Polyester
Does polyester shrink?
No – polyester hardly shrinks, unless washed or ironed very hot.
How to prevent it
- Wash cool: 30 °C or as the label says, never hotter.
- Use a gentle cycle and a lower spin.
- Dry without heat – on a line or flat; the dryer is the main culprit.
- Iron at the temperature on the label.
If it has shrunk
- If it has shrunk: soak in lukewarm water with hair conditioner for 30 minutes, gently stretch and dry flat. It helps some fabrics; felted wool won't recover.
About polyester
The polymer is melted and extruded into filaments. The world's most used fibre – more than half of all textile fibre produced.
Which fabrics shrink most and least
Other questions
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
01What is polyester?
Petroleum (PET plastic); recycled polyester comes from PET bottles. The polymer is melted and extruded into filaments. The world's most used fibre – more than half of all textile fibre produced.
02Is polyester a natural fabric?
No – it's a synthetic fibre made from petroleum.
03Is polyester breathable?
Only so-so: polyester doesn't absorb moisture, it moves it along – fine for sport, less so next to skin on a hot day.