If you check the tags on your clothes, you are likely to find polyester mentioned more than a few times. This synthetic fabric is commonly used for its flexibility and durability. Still, even the most durable fabrics can wear out, so properly caring for your polyester items will help them to perform better over a longer period of time. Here’s how to wash polyester the right way.
Use Warm—But Not Hot—Water
A good place to start when washing your polyester garments is to use the right water temperature. For most polyester items, warm water is going to be the way to go. If you use cold water, you may find that stains don’t come out fully, leaving you disappointed with the results. On the other end of the spectrum, hot water will get stains out nicely, but it may cause damage and shrinking over time. By staying between those two extremes, you should be able to get the best of both worlds.
Pat Attention To The Labels
While warm water is a good plan for most of your polyester pieces, it’s always important to check the label of each specific garment for instructions. Polyester is often used in combination with other fabrics. Depending on the exact composition of the garment, the manufacturer may have washing recommendations that differ from a standard procedure. Check the labels when you get a new item and make your laundry plan accordingly.
Use The Right Detergent
Most regular detergents are not designed to treat synthetic fibers like polyester. You may have noticed that your clothes still stink even after running them through the wash. Your detergent is likely the culprit.
WIN Activewear Detergent is designed to remove oils from synthetic fibers in a way that traditional detergents simply can’t achieve. Given its equally affordable price point, your best bet is to keep two detergents on hand—one for your cotton items, and one for your synthetic garments (including polyester!).
Hand Wash When Time Allows
We understand that you probably don’t have time to hand wash all of your garments each time you need to do laundry. However, when you do have a bit of extra time, hand washing your polyester pieces is a good idea. Hand washing is gentler than putting the items through the washing machine, and that gentle approach will help preserve the condition of your clothes over the long run. When hand washing, simply use a capful of WIN Activewear Detergent, soak, scrub, and rinse.
Tips For The Dryer
Treating your polyester properly during the drying phase is just as important as getting the wash right. When drying, you’ll want to consider the tips below:
- Low heat is best. Sure, it will take longer for your items to dry when you use low heat, but you will be rewarded for your patience. High heat is not kind to polyester and could significantly damage your clothing if you turn the temperature up too high.
- Dryer sheets can help. Polyester items often come out of the dryer with a significant amount of static cling, which can be frustrating when you are ready to wear the garment. Using a dryer sheet is a good way to reduce this static cling, and you may find fewer wrinkles in your items, as well. If you don’t want to add a scent to your clothing, look for unscented dryer sheets.
- Consider air drying. Hanging your polyester clothes out to air dry instead of using the dryer is a good choice when you have time. Again, it’s about wear and tear. Hanging your clothes out to dry rather than running them through the drier can help them to last longer.
Wash In A Timely Manner
This tip is particularly important for polyester activewear that collects a lot of sweat during your workouts. If you let those items sit around for multiple days after a workout, it’s going to be harder to get them to smell fresh again. While you might not be ready to do a load of wash immediately after exercising, try to at least rinse off your workout clothes so that less sweat settles into the fabric while the pieces are waiting to be properly washed.
WIN Detergent Is The Answer!
Caring for polyester doesn’t have to be time-consuming or stressful. Using the right detergent is a big step in the right direction. Order a bottle of WIN Detergent today to get the cleaning power you need to deal with synthetic fibers. Place your order today and see the improvements in your very next load of wash!