How to reduce polyester size?

Chemistry has firmly entered our lives. The clothing industry has been using fabrics obtained by chemical synthesis for several decades. Products made from polyester have become widespread. This material is highly wear resistant. Therefore, it is used for sewing outer and lower clothing, as upholstery fabric, in the form of fillers for pillows, coats and jackets, for making socks, stockings, tights, and underwear. The popularity of the material is explained by its ease of wear. It is durable and practical. However, many housewives are concerned about the question: does polyester shrink after washing? To answer this, you need to learn more about what fiber is.

Nuances for various wardrobe items

Polyester is a universal material used for the manufacture of various types of products.

However, not all items made with polyester fibers behave the same when washed.

Coat

Such a large item is best washed in a washing machine (unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer) on a delicate cycle. In this case, a liquid detergent is used that matches the color type of the fabric and a liquid rinse aid. The optimal water temperature is 30.

To completely eliminate the “powder”, use an additional rinse mode , which allows you to thoroughly rinse the fibers. In this case, you need to ensure that the number of spin revolutions is minimal and corresponds to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

When washing by hand, the product is simply soaked in detergent and then rinsed well. Synthetic fibers practically do not accumulate dirt, so there is no need to rub the item too hard. Light squeezing movements will be enough.

Rinse with plenty of water . After washing, the coat is carefully straightened, the water is lightly “dried off” from it by gently pressing the fabric and hung on hangers.

Read about washing your coat here.

Jacket

The care process is similar to washing a coat. Before immersing in the drum of the machine, the jacket must be turned inside out, unfastening all decorative elements from it.

Backpack

The small size of the product allows for both hand and machine washing . Before placing it in a machine drum or hand soaking, all decorative elements are removed from the backpack.

When washing automatically, use a delicate cycle with a temperature of 30-40. Spinning when washing a backpack is not necessary; it can lead to the product losing its shape.

When washing by hand, the backpack is soaked in warm water with soap or detergent solution. Use a soft brush or sponge to remove dirt. After rinsing thoroughly, allow the water to drain. Spinning this type of product is contraindicated.

You can learn about washing a backpack in this section.

Blanket

The blanket can be washed either in a machine with a capacity of up to 5 kg, or by hand . In this case, only liquid detergents are used.

When machine washing, a low temperature of 30-400 and a gentle, delicate cycle are set. Spin is performed at low speed.

Hand washing involves soaking for 15-30 minutes in liquid detergent or powder well dissolved in water.

Cleaning the fabric is done using a soft sponge, which prevents damage to the surface of the fibers . Rinsing is performed in several stages.

The clean product is dried in a horizontal position on a smooth surface, alternately changing sides to ensure uniform drying of the blanket.

When washing items with polyester filling in the washing machine, it is recommended to place several tennis balls in the drum . This will prevent the material from falling and clumping.

Thermal underwear

To ensure that thermal underwear retains its quality characteristics, both hand and machine washing are done in a delicate mode at a water temperature of no higher than 40. Before putting it in the drum of a washing machine or soaking, items must be turned inside out.

Thermal underwear made of polyester is contraindicated for dry cleaning and the use of chlorine-containing detergents, solvents or stain removers.

Spinning is carried out in a gentle mode . After thorough rinsing, the products are gently wrung out, but not twisted, and dried away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

Curtains

Polyester curtains are easy to clean from accumulated dust. They are easy to wash, both by hand and in a machine.

For hand washing, a weak soap solution or a small amount of powder will be enough. The products can be washed in a machine without adding detergents.

To avoid creases on the fabric, after thorough rinsing, hang the curtains and allow the fabric to drain. If necessary, curtains are ironed at a minimum temperature through an additional layer of fabric.

Read about washing curtains here.

Useful tips

To save time and avoid throwing away or altering T-shirts, you should wash and care them properly according to the recommendations on the label.

