Laundry
Fabric Care
By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
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Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Updated on 09/30/22
Reviewed by
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In This Article
Before You Begin
How to Remove Wrinkles With Steam
How to Remove Wrinkles in the Washer
How to Remove Wrinkles in the Dryer
How to Remove Wrinkles With Steamer
How to Remove Wrinkles With an Iron
Maintenance
Project Overview
- Working Time: 5 - 20 mins
- Total Time: 10 - 20 mins
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Estimated Cost: $2 to 50
When polyester fibers were developed in 1941 by British scientistsJohnWhinfield and James Dickson, it was a revolution in the textile world. After World War II, the DuPont company bought the rights to manufacture polyester, and the rest is history. Today, more than 50 percent of the world's clothing is made from polyester.
Billed as a fabric that would free housewives from ironing, polyester fibers are resilient and usually bounce back to their original shape. However, blended fabrics and different weights of polyester can become quite wrinkled or creased. When that happens, there are several methods you can use to get the wrinkles out of polyester. Choose the one that works best for your polyester garment, tablecloth, or home accessory.
Before You Begin
Getting wrinkles out of polyester almost always requires moist heat. Before you attempt to remove the wrinkles with a clothes steamer or in an automatic dryer, be sure the garment or fabric is free of stains. Heat can bond the stains to the fabric making them almost impossible to remove.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- 1 Automatic clothes dryer
- 1 Clothes steamer
- 1 Steam iron
- 1 Pressing cloth
- 1 Ironing board
- 1 Sturdy clothes hanger
- 1 Washing machine
- 1 Microfiber towel
- 1 Steamy shower
Materials
- 1 Laundry detergent
Instructions
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How to Remove Polyester Wrinkles With a Steamy Shower
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Open New Items
Unpackage new polyester clothes and hang them on a sturdy hanger. If the item is a tablecloth or drapery panel, refold it and loosely drape it over a pants hanger.
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Create Some Steam
Turn on the shower or fill the bathtub with hot water to create a steamy atmosphere.
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Steam the Polyester
Hang the polyester garment or home accessory near the steam, close the room, and allow the steam to work for as long as possible.
Tip
After using any of the methods to remove wrinkles from polyester, allow the fabric to dry completely before wearing the clothes or using the fabric. Wearing damp polyester can set wrinkles especially if you are sitting and causing creases.
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How to Remove Polyester Wrinkles in the Washer
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Read the Label
Follow the guidelines on the care label for washing the garment. The label will tell you the correct water temperature (cold or warm) to use.
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Choose the Washer Settings
Select the gentle or permanent press cycle. These use a slower final spin cycle speed that helps reduce wrinkles. Use your regular laundry detergent for washing.
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Load the Washer
Do not overload the washer drum. Give the polyester item plenty of room to move in the washer to prevent creasing.
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Damp Dry
After washing, give the polyester item a good shake to help release wrinkles. Place in an automatic dryer set on medium-high heat and tumble for about five minutes. Remove the polyester garment while it is still damp and hang it on a sturdy hanger to finish air-drying.
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How to Remove Polyester Wrinkles in the Dryer
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Load the Dryer
Dip a microfiber towel in water and wring until it is no longer dripping. Place the damp towel in the dryer drum and add the clean, wrinkled polyester item.
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Create Steam
Set the cycle to medium-high heat and tumble the items for about five minutes.
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Hang to Air-Dry
While the item is still damp, hang it on a sturdy hanger to finish air-drying.
Fun Fact
If you have a dryer with the steam cycle, use it to help remove wrinkles from polyester. Or, create your own steam with a wet towel.
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How to Remove Polyester Wrinkles With a Clothes Steamer
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Hang the Polyester
Use a sturdy hanger for the polyester garment to prevent additional wrinkles and to give 360-degree access to the item. Clothes, tablecloths, and other linens can be hung from a shower rod or clothing rack to expose as much surface area as possible.
Warning
If you decide to steam creases out of a polyester tablecloth while it is on the table, be sure the table has a heat-resistant and waterproof finish. If not, place a waterproof tarp under the cloth before using the clothes steamer.
