Polyester is a type of material used to make different clothing items, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other clothing. It’s cheap to produce and can be made into lightweight apparel. Polyester is durable and robust and can hold up against a lot of wear before it begins to deteriorate.
But with so many choices for fabric out there, some people wonder if polyester shrinks or not. In today’s article, we’ll go over the facts and help you decide if polyester is the right material for your next project.

What is polyester?

Before we can talk about whether or not polyester shrinks, let’s go over what polyester actually is. Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is made from long strands of polymer. Polymer comes from the Greek words “poly” (many) and “-mer” (part), so its name means “many parts.” This synthetic fabric is made using polymers and synthetic dyes.

How is polyester created?

There are a number of different ways to create polyester, but one of the most common methods involves taking chemicals called monomers, which are small molecules that fit together like puzzle pieces to make long chains of polymer strands. These monomers can come from crude oil or natural gas. The polymer strands are usually made from either polyethylene, polypropylene, or a combination of both. Products like bulletproof vests and thermal underwear use this type of polyester because it is very strong and durable.
The polyester that we use to make clothing comes in thin strands (usually only one molecule thick). These strands are combined with dyes and chemicals to create many colors that we see at our local clothing stores.

How does polyester make clothing?

Once the polymer strands are created, they are mixed together using heat and pressure in a process known as “spinning” or “drawing.” This creates thin fibers of material that are later mixed with additives like pigments, resins, and other chemicals to make them ready for use in clothing production.
Polyester fabric is then woven by machines that create thin sheets of material out of bundles of very fine fibers that are twisted together. This process usually takes place on a large machine called a “loom.” The loom is made up of a number of different shafts onto which the yarns are attached. These shafts contain different colors and thicknesses that allow the machine to create many combinations on one loom. The woven material is usually dried before it can be used to make clothes or other items.

How common is polyester?

As you can probably guess from all of this information, polyester is not a very natural material. It’s usually only used when there is no other option for creating strong and lightweight fabrics. However, it does happen to be the most commonly used synthetic fiber in the world today. The U.S. alone uses more than two million tons of polyester in clothing production each year.
In most cases, the fabric is made from a combination of materials including polyester (the most common choice), cotton, wool, and others. These fabrics are usually blended together to create an item that has the best qualities of each material. Polyester is popular for use in sportswear because it is lightweight yet very durable.

What are the benefits of polyester?

Some people choose to wear polyester because of its antibacterial properties, which helps avoid things like body odors and sweating. It is also very resilient and doesn’t tear as easily as cotton or wool – a plus for anyone attending sporting events. Polyester fabric can be used to create a variety of clothing items, including long-lasting souvenir t-shirts, nylon windbreakers for the beach, and zippered sweatshirts. Polyester is also great in weather-resistant clothing such as rain jackets and skiwear. Plus, it can be used to create flame-retardant fabrics that are used in many items like bedding and car seats.

What are the drawbacks of polyester?

One of the biggest disadvantages of using synthetic fabrics like polyester is that they do not breathe very well. This can cause extra sweating, which can lead to rashes and other skin irritations over time. It also doesn’t “breathe” as well as other fabrics like cotton and wool, which can be a big problem if you tend to get overheated.
Polyester is also not very durable, meaning that it doesn’t stand up well to repeated laundering or abrasions from wear and tear. This means that polyester clothing may have to be dry-cleaned in order to remain in good shape.
Another drawback of polyester fabric is that it can shrink when it comes into contact with water like washing machines, rain, or swimming pool water. This means that you need to be very careful when washing items made from this material and avoid running them through the dryer as much as possible (if at all).
Unfortunately, polyester fabric is not the most eco-friendly choice out there, as it can take quite a bit of energy and chemicals to create.

What about polyester blends?

It is very common for fabrics containing cotton or other natural materials to be blended with polyester to boost the overall quality and durability of items like t-shirts and sweatshirts. The cotton is used to give the fabric better durability, while the polyester helps it to breathe and hold its shape better. This blended material has become one of the most popular choices for those who want to have a comfortable clothing experience without going all-out on eco-friendly materials like bamboo or hemp.

Will it shrink in the dryer or if exposed to heat?

As we mentioned earlier, polyester is very prone to shrinking when it comes in contact with water or heat. This can be a problem for those who have extremely sensitive skin and tend to get a rash from over-heating.
This shrinks the material unevenly, meaning that one side of the shirt may be shorter than the other after the first washing. This can be a big problem if you’re looking to wear your new shirt for an occasion that doesn’t allow you to iron it yourself (such as on the beach or even just at home).
If you want to avoid this issue, the best thing to do is purchase clothing with preshrunk cotton or other natural fibers – since these materials tend to be less prone to shrinking. You can also avoid shrinkage by hand-washing the shirt (or machine washing on a gentle cycle). With this in mind, it may be better to wash polyester clothing items alone and not with other garments. This will prevent accidental shrinkage on a bigger scale.

What about the dryer?

Polyester laundry is not recommended to be dried in a clothes dryer. It’s best to hang it outside or on a rack, which allows air circulation that will allow the fabric to dry more slowly and evenly without getting caught in one position. If you are forced to use a drying machine, try to hang the material so that it allows for air circulation and doesn’t get caught on itself.

How to prevent shrinkage from occurring

The best way to handle polyester clothing is with care, which means giving it some TLC every time you wash or dry clean it. If you use low heat when drying clothes, you will be at less risk for shrinkage. If you want to avoid shrinking altogether, make sure that you purchase sizes or items that are slightly too big for your height and weight – this allows more room for the fabric to breathe in the future.
Shirring may also be an option if the polyester is used in clothing like skirts or pants. This allows for more give and stretch, which means that the fabric won’t become too tight if you gain a few pounds in the future.
Polyester is an excellent choice for clothes when you want to keep cool on hot days (like at the beach), but it doesn’t offer enough toughness or durability to make it suitable for jackets and other outerwear.

Should You Try Polyester?

Now you have known that polyester fabric does shrink, you can decide whether or not to purchase items made from this material. Remember that shrink-proof polyester clothing will typically be more expensive, so try to purchase only what you really need.