If it so happens that a reduction is required, use the following recommendations:

Always wash cotton items together, not separately. This will reduce their processing time, as well as the electricity consumed.
Be careful and use the information you receive wisely. Do not let the item sit in boiling water, otherwise they will look for the answer to the question of how to increase the size of a T-shirt.
During boiling, add 250 ml of vinegar if the items are colored. This will help maintain the shade and it won't fade.
Remember that boiling will not save you for long. After several wears, you will have to expose the item to high temperature again.
The methods are not suitable for products with prints and designs. It's better to take them to the studio.

Shrinking T-shirts yourself is not a bad idea, but it is difficult. Most then still give the item to the studio or carry it around the apartment.

If you follow all the instructions, you can get the desired result.

What is polyester?

Polyester is a synthetic fiber created by chemical synthesis from alcohol, gas, coal, oil and acids.

It has been used in the textile industry for almost 80 years. For sewing products, both 100% polyester and in combination with other fibers are used.

Polyester fiber is often combined with other fibers:

polyamide, mainly for sewing underwear;
spandex, for making stockings, socks, tights;
cotton, wool to increase the naturalness of the fiber;
viscose for better moisture absorption.

Despite the fact that polyester is a synthetic fiber, it occupies one of the leading positions in the textile production market. Sew from fabric:

casual, special and outerwear;
branded outfits;
bedspreads and rugs;
blankets;
drapes and curtains;
upholstery for furniture.

The fiber is used as a filler for pillows, blankets, jackets, and coats.

Properties of polyester

If in the last century items made from natural raw materials predominated in the wardrobe of the population, now most consumers prefer synthetic products. Thanks to the introduction of new technologies into production, synthetic fabrics have excellent consumer properties that attract buyers.

pros

Polyester is a wear-resistant, inexpensive, lightweight material that retains its color and shape for a long time, does not require ironing, and does not deteriorate under the influence of acids. The fabric is easy to cut and sew. The material is not susceptible to damage by insects, does not smell or absorb odors, and has excellent elasticity: it stretches easily without losing its shape.

Polyester fiber has the ability to repel moisture from the surface, so clothes made from it do not get wet. This feature contributes to the fact that polyester fabric is used for sewing workwear, jackets and quilted coats.

One of the remarkable qualities of matter is its resistance to pellet formation. Even after numerous washes, your clothes will look like new. Products made from polyester dry quickly after washing, which is also an undoubted advantage of the material.

The fabric does not fade at all and does not leave staining marks on the skin or other clothes.

Minuses

Among these positive properties of the material, there are tangible negative qualities. One of them is the air tightness and rigidity of the 100% polyester fabric. Therefore, it is not suitable for sewing summer and children's clothing. The inability to allow air to pass through can have a negative impact on how you wear things. Sensitive people may experience skin irritation, and children may experience heat rash.

To increase breathability and softness, polyester fiber is mixed with cotton, wool, viscose, and linen. By mixing synthetic and cotton fibers, breathable, pleasant to the touch, wear-resistant fabrics are obtained.

Another disadvantage of polyester is electrostaticity. To prevent clothes from sticking, they are treated with special means.

In general, polyester can withstand frequent washing and retain its original appearance, but it does not tolerate high temperatures well, so when caring for polyester products, special attention is paid to washing and ironing.

How to make it fit the product in a specific place?

Getting something to shrink in the right place is a very difficult task, and with an unguaranteed result.

If the material can be processed with steam, then the following method is suitable:

Water is poured into an iron with a steam generator.
Set to maximum heat.
When ironing, a jet of steam is directed to the place that requires shrinkage.

You can try to place the item in the right place using a hairdryer:

wash the item or just wet it;
spread on a horizontal surface;
set the air regulator to hot air;
directing a stream of heated air to the part of the item that requires shrinkage, try to gather it with your hands.

By exposing the entire thing to high or, conversely, low temperatures, you cannot be sure that the product will take the shape that is planned.

Fiber tension

Another factor that can contribute to shrinkage is the degree of tension in the yarn fibers when the fabric is woven or knitted. Fiber that is highly stretched during fabric making will shrink in size when wet unless a special finish is applied during the manufacturing process to prevent this effect. In addition, how tightly the fabric is stretched during processing will later be reflected in shrinkage. As with yarn, fabric that is under tension during production will relax when wet. This process is called relaxation shrinkage, Gagliardi says.

