way to get rid of wrinkles in a tapestry is to use a steamer. Just because this item gets wrinkles does not mean that it cannot be cleaned up.
A steamer will do the job perfectly well and take away all the wrinkles without leaving a mark or damaging the tapestry.
Curtains
Polyester curtains will generally hold their shape while they hang at the window, and you will never have to worry about wrinkles.
But, sometimes when you purchase curtains they come wrinkly and that simply will not do!
Your first port of call should be to wash and dry your curtains on a permanent press or a delicate setting.
As soon as they are dry it is imperative that you hand your curtains up quickly to avoid any wrinkles forming.
If you have a washing line you can also use that to hang your wet curtains up. If you stretch them out properly you should have dry and wrinkle-free curtains in no time.
If you have a steamer handy you can also use that to get rid of any wrinkles on your curtains while they are still hanging up.
The main thing you will need to remember is to keep the nozzle of the steamer at least two inches away from the curtains.
If you follow any of these methods you should quickly and easily be able to get rid of the wrinkles in your curtains.
Flags
The trouble with getting creases out of flags is the fact that a lot of them are not color fast.
So if you want to wash your flag they may bleed their coloring everywhere and your flag will no longer look correct.
Before you do anything you will need to test whether your flag is color fast or not. You can do this by using a wet cotton ball and dabbing it on an area of the flag.
If you see any color transferring to the cotton ball you will know that you cannot get your flag wet.
Alternatively if there is a label on the flag you can read the instructions there to check when is recommended when washing or caring for your flag.
The best way to get creases out of flags is to use a steamer or to put it in a cold wash. Just make sure that you know if the coloring will bleed or not before you do either of these things.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered a selection of frequently asked questions. So, without further ado let us get started!
What Causes Polyester To Wrinkle?
The most common cause for polyester getting creases is when it is exposed to how water washes. In short, if the temperature is too warm it can cause the fibers to reform, and you will have a new wrinkle.
Can You Heat Press Polyester?
Yes you can heat press polyester. You will need to make sure that the temperature is below three hundred degrees Fahrenheit otherwise you will cause the fabric to get scorched.
Is Cotton Or Polyester Better?
It depends on what you want to achieve. Cottons are often used for indoor apparel such as clothes and bedding. They are quite soft and comfortable.
However, they tend to absorb odors very easily so make sure that you clean them regularly.
Polyesters are good for outdoor wear such as tents and sleeping bags because they are more durable than cots.
They are also great for making raincoats, but they are prone to become stiff after a few years.
Final Thoughts
That is all for this article, we hope that you enjoyed learning about how to get wrinkles out of polyester clothing. Have a fantastic day!
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