does polyester shrink more than cotton

does polyester shrink more than cotton?

by Dylan Baker
Updated on

does polyester shrink more than cotton?

Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics used in men’s clothing it is one of the easiest materials to maintain, it doesn’t require ironing, maintains its shape and its color doesn’t fade easily.

on top of all that, it is quite affordable and looks really premium which makes it even more appealing.

Polyester has a lot of benefits but it also has quite a few flaws and one thing that comes to everyone’s mind when buying clothes is whether the fabric shrinks or not?

So in this article, we will tell you if polyester shrinks more than cotton or not and solve all your doubts around it.

does polyester shrink?

Yes, technically polyester does shrink but it doesn’t shrink in normal washing and drying conditions. Washing polyester with warm or cold water or drying it in a dryer at regular settings won’t shrink it but it can shrink if it’s put in hot water.

Polyester resists change in its shape and it is a very rigid material in general but when subjected to heat it can shrink because ultimately it is a man-made fabric made of polymer.

If you put polyester clothes in hot water or iron them using high heat settings then they can shrink a little.

does polyester shrink more than cotton?

No, polyester does not shrink more than cotton. Polyester is a material that resists change in its shape and shrinks only if subjected to high heat whereas cotton is much easier to shrink and it shrinks more than polyester and polyester blends.

Cotton is one of the fabrics that is known for shrinking if you ever purchase any clothes made of cotton you must keep in mind that it will shrink.

polyester behaves in the exact opposite manner, it maintains its shape and rarely shrink in regular washing or drying condition, and can only shrink when high heat is subjected to it.

Polyester is however more subject to runs and pulls. It is definitely more durable than cotton and it is suited for those who want clothes that don’t shrink and last longer.

What shrinks faster cotton or polyester?

Cotton shrinks faster than polyester, it shrinks easily, and no matter how cautious you are cotton clothes will always shrink when washed or dried. Polyester on the other hand rarely shrinks when washed or dryer in regular conditions.

Polyester is a fabric known for its durability and its capability of resisting shrinkage, it doesn’t shrink unless high heat is applied to it.

contrastingly cotton is known to be the fabric that shrinks very easily, it shrinks easily if washed with warm water or dried in a dryer. 

does 65 polyester 35 cotton shrink

Yes, 65% polyester 35% cotton can shrink. Polyester on its own is shrinking resistant to a large extent but when it is blended with a material like cotton then it becomes prone to shrinking.

This fabric shrinks more than polyester but less than cotton.

Does 80% polyester and 20% cotton shrink?

Yes, 80% polyester and 20% cotton do shrink. Polyester doesn’t shrink but cotton does and when we talk of cotton-polyester blends they do shrink not as much as cotton but they still shrink.

Since the polyester content is very high(80%) in this fabric and the cotton content is relatively low so this fabric doesn’t shrink too much but it’s not shrink-resistant like 100% polyester.

Does 60% cotton and 40% polyester shrink in the dryer?

yes, 60% cotton and 40% polyester does shrink, in fact, any cotton blend fabric would shrink at least a little because of the shrinking nature of cotton. It doesn’t shrink as much as pure cotton because it contains polyester which prevents shrinking to a large extent.

Polyester rarely shrinks in normal conditions and cotton is known for shrinking so when these two are combined together in a blend then it inherits properties of both.

The Bottom Line:

Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics that is currently used for making men’s clothes. It has some really good properties like shrink resistance and wrinkle resistance. Polyester does not shrink more than cotton in fact it barely shrinks in normal washing and drying conditions. Though It can shrink if high heat is applied to it. 

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About the author

Dylan Baker

Dylan is a Men's fashion and image consultant, He is also the man behind Dapperclan. He is extremely passionate about fashion and wants to help men style and look better.

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