During production, a finish can be applied to the fabric to reduce the effects of tension. In general, if a garment has any relaxation shrinkage, you will see most of it the first time you wash it. In other words, if clothes shrink a lot after washing, this means that the fabric used to sew them was not subjected to special anti-shrink treatment during production.

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How to remove stains?

Minor surface contamination can be removed using:

Soap solution . The composition is applied to the area of contamination and the fabric is lightly wiped with a soft sponge, after which it is washed in warm water;
Salt. Cover the stain with salt and leave for 20-30 minutes. After cleaning, the item is washed and treated with rinse aid;
Boric acid . To remove stains, use a 10% solution, which is applied in a small amount to the area of fabric at the site of contamination;
Citric acid . The cleaning solution is prepared in proportions - 1 tsp. citric acid per 200 ml of water. Use the resulting mixture to wipe the contaminated area and rinse the item in cool water before washing.

The special structure of the fabric fibers makes it not prone to dirt penetration, making difficult-to-remove stains on this type of material a rare exception.

Cleaning the backpack

Washing a backpack is much more difficult than washing a jacket or even a down jacket. The fact is that such things usually have quite a lot of fittings, which complicate the washing process. You will have to clean the polyester backpack only by hand. When asked whether it is possible to wash a backpack in a machine, the answer is absolutely not.

The most convenient way to wash a backpack is in the bathroom. Lukewarm water is drawn into the bath and the powder is dissolved in it. As with any other item made of polyester, preference should be given to a soft gel or special shampoo. Regular washing powders are not suitable for this purpose.

The bag or backpack is immersed in a soap solution. The item should sit in the solution for about an hour. Then they begin to clean it with a soft brush for clothes. Particular attention is paid to handles and straps, which get dirty the most. The backpack is carefully washed with a brush, constantly wetting it in a soapy solution. The inside of the bag can be washed with a sponge.

Rinsing a backpack is also quite difficult. A lot of water is taken into the bath and the bag is immersed in it. Rinse the backpack with your hands, moving it from one edge of the bath to the other. If necessary, change the water in the bathroom.

To prevent the bag from becoming deformed after drying, it is advisable to dry it in a horizontal position. First, the backpack is laid out on the bottom of the bathroom and the water is expelled from it. You can then place the bag on the clothes dryer and place a basin under it to drain the water.

Things made of polyester are very durable and, with proper care, can last for several seasons in a row, while looking very good.

Fiber type

According to Mary Gagliardi, fiber type has a big impact on potential shrinkage.

Fibers that absorb moisture easily, such as cotton and wool, are more prone to shrinkage.
On the other hand, synthetics are hydrophobic (repel water) and are much less prone to shrinkage.

Processing methods

It is permissible to treat a coat at home in one of the following ways: dry, wet cleaning or washing.

When dry cleaning a coat, use a special brush and pass it over the entire surface of the product. Water and cleaning fluids are not used. To remove stains and heavy dirt, it is permissible to use dry substances such as talc, baking soda, table salt and others.

Wet processing involves fragmentary cleaning actions using water and various solutions. For such cleaning, it is convenient to use a steam generator or an iron in vertical steam mode.

Washing is permissible only for those items that are permitted to do so by the product manufacturer. In this case, a special permitting symbol of a basin with water will be indicated on the coat label. As a rule, the sign is accompanied by additional symbols that regulate acceptable washing parameters: temperature conditions, drying and ironing methods.

Quality of clothes

The higher the quality of the clothing, the less likely it is to shrink. Special finishes and manufacturing technologies that prevent shrinkage are more often used by higher-end manufacturers who care about product quality. Because most people don't want their clothes to shrink, Gagliardi notes. Customers want to be able to wash their clothes over and over again and keep wearing them, and for them to continue to look the same as when they bought them.

How to dry?

A feature of polyester is the ability of the fibers to quickly get rid of moisture. This material dries very quickly, especially in the fresh air.

