“King of synthetics” polyester: how to iron without spoiling it?
Synthetic fibers are present in many fabrics today. Polyester is the world leader among artificial fabrics.
A variety of items of clothing are sewn from it - dresses, blouses, skirts, T-shirts, trousers.
It is important to know how to iron polyester so as not to ruin synthetic fabric.
Content
Is it possible?
Polyester is a thin but very strong fiber. This is one of the main advantages of the material. Its characteristics are similar to cotton, but its appearance resembles wool..
Considering the fact that most synthetic fabrics do not wrinkle, many women do not know whether to iron polyester or not.
Ironing things made of polyester are needed for the reason that during long-term storage, when a product lies folded in a closet for a long time, creases form on the surface of the canvas. This often happens after improper washing or drying.
It is impossible to get rid of them without ironing clothes, and in some cases pre-washing is required.
To make the ironing process easier and faster, you need to properly wash your polyester fiber product:
- the water temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees;
- When washing by machine, you can use manual or delicate mode;
- It is recommended to use liquid detergents; the powder may leave a residue on the fabric, which will turn yellow upon contact with the iron;
- outerwear should be turned inside out, it is better to put it in a washing bag;
- At the end of washing, the item must be removed from the machine and blotted with a terry towel, removing excess moisture.
After washing, outerwear, blouse, T-shirt, shirt or dress should be hung on hangers, fastened and dried in this form.
When rinsing, it is recommended to add 9% vinegar to the water.. It has an antistatic effect on synthetic fabric, so clothes will get dirty less during wear. For 1 liter of water you will need 2 tbsp. l. vinegar.
Ironing
You must first read the information on the product label. Manufacturers usually indicate the recommended temperature range.
Experts recommend adhering to the following rules:
- 100% polyester can only be ironed through damp cotton cloth.
- Outerwear must first be ironed from the wrong side. To avoid damaging the lining with the iron, it is also recommended to use a cotton napkin. The front side is also ironed using a damp cotton cloth.
- When processing particularly complex and hard-to-reach areas - collars, armholes, you can slightly increase the temperature of the iron.
- If the product has folds or pleating, they need to be folded using pins and ironed.
How to smooth it with a steamer?
It is much easier to iron a polyester product if you have a steamer at home with adjustable steam mode.
The ironing process itself does not require special knowledge or special effort from the housewife, it is enough to adhere to these rules:
- Before ironing in this way, hang the polyester product on hangers and set the device to the delicate steam mode.
- You should start processing the fabric from the back, moving the steamer from the top of the clothing to the bottom.
- Then they begin to smooth the sleeves, shoulders and front part of the product.
- The collar is smoothed last.
When smoothing polyester with steam, the steam generator must be kept at a distance of 3-5 centimeters from the canvas.
Folk method
There is an effective folk method that allows you to easily and quickly smooth out a product made of polyester fiber. If you are unable to iron your polyester clothes with an iron and you don’t have a steamer at home, You can use this proven method:
- In the bathroom or kitchen, hang the product on hangers, fasten it, and straighten out all the folds with wet hands.
- Turn on hot water - in the bathroom, or put a pot of water on the stove if the procedure is being carried out in the kitchen.
- In the room, close all windows and doors to keep steam in the room.
- Keep the item in the room until the steam smooths out all the wrinkles.
Tips and prohibitions
Despite the ease of care of polyester, It is advisable to follow some advice from experienced housewives:
- You can iron a polyester product only through a damp cotton cloth.
- Polyester deteriorates when exposed to high temperatures, the fabric wrinkles and even melts. For this reason, it is forbidden to dry it on heating devices and iron it at high temperatures.
- Before ironing, it is recommended to conduct an experiment to select the optimal temperature regime, affecting an inconspicuous area of clothing.
It is not necessary to wash the item before ironing. It is enough to rinse it in cool water and start ironing when the product is still slightly damp.
It is important to know the prohibitions when ironing polyester. Following simple rules will allow you to maintain the new appearance of the product even after long-term use:
- It is forbidden to iron the material with an iron set to a high temperature;
- It is forbidden to press the iron hard on the fabric and hold it for a long time in one area.
Conclusion
Polyester is a high-quality synthetic fabric that has many advantages. You can iron it at moderate temperature through a damp cotton cloth.
You can use a steamer instead of an iron. With proper care, such products will last for many years, maintaining their attractive appearance.