How to wash polyester?

How to wash polyester?

In the modern fabric market, polyester occupies a special place among its wide selection, thanks to its exceptional features. Despite all the prejudices concerning its use in everyday life, with proper care, it is harmless to health, pleasing to the eye and provides decent protection against external factors.

Fabric features

Polyester is used for sewing not only clothes, but also interior items, toys. Therefore, it is one of the most popular modern materials. It belongs to synthetic fabrics and is made from polyester fibers, which are the product of oil and gas processing. A thing made of polyester can look different - thick or loose, thin or strong. It depends on the:

  • raw materials;
  • fiber processing;
  • their forms and structures.

The popularity of this material is also explained by the following advantages:

  • Wear resistance (provides long service life).
  • Well protects from cold, moisture.
  • Prevents penetration of dirt inside.
  • Ease of processing (it is easy to sew even a novice out of it).
  • Keeps the shape.
  • Weightlessness (even bulky items will be very light).
  • Ease of cleaning (which is especially important because such items of clothing and furnishings are widely in demand and often get dirty).
  • Affordable price (compared to polyurethane materials).

It is not deprived of some disadvantages:

  • Under the action of high temperature loses its properties and melts.
  • Sensitivity to bleach and solvents.
  • It creates static electricity, which attracts dust and under its influence clothing sticks to the body.
  • Because of the density, it is inconvenient for wearing in a hot period, in order to reduce the stiffness of the material, it is made mixed.
  • Poor quality fabrics made from poor raw materials or without complying with all cleaning steps can cause allergies or irritation on sensitive skin.

Pure polyester is good for winter wear. For summer, not to sweat, preferably knitwear (with the addition of viscose) or thin fabrics (chiffon). For strength, it is mixed with cotton. And to increase elasticity (because polyester keeps its shape and does not shrink) - elastane.

The proportions in the composition are directly dependent on the qualities that the fabric should ideally possess. For example, for a stretch, elastane ranges from 5 to 15% (an increase in the share allows you to stretch a blouse in any direction, after which it will take on its original appearance).

Various heaters, linings, upholstery, furniture fillers and much more are made of polyester. IsoSoft, Polyfiber, Fiberskin, thermofab, tinsuleyt and sintepon - this is only a small fraction of the names of the material. When choosing things from synthetics, you should not think that a high price will be a guarantee of quality.

Perhaps, the additional fibers of the fabric that are part of and will be natural, but the dye can be used cheap, usually it is accompanied by a chemical smell. Subsequently, in addition to health troubles, the dye can be washed out of clothes and spoil the appearance. If the quality is suspicious, then the use of such products should be abandoned.

Care rules

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of detergents. Currently, they are available as a liquid or gel, and are also different, depending on the stage of washing. Bleaching agents should not be used for soaking. In case the product has hard-to-remove stains or persistent dirt, They can be derived using homemade, time-tested recipes:

  • Fresh greasy traces can be sprinkled with salt.After it absorbs the excess, this layer must be shaken off and put a new one. An old stain can be poured abundantly with dishwashing detergent and washed up.
  • Other complex stains can be overcome with borax or citric acid solution. They are moistened with a cloth and rubbed from the edge to the center so that there are no stains left. All work is carried out in a well-ventilated area, bedding down unnecessary rags.

The stain remover purchased from the store should not contain chlorine. In any case, it must first be tested from the inside out on a barely visible section.

Handwash sequence:

  • For soaking enough powder or soap solution. Dust and dirt are removed with a soft brush or sponge.
  • Immediately for washing you need a fairly spacious container. Bulky items can be washed in the bath. To warm water you need to add a powder or gel, wait for it to dissolve.
  • After that, products are immersed and washed there, paying attention to those areas that are most susceptible to contamination (sleeves, collar, front, etc.).
  • If you are satisfied with the result, then you need to carefully get the laundry, and change the water to clean. Rinsing is carried out from 2 to 5 times (until the washing particles are completely washed out) until the water remains completely transparent. To get rid of static voltage and give softness, you can use air conditioning. This primarily concerns not quite high-quality fabric. Or subsequently use an antistatic spray.

Temperature conditions

On the label, among other information about the care, usually indicates the composition. Items can not be sorted, depending on whether they are 100% homogeneous or blended fabric. Regardless, the temperature will be almost the same:

  • Firstly, the product cannot be boiled, since after that it will look very different - it will become tough and lose texture.
  • Secondly, high temperatures can adversely affect color. White things may turn yellow, and color lose their saturation and brightness.
  • Thirdly, hot heaters and irons can leave traces of varying degrees of difficulty, from tanning to wrinkles. In all cases, it is almost impossible to correct the situation (this is explained by the nature of the material origin). Even direct sunlight can turn delicate fabrics into unpleasant in appearance and touch.

The optimum temperature for soaking and washing is 30 degrees - this figure applies to clean fiber wardrobe items. For hand washing, the skin of your hands will help determine the optimal degree of water heating. If you are comfortable, then the material will not suffer.