Direct sunlight can cause damage and rapid wear of fabric fibers. Therefore, when drying polyester items outdoors, you must place them in a shaded area.

When drying naturally, the product is simply laid out on a flat surface or hung on a hanger . There is no need to wring things out. It's better to just let the water drain.

As an additional drying agent for small items, you can use a terry towel, which is wrapped around the item and slightly compressed.

Wet items should not be dried on radiators, radiators or any other heating devices. This is fraught with the appearance of stains, creases and deterioration of the wear resistance of the fabric.

Material characteristics

Polyester fiber first appeared on the market in the 60s of the last century, but the development of this material began in the early 30s, and the first publications about it were published in 1946.

From the very beginning, polyester manufacturers claimed that the material could be used to make clothing, but few believed them since they could only provide the public with polyester fiber molding and packaging materials. At that time, there was no technology that would make it possible to obtain fabric from this material suitable for sewing clothes. It was developed a few years later and revolutionized the light industry.

In appearance, polyester resembles wool, but its characteristics are closer to cotton.

The fabric, 100% polyester fiber, has the following characteristics:

It is very durable.
It is light in weight.
It has good wear resistance.
Good resistance to crushing.
Resistant to heat and light.
Easy to clean.
Does not require special care.

One of the important features of the material is the ability to fix the desired shape when heated. It has found application in design art. In particular, designers love to create decorative folds on clothes, curtains and curtains made from polyester.

This fabric is often used to make clothing for athletes, but it cannot be worn for a long time. The fact is that polyester has insufficient breathability. Actually, because of this characteristic, polyester fiber fabric is almost never used for making underwear. In light industry, they prefer to make demi-season raincoats, jackets, and down jackets from it.

Let's figure out how to make clothes made of cotton, synthetics or denim shrink

As a rule, we can’t stand it when purchased new clothes fit like a glove when we try them on, fit both in length and width, but after the first wash they jump up by two or three centimeters, so that the item can no longer be worn. This happens especially often with cotton products. But there are situations on the contrary, when it is necessary to shrink the clothes a little, to “conjure” them so that they shrink. How can you downsize cotton, denim or polyester textiles to get your favorite clothes that fit perfectly?

Sewing a T-shirt with your own hands

The main condition for a stylish look is a perfect fit. Agree, if a tank top or T-shirt fits beautifully around the chest and the shoulders fall off, it looks careless. Or the top fits perfectly, the bottom of the knitted sweater dangles on the waist, hips or stomach. It’s better to spend a couple of hours of time, then it’s time to show off in a spectacular way. It is much easier to sew a T-shirt - just cut a narrow strip in the center of the back, as Andre Tan shows in the video. Then you can decorate the seam, for example, with bows, so that an ordinary T-shirt looks like a designer item.

Rules for care and use

Caring for thermal underwear must be regular, since a contaminated membrane layer stops performing its unique functions. The structure of the cells of the material is as close as possible to the structure of the pores of human skin; in its pure state, the material completely copies natural heat transfer. When the honeycomb becomes clogged with dust and keratinized particles of the epidermis, thermal underwear ceases to be comfortable.

The staleness of ordinary things is determined by their smell, but the structure and interweaving of fabric fibers in special clothing does not allow the “odors” of the body to linger. You need to focus on the intensity of wear:

Wash sports models after training or other physical activity;
for everyday clothes, care is recommended every 4 days;
outerwear does not need to be washed often.

To prevent unique things from losing their properties, it is important to follow the general rules:

Do not use substances containing chlorine.
Thermal underwear with fleece should be washed and cleaned from the reverse side.
Do not twist the fabric or use a wringer.
The optimal water temperature for washing is 30°C.
It is forbidden to use granular powders, as small particles become clogged in the cells. It will not be possible to completely rinse the detergent, so irritation will occur upon contact with the skin.

Manufacturers of thermal underwear recommend carefully studying the instructions and labels on items, where the basic principles of care and operation are indicated in the form of a cheat sheet.