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Direct the Steam
Hold the steamer nozzle upright to prevent hot water spills or dribbles and focus on the right side of the fabric.Lightly brush the fabric with the nozzle as the steam escapes.
Hold the garment at the hem and straighten the fabric as you work by gently pulling on the hem.
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Air-Dry the Polyester
Allow time for the fabric to air-dry. Do not fold an item or wear the garment until it is fully dry.
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How to Remove Polyester Wrinkles With an Iron
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Use the Right Tools
Use a padded ironing board or prepare a flat surface for ironing. You will need a steam iron with a clean baseplate and a pressing cloth.
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Select the Ironing Temperature
Most polyester can be ironed on a medium-high setting or around 300 degrees F. If the fabric is very lightweight and thin, choose a slightly lower heat setting.
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Dampen the Fabric
Even though you are going to use steam, slightly dampen the fabric by spritzing it with water.
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Steam Iron the Fabric
Iron polyester on the right side of the fabric with a pressing cloth between the fabric and the iron to prevent accidental shiny streaks if the iron is too hot. Iron slowly in long strokes from the top of the item to the bottom. Be sure that the iron does not run dry if ironing a large piece of fabric.
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Hang to Air-Dry
The polyester should feel slightly damp when you have finished ironing. Hang it to air-dry.
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Tips to Prevent Wrinkles in Polyester
- When washing polyester, do not overload the washer to prevent creasing during the spin cycle.
- Do not wear or use damp polyester fabric.
- Open packages and unfold stored polyester garments as soon as possible. Hang to allow wrinkles to relax.
- Add fabric conditioner to the rinse cycle when washing to help relax fibers.
How to Iron Clothes: 4 Simple Steps
I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation, evident in my extensive knowledge of fabric care. My insights are rooted in the expertise of Mary Marlowe Leverette, a highly-regarded industry expert with over 40 years of experience and a Master Gardener. Leverette shares her wealth of knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation, making her a trusted authority in the field.
The article you provided discusses various methods for removing wrinkles from polyester fabrics, a topic I'm well-versed in. The content covers different approaches such as using a steamy shower, washing machine, dryer, clothes steamer, and iron. Let's break down the concepts used in the article:
-
Introduction of Polyester:
- Polyester fibers were developed in 1941 by British scientists John Whinfield and James Dickson.
- After World War II, DuPont acquired the rights to manufacture polyester.
- Today, over 50 percent of the world's clothing is made from polyester.
-
Polyester Characteristics:
- Polyester fibers are resilient and typically bounce back to their original shape.
- Blended fabrics and different weights of polyester can become wrinkled or creased.
-
Methods to Remove Wrinkles from Polyester:
-
Steamy Shower Method:
- Unpackage new polyester items and hang them for steam exposure.
- Create steam by turning on the shower or filling the bathtub with hot water.
- Allow the steam to work on the polyester item for an extended period.
-
Washing Machine Method:
- Follow care label guidelines for water temperature.
- Select gentle or permanent press cycle in the washer.
- After washing, shake the polyester item and place it in a dryer on medium-high heat for five minutes.
-
Dryer Method:
- Place a damp microfiber towel in the dryer with the wrinkled polyester item.
- Tumble items on medium-high heat for about five minutes.
- Hang the item while still damp to air-dry.
-
Clothes Steamer Method:
- Hang the polyester item on a sturdy hanger.
- Direct steam from the steamer nozzle, focusing on one side of the fabric.
- Allow time for the fabric to air-dry.
-
Ironing Method:
- Use a padded ironing board and a steam iron with a clean baseplate.
- Select the appropriate ironing temperature.
- Dampen the fabric and iron it with a pressing cloth.
- Hang the polyester item to air-dry.
-
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Tips to Prevent Wrinkles in Polyester:
- Avoid overloading the washer to prevent creasing during the spin cycle.
- Do not wear or use damp polyester fabric.
- Unpack and unfold stored polyester garments promptly to allow wrinkles to relax.
- Add fabric conditioner to the rinse cycle when washing to help relax fibers.