It is possible to erase at lower rates, but it is not advisable, since the powder is in such water, and any other detergent is poorly soluble. Consequently, the quality of washing suffers, and divorces may appear on dark things. You can manually control the process of dissolving the powder, but such a cool procedure can hardly be called pleasant.

On some products, the upper threshold is set to 60 degrees. This clearly indicates that they contain fibers of materials such as cotton or linen. The more of them, the hotter the water can be. Too high temperatures are dangerous for polyester because it is the brainchild of the chemical industry, and how any synthetic substance can begin to break down.

Since it is sometimes difficult to determine the type of fabric, it is possible to carry out a burning test. At the same time there will be black smoke, a hard lump (or influx) will form. To eliminate the corresponding synthetic odor, the room must be ventilated.

If the thing is stretched, you can use the property of shrinkage with increasing permissible temperature conditions.On the forums on this topic you can find reviews confirming the fact that, thanks to such actions, the thing acquired the desired size. But to ensure that the polyester garment sits down is difficult. And the procedure itself can be called risky.

Can I use a typewriter?

For washing everyday things - this is the best option, because it does not require any special hard-to-do manipulations. So:

  • In order to avoid problems with molting and as a result of staining, it is necessary to divide the whole mass of things into dark, light and color. High-quality sweaters and trousers do not cause unpleasant surprises. But if you wash the wardrobe item for the first time, this separation is necessary.
  • If possible, for hygiene purposes, underwear should be washed separately, as well as children's clothes. There are not so many of them, since the issue of hypoallergenicity remains controversial. Basically it is all kinds of overalls, suits and poddevy (for example, fleece).
  • Careful inspection is required before loading, as some contaminants require pre-treatment. Decorative items in the form of badges, brooches and similar elements should be removed. To sew up holes, and to fill up the blossomed threads. In addition, zip up and be sure to check your pockets.
  • In order for clothes to be well washed and not to be very crumpled up, you need to comply with the loading norms. Visually, if you do not know the weight of the linen, it is necessary that the third part of the drum is free.
  • Powder amplifiers, gels, conditioners are placed in specially designated compartments.
  • The washing mode is selected from the available. It can be “delicate”, “manual” or “synthetics”. For small pollution suitable "fast" or any other with a short cycle.
  • The number of revolutions should be minimal (maximum 800 rpm). It is better to spin out manually or just let the water drain.
  • To prevent other fibers from sticking to polyester clothes, all types of materials should be washed separately, even if they have a similar mode.

For things with a filler and children's products it is better to use additional rinsing. In addition, do not leave them for a long time to avoid the appearance of folds. As you can see, machine washing clothes made of polyester is not much different from other materials. The main thing is not to contradict the designated conditions on the product label.

How to clean various things?

Since a huge number of things are made of polyester, some of them have their own nuances that must be observed when cleaning up. And some of them can not be washed. Things are completely made of it, fillers, linings or individual parts.

Small hosiery and underwear should be washed separately, manually to prolong their service life. For this:

  • In warm water with dissolved soap, soak them for half an hour.
  • Gently rub without squeezing. Squeeze the wall of the basin.
  • Rinse several times.
  • Get rid of excess water without twisting. To do this, just wrap them in a towel.
  • Spread out on a flat surface.

In an automatic machine, such things can be separated from the main mass, this is necessary so that they do not lose their appearance. Some items of clothing, for example, bras, have fasteners that can cling and lead to puffs and holes.

In either case, it is better to use a bag or mesh for washing.

Ordinary clothes (dresses, robes, skirts, T-shirts, sweaters, etc.) can be washed both manually and in a typewriter. When cleaning outerwear (jackets, coats, down jackets, raincoats), first of all, it is necessary to evaluate their own strength, since when wetted their weight increases significantly. If you cannot do it manually, make sure that their weight does not exceed the maximum permissible for the washing machine. Liquid detergents are preferable because they are rinsed out better.

Blankets, tablecloths, bedspreads wash similarly.A different approach requires things with a filler (pillows, blankets) because it is very important to prevent stalling and disruption of the internal structure. To do this, limit the mechanical effects.

So that the filler does not turn into a clump, use special balls. In fact, the whole point of washing is reduced to soaking and subsequent gentle rinsing.

Tips and tricks

You need to know the following:

  • Drying of products of this kind should be carried out correctly, without heating devices, in a horizontal (straightened) or vertical position (on a dryer, hangers or rope), preferably in fresh air. Drying in a typewriter is not recommended. Excess water after draining is removed by smoothing out the hands or wrapping it in a cloth. Things with a filler dry longer, so they need constant air circulation.
  • Ironing is not recommended. In exceptional cases, the iron regulator must be at the minimum temperature. The whole process is carried out from the inside through wet gauze. The resulting folds are straightened with a steamer or hung over a bathtub or other source of steam.
  • Special storage conditions are not required, as this fabric does not need protection from insects and other pests. It is not affected by mold and mildew. Since the process of smoothing is fraught with the risk of damage to the product, jackets and jackets are placed on hangers, pants and skirts on special holders, small things in drawers, and large ones on shelves, where there is enough space for them not to crease.

How to properly and efficiently wash clothes in washing machines, see the following video.

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