How to Wash Polyester: The Secret to Avoiding Bad Smells and Wrinkles

If there is one fabric that has invaded our wardrobes in recent years, it's polyester. From that technical t-shirt you run with in Temple Park to your work uniform, including "easy iron" curtains and bedding. As a washing machine technician, I'll tell you something: polyester is a marvel of engineering (resistant, doesn't wrinkle, dries fast), but it has a "dark side."

Surely it has happened to you: you take your sportswear out of the washing machine and, although it's clean, it still has a weird "whiff." Or you put in a blouse and it comes out full of static electricity and sticking to your body. Knowing how to wash polyester correctly isn't just a matter of hygiene; it's the only way to prevent your clothes from permanently smelling like an old gym locker.

The Golden Rule: Warm Water and No Extreme Heat

Polyester is, basically, plastic made into thread. And like all plastic, heat is its enemy. If you wash it with very hot water, the fibers soften and deform. If you dry it on high heat, they shrink.

Ideal Temperature: 30°C - 40°C (86°F - 104°F)

Forget the 60-degree (140°F) programs to "disinfect." With polyester, that only serves to set wrinkles for life and sometimes shrink the garment. Cold or warm water (maximum 40°C) is enough to clean without damaging the fiber structure.

The Big Mistake: Fabric Softener

This is where 90% of people fail. My grandmother always said softener cures everything, but with polyester, she was wrong. Polyester is designed to be breathable (let sweat pass through). Softener creates a waxy film over the fibers that:

• Blocks breathability: Turns your technical t-shirt into a plastic bag.
• Traps bad odors: Locks sweat bacteria inside the fiber, making them smell bad even when freshly washed.

Expert solution: Replace the softener with a splash of white cleaning vinegar in the softener compartment. It won't smell like salad, I promise, and it will remove bacteria and soap residue, leaving clothes soft and odorless.

How to Wash Polyester in the Washing Machine: Step by Step

Follow these steps we apply at LaColada Ponferrada to ensure professional results:

1. Turn them inside out: Polyester tends to "pill" with friction. Washing garments inside out protects the visible side.
2. Sort: Polyester is a magnet for loose dyes. If you wash a white polyester t-shirt with a red cotton sock, you'll have a pink t-shirt forever. Separate colors rigorously.
3. Synthetics Program: Use the "Synthetics" or "Delicates" cycle on your washer. These programs use more water and spin more gently, which reduces wrinkles.
4. Liquid Detergent: Powder detergent sometimes doesn't dissolve well in cold water and can leave white residue on dark polyester clothing. Use liquid.

Drying and Ironing: Watch Out for Melting

Polyester dries super fast because it doesn't absorb water, only retains it on the surface.

• Air dry: It's the best. Hang garments as soon as the washer finishes to avoid wrinkles.
• In the dryer: If you're in a hurry, use the dryer but at LOW TEMPERATURE. In our industrial machines at LaColada, we always recommend the medium or low cycle for synthetics. High heat creates static electricity and can shrink the garment.
• Ironing: If you can avoid it, better. If you have to iron (for example, a uniform), use the lowest temperature (usually says "Synthetics" or one dot) and put a cotton cloth between the iron and the garment. If you touch polyester directly with a hot iron, you'll create shine marks or burn a hole.

Tricks for Tough Stains on Polyester

Polyester is "oleophilic," meaning it loves grease. An oil or makeup stain on polyester is hard to remove with water alone.

The dishwasher detergent trick: Before putting the garment in the washing machine, apply a drop of concentrated dish soap (like Fairy/Dawn) directly onto the grease stain and rub gently with your fingers. Dish soap breaks down grease better than laundry detergent in cold water.