Polyester T-shirts: How to Wash & Care

Polyester is a synthetic fiber prepared from the chemical reaction of petroleum. This chemical reaction produces polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is extruded to form polyester fiber. These polyester fibers are woven into yarn to produce the polyester fabric. Polyester T-shirts are breathable and keep the body cool. It is a top choice for heavily soiled and wet work, including sportswear and kitchen apparel. Unlike cotton and wool, which take longer to dry, this synthetic fabric dries quickly within minutes. Polyester is a non-biodegradable material. It leaves microplastics in the water when washed and affects the water quality. It requires special care to be washed. Poor washing technique and detergents do irreversible damage to polyester T-shirts.

How Should You Wash Polyester T-shirts?

Here are the four tips to wash the polyester T-shirts:

1. Cold or Warm Water Wash: Cold or lukewarm water at 30 °C is ideal for washing polyester clothes. It preserves the original color from fading and strengthens the fabric threads. This water temperature is suitable for washing all types of fabrics. It protects them from shrinking and losing their shape.
2. Gentle Cycle or Hand Wash: Set the machine cycle to gentle or low spin to reduce the pilling and friction. Hard spins increase the rubbing and tingling of polyester T-shirts, which leaves wrinkles. It is recommended to handwash the polyester T-shirts to avoid damaging the threads. The machine weakens the threads, and microplastics come off easily.
3. Mild Detergent: Use a mild detergent with no fragrance or dye to wash polyester T-shirts. These mild detergents contain no harmful toxins and chemicals like sulfates and phosphates. Use the liquid detergent because it blends with water easily compared to powder ones. Powder detergent leaves residues on the bottom that are stored in polyester fabric and cause skin rashes.
4. Avoid Fabric Softeners: Avoid using fabric softeners because they have quaternary ammonium compounds in them. This compound hinders the absorption and also causes hormonal imbalances. These fabric softeners create a separate layer on polyester fabric and affect the breathability.

Can Polyester T-shirts Shrink in the Wash?

Polyester does not usually shrink in the wash. Here are the three factors that affect its shrinking:

1. Unlikely to Shrink: Polyester is shrink-resistant and does not change dimension easily. It is due to its synthetic composition and plastic-type nature that it bounces back to its original shape.
2. High Heat Drying: Extremely high temperatures of above 60 °C cause the polyester to change its shape. The fabric tightens and contracts over time. People use cold or lukewarm water to maintain their original shape.  
3. Air Drying: The most effective way to dry t-shirts is air drying. It protects the polyester T-shirts from shrinking. Cold air is used to dry polyester T-shirts instead of traditional sunlight or shading techniques. Air drying protects the threads from shrinking and increases their lifespan.

What is the Best Way to Dry and Iron Polyester T-shirts?

Here are the best four ways to iron and dry polyester T-shirts:

1. Low-Heat Tumble Dry: Low-heat tumble drying is the best method to protect the polyester fabric from melting. Cold to low heat is used to dry the polyester T-shirts. Polyester is prone to damage when subjected to high heat due to its synthetic and petroleum composition.
2. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Spread a clothesline hanger or clothesline in shade if you don’t have a tumble dryer. Avoid hanging clothes in direct sunlight. Bring in clothes when they are slightly damp to iron them. 
3. Low Heat Ironing: Set the iron to low heat to prevent damage to polyester T-shirts. It can cause harm to the fabric and smudge the prints, designs, and bead glue. Turn the T-shirts inside out to protect against such accidents.
4. Use a Pressing Cloth: Use a piece of cloth to protect the polyester from high heat. Iron the shiny marks carefully, and it is best to leave them to avoid damage.

How to Remove Stains from Polyester T-shirts?

Here are the tips to remove stains from polyester T-shirts:

1. Treat Stains Quickly: Treat stains quickly and don’t leave them to rest. The higher the resting time, the difficult it is to remove them. Use gentle stain removers and rub until the stains change color.
2. Use Mild Stain Remover: Use natural stain remover (vinegar, lime juice, salt) or synthetic (fragrance-free, dye-free) to remove stains. People also use dishwashing soap to remove greasy or oily stains.
3. Avoid Bleach: Avoid bleach, especially the chlorine bleach. It affects the respiratory system and the skin that comes into contact with it. It reduces the lifespan and affects the quality of clothes.
4. Pre-treat Before Washing: Pre-treat the stains to speed up the work. Use a natural stain remover and rub it to remove the stains. This step removes the loose dirt particles from polyester T-shirts before using the machine. Pre-treating minimizes the labour required to wash and rub after a gentle spin.

How to Store Polyester T-shirts Properly?

Here are the four tips to store polyester T-shirts:

1. Fold or Hang: A Polyester t-shirt can be folded or hung because they are shrink-resistant. Unlike cotton, which requires folds to prevent wrinkles, polyester does not have such demands. 
2. Keep in a Cool, Dry Place: Keep polyester t-shirts in a clean place to avoid a moisture trap. Moisture produces bad odour in the clothes and increases the mildew growth. Use cedar aromatic wooden blocks and keep them in a storage area to protect from moths. Prefer the fabric storage bags over plastic ones to reduce the likelihood of a moisture trap.
3. Avoid Overstuffed Storage: Fold or hang t-shirts nicely to avoid overstuffing. Overstuffing causes piling and fraying in T-shirts. Leave room enough to allow air to pass through it. It helps preserve the fresh appearance of t-shirts even after years of storage.
4. No Sharp Objects: Don’t keep any sharp objects in the storage bags. They cause cuts in the polyester fabric and create a way for insects.

What Are the Long-Term Care Tips for Polyester T-shirts?

Here are the long-term care tips for polyester T-shirts:

1. Wash Inside Out: Turn the embroidered or printed T-shirts inside out to prevent the friction and yarn pulls. Make sure to keep the pressing cloth if you are not turning them.
2. Avoid Excessive Heat Exposure: Polyester fabric melts at high temperatures above 60 °C. Keep the temperature and heat to low when ironing or drying.
3. Rotate Usage: The best way to minimize the frequency of washing is to rotate T-shirts. Take a few days ' gap before repeating the same T-shirt and avoid overwashing it.
4. Follow Care Label: Follow the manufacturer's instructions for detergents and washing technique. Ask them about shrunk and unshrunk polyester T-shirts to avoid the confusion.