How To Remove Wrinkles From Polyester – Our Guide

Polyester is a lightweight fabric and is a popular material to use for clothing items, but the downfall of polyester is that it wrinkles easily over time and bounces back to its original shape.

To get wrinkles out of polyester you will either need to hang the clothing after washing it, use an iron or steam the clothes. 

We’ve put together a guide below which will take you through why polyester wrinkles, the best ways to get rid of wrinkles in polyester and some tips for avoiding them, to begin with. 

Does 100% Polyester Wrinkle?

Polyester comes from polymers and resin and is forgiving of dirt, lasting a long time, however, 100% polyester does indeed wrinkle which can make it difficult to wear sometimes if you don’t have an iron on hand.

What Is The Best Way To Get Wrinkles Out Of Polyester?

Wrinkles often occur in polyester clothes when clothes have been left in a bag for too long or left in a pile on the floor. You can iron polyester fabrics however but they are sensitive to heat. 

Use An Iron 

One way to get wrinkles out of polyester is by ironing it, you do have to be careful when ironing polyester clothing however as it is made out of plastic meaning it can burn and melt easily when ironed on high heat. 

To iron polyester fibres properly we suggest turning the polyester clothing inside out, having a water spray to dampen the fabric then laying a cotton sheet over the polyester items. 

Put the iron in steam mode and do slow movements to get the wrinkles out, avoid letting the iron sit on spots otherwise it can burn.

Steam Polyester Garments 

The safest way to get wrinkles out of polyester items is by steaming the fabric, hanging then the wrinkled polyester item on a hanger then using your steamer all over the material and tugging it to release any wrinkles. 

Wash & Dry 

By far, the easiest way to take wrinkles out of a wrinkled polyester item is by washing it and allowing it to dry by hanging it up.

To wash your polyester properly follow the care instructions on the label to get the right water temperature on your machine. Put the polyester clothing on a delicate wash cycle making sure there is a softener since this can reduce wrinkles. 

As soon as the delicate cycle is done toss the clothes into the dryer otherwise the wet polyester can form wrinkles while sitting. Dry the item for around 20 minutes in a low heat setting and hang.  

Put Them In The Dryer

If you want to remove wrinkles in your polyester item without having to wash it, follow this method – 

Start by dipping a microfibre towel in water then place it in the drum with your polyester item, set it to high heat for around five minutes then remove the polyester item and hang up straight away. 

Tips For Avoiding Wrinkles In Polyester 

There’s nothing worse than packing a polyester piece of clothing or planning an outfit only to see that it’s wrinkled and unwearable, especially if you don’t have an iron on hand!

We’ve listed our best tips for avoiding wrinkles in polyester clothes below to help you out. 

• If you have polyester items in your wash load avoid overloading the washer, this is because when it spins it could potentially cause the clothing to wrinkle up. 
• Never wear damp polyester fibers until they are dry.
• Always add fabric conditioner into your laundering polyester water to get rid of wrinkles.
• Unfold polyester garments and hang them when possible to get rid of wrinkles, the longer you leave them stored or folded then the more likely wrinkles will happen.

Tips For Sewing Polyester

If you like sewing with polyester fabrics, we’ve put together some of our best tips for sewing this kind of fabric below.

• Use a fresh needle – When sewing materials like polyester make sure you’re using a sharp needle, small fibres in polyester can tear easily.
• Stitch with a polyester thread – Choosing a polyester thread with a polyester fabric matches the elasticity, for machine sewing we recommend winding the bobbin slowly to avoid the thread stretching and shrinking from the heat
• Sew with care – Some polyester fabrics can be very slipping, especially satin types, to make this sewing easier we suggest putting the backing on the fabric to make it more stable.
• Iron fold lines – Iron the polyester fabric on a synthetic setting, if your fabric is wrinkled remove the pieces before ironing. 

Read more about this article we made for you about What Is Spun Polyester Fabric?

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Wrinkles Out Of Polyester 

What is the trouble with ironing polyester?

Polyester is very heat sensitive therefore care needs to be taken when ironing this kind of material, make sure the iron is set to a synthetic setting or on a setting under 110 degrees.

What is the correct temperature for washing polyester?

An ideal temperature to wash polyester is in cool water rather than hot since this can shrink it, 40 degrees is ideal for this kind of material.

Can a steamy shower get the wrinkles out of polyester? 

If you don’t have a steamer, you can always try to steam polyester clothing with your shower! Start by mixing a spray bottle with a cup of water and 5 ml of fabric softener. 

Hang the clothing up in the shower then take a hot shower, this will allow the steam to release any wrinkles in the clothing item, you can then pop it in the dryer to get rid of any more.

How do I use a clothes steamer?

If you’ve recently bought a clothes steamer and don’t know how to use it to get wrinkles out of clothing, follow these steps.

Keep a few inches between the steamer and fabric to avoid burning it, make sure the steamer is steaming nicely before use, hang the garment when steaming, and use downward strokes.

Does 100% polyester shrink?

With high heat over 140 degrees, polyester can shrink, water temperature, the dryer cycle and iron can also cause polyester to shrink.

Last Words

To conclude, polyester is a kind of fabric that wrinkles easily when it isn’t stored properly, we always suggest hanging polyester when possible to avoid wrinkles forming in the clothing. 

Investing in a clothes steamer is the best way to help you get wrinkles out of clothes and the safest way since it doesn’t use a lot of heat on your clothing, avoid ironing polyester at high heat, since there is a risk of the clothing burning. 

Read the next article here: Can You Bleach Polyester?