Machine Wash Method for Polyester Caps Set your washing machine to its hottest water setting—think 'comfortably hot,' not 'volcano lava. ' Add non-bleach laundry detergent to keep things gentle on those fibers while they shrink down to size.
Your polyester clothes should come out just fine if you use cool or lukewarm machine cycles. However, your polyester might have a small shrinkage if you use hot water. The safest temperatures to wash polyester are those below 230F. And anything above this level has the potential to shrink your polyester.
Steam it and put a hat stretcher on it. Leave it alone for a day maybe 2. Should be bigger after that.
Use a medium heat setting. High temperatures are required to shrink a polyester hat, but if they are too high, your hat might end up frayed, scorched, or otherwise ruined.
Stretching polyester fabric requires a gentle approach to prevent damage. Since polyester is heat-sensitive, applying moderate heat can make the fibers more pliable. The process involves using warm water or a warm iron, but it's crucial to avoid applying too much heat to prevent melting or distorting the fabric.
For those that are shrinkable, it may take a few laundry cycles for the drama to really unfold. Polyester holds up to heat well, so feel free to go for the hottest settings on your washer and dryer. Wash and dry the polyester items over and over until you've achieved the perfect size.
Garments made from a combination of natural and synthetic fibers can behave unpredictably during washing. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, do not shrink in the same way as natural fibers, which can result in an uneven appearance if the garment shrinks in specific areas.
Just like those comfy jeans, caps can stretch to a perfect fit over time. We always recommend re-measuring your head if it's been a few years.
You can put polyester in the dryer on a cool to medium setting. The dryer won't cause wrinkles, but polyester can be ironed on low or steamed. Air dry polyester or tumble dry at medium temperature. Polyester generally doesn't wrinkle.
If the garment's washing instructions say it can be machine dried, it will not shrink.
Polyester fabric shrinks well in a definite range of temperature i.e. 155 – 178°F (68 – 81°C). You do need to neglect the instructions printed on the care label. Flip the garment inside out and use hot water while washing either manually or using a machine. Polyester is plastic so heat will perform its shrinking.
Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. Washing clothes in cold water goes a long way toward preserving the “off-the-rack” size. Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage.
Polyester and rayon can be turned back into its original shape in the same way you'd unshrink cotton. Take a tablespoon of conditioner and let it soak in a basin of warm water. Let it sit for about 30 to 45 minutes. Then gently pull and stretch the fabric to its original size.
If you're looking for a more effective way to stretch your polyester garment, consider using a steamer. Steamers are great for relaxing the polyester fiber in the fabric and allowing it to stretch more easily. Simply hang the garment up and run the steamer over it for a few minutes.
One of the main reasons that clothes shrink in the washer and dryer is because of the heat. The high temperatures can cause fibers in your clothing to contract, resulting in shrinkage. If you wash your clothes in hot water and then dry them on high heat, this will often be the source of your shrinkage problem.
Washing with cold water is always a safe bet when it comes to cleaning your clothing, especially if it's with a material you're unfamiliar with. But 100% polyester will also do very well with warm water, which can help remove stains, prevent shrinkage, and avoid color bleeding into other clothing in the cycle.
Should you size up with 100% polyester? Since 100% polyester has minimal stretch, we recommend sizing up for a more comfortable fit, especially in form-fitting or tight clothing.