Polyester is a fabric that many people use for their clothing. It is known to be durable and resistant to shrinking and wrinkles. However, you may be wondering : does if polyester shrink? If yes, then how and why?
We will discuss all of this in this blog post so that you can be informed the next time you purchase polyester clothing!
You will also find a frequently asked questions section at the end of this post. Let’s begin!
What Is Polyester?
Polyester, also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a synthetic fabric that is made from petroleum-based products. It is typically used in clothing and upholstery and is known for being durable and wrinkle-resistant.
It is also less likely to shrink than other fabrics in normal circumstances. The reason why polyester does not shrink as much as other fabrics is because it is a synthetic fabric. it is made of synthetic fibers that are less susceptible to shrinking when exposed to heat.
So now comes the big question :
Does 100 polyester Shrink ?
Yes. 100% polyester shrinks. But it’s relatively resistant to it.
Polyester is only prone to shrinking when blended with other fabrics such as cotton or linen and when exposed to hot water. It is heat pressed, making it more resistant to heat than other fibers.
However, when exposed to hot water, the moisture and heat combo may cause it to shrink. Even under these conditions, 100% polyester will only shrink a small amount compared to other fabrics.
Now let’s see in detail what causes polyester to shrink.
The Causes Of shrinking Polyester
Polyester fibers are resistant to shrinking. But they are not shrink-proof. Polyester shrinks because of three reasons:
Moisture
Polyester slightly shrinks when exposed to moisture. This type of shrinking is called relaxation shrinkage[1]. Relaxation shrinkage shrinks the fabric by about less than one percent.
During production, polyester fibers are stretched. When you expose these fibers to moisture, the tension is released, and the fibers return to their original size.
Polyester Blends
Blending polyester with natural fibers such as wool is called felting shrinkage[2].
When you expose the other fabric to heat or moisture, it will interlock with polyester. Interlocking causes the fibers to get thicker and shorter. As a result, the polyester blend fabric will experience shrinkage.
Felting shrinkage can shrink the fabric upwards of 20%-25%, depending on the blend.
Heat
Combining heat and water is called consolidation shrinkage[3].
It happens inside washers, dryers, or steamers. While polyester is pretty resistant to heat, the combination of excessive heat and water can cause it to shrink.
How Much Does Polyester Shrink?
As stated above, polyester is a synthetic fiber that is generally resistant to shrinkage. In most cases, 100% polyester will only shrink less than 5%.
This amount of shrinkage often goes unnoticed.
Polyester blends, on the other hand, are more prone to shrinkage. Obviously, the amount of shrinkage will depend on the blend. If polyester is blended with a fabric that is prone to shrinkage, such as cotton, it will still shrink significantly.
Typically, polyester will reduce the amount of shrinkage fabric experiences by one third to one half of the non-blended amount.
Does Polyester Shrink More Than Cotton?
No, cotton shrinks much more than polyester. Polyester is intended to be shrink resistant.
Cotton is one fabric that is highly prone to shrinking and stretching.
You might be wondering how much does cotton shrink? While there is no definitive answer to this question as the amount of shrinkage will depend on the type of cotton fabric, the weave, the weight and even the color, generally speaking, you can expect cotton to shrink anywhere from 3-5%. But it can shrink up to 20% in both width and length when it is laundered.
That being said, a polyester-cotton blend will shrink more than a pure polyester blend.
It won’t shrink as much as 100% cotton, but the blend of cotton will typically increase shrinkage by about 5% – 10% compared to 100% polyester.
At What Temperature Does Polyester Shrink?
Polyester experiences the most shrinkage between 155°F and 175°F. But it will experience shrinkage as low as 140 degrees.
Your polyester can experience this level of heat in the washer and the dryer. On the hot water setting, washers can reach temperatures between 130°F and 140°F.
Likewise, newer dryers can reach temperatures greater than 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Quick Tutorial
I would say that this technique is my favorite to shrink polyester clothes. It’s pretty effortless. Here’s how:
How To Care For Polyester After Shrinking?
Take the necessary steps to protect your polyester once you’ve shrunk it to the perfect size. Make sure you:
- Wash your garment in cool water. Use the cool to warm mode of your washing machine. Never use high temperatures.
- Hand wash your polyester fabrics. If you can’t, select the gentle wash cycle.
- Reverse the fabric before washing.
- Air dry the polyester fabric. If you have to use a dryer, keep it on low heat. It also helps if you place your garment in a laundry bag before putting it in the dryer.
- Use fabric softeners.
- Don’t iron your garment. To keep the fabric wrinkle-free, hang it as soon as it comes out of the dryer. If you must iron[4], place a cotton fabric between the polyester fabric and the iron.
How To Unshrink Polyester?
You might be wondering if it is possible to unshrink or stretch polyester clothes. While repeating the operation too many times can damage you clothes, yes it is possible. You can read this blog post if you want to know how to stretch polyester.
People Also Ask
Yes, polyester shrink in the wash if you are using hot water. It will experience some shrinkage at temperatures of at least 140°F. But it is more prone to shrinkage from 155°F to 175°F.
This means it will only shrink when you are using the hot water setting. Most washers reach between 130°F and 140°F on the hot water setting.
This can cause mild shrinkage in polyester when washing.
Conclusion
Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Taking care of your polyester doesn’t have to be intimidating or frustrating. You now have all the information you need to shrink your polyester to the perfect size or keep it from shrinking.Yo
References
[1]https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/relaxation-shrinkage
[2]https://www.abcrafty.com/wool-shrinkage-calculator
[3]https://www.cottonworks.com/en/encyclopedia-item/consolidation-shrinkage/
[4]https://silverbobbin.com/can-you-iron-polyester/
[5]https://www.wikihow.com/Dry-Polyester
