Polyester is one of the most common fabrics in use today because it is durable, long-lasting, inexpensive, and versatile. But because it is so widely used, polyester gets exposed to many different elements, some of which can stain the fabric. Stains on any fabric make some people discontinue using the item. In this article, we’ll explain how to get stains out of polyester.
Most stains can be removed from polyester using ingredients that you already have around the house. However, the ingredients that you use depends on the type of stain. Some stains, like food and blood, are easier to remove. Stains from oil and grease are tougher.
We’ve come up with a few of the most common stains that affect polyester and created a comprehensive guide on removing them.
Is Polyester Stain Resistant?
Polyester is a synthetic material, which means that it is made to be a wrinkle, shrink, and stain resistant. For the most part, polyester does a great job at resisting stains, but that doesn’t mean that it will resist all stains all the time.
Some stains cling to the polyester fibers more than others, making them a little bit tougher to remove. Tough stains require proper treatment to remove them.
How To Remove Stains From Polyester
Two of the most common items that get on polyester and stain it are blood and food. These stains are fairly easy to remove as long as you treat them while the stain is fresh. You can usually remove them with one treatment using common household cleaning products.
One of the most important steps to remove spots is to wash them in cold water after treating them. According to Tide, washing stained items in warm water can cause the stain to set in even more. For each type of stain, we’ll tell you what you need and the steps you need to take to remove it.
Blood Stains
To remove blood stains, you will need:
- A paper towel or cloth
- A washbasin
- Liquid dish soap
- Water
- Laundry Detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
Follow these steps to remove blood stains from polyester.
- If the bloodstain is still wet, use the paper towel or cloth to blot the stain and remove excess blood.
- Fill the washbasin or sink with lukewarm water and mix in a small amount of soap.
- Place the item in the soapy water so that it is completely submerged. If the item doesn’t stay under the water, you can place a heavy item, such as a towel, on top.
- Let the item soak for 2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of the stain.
- After the item has soaked, drain the old water and replace it with new water.
- Add a small amount of detergent and hydrogen peroxide to the water. Around ½ cup of each should be plenty; hydrogen peroxide can leave stains on white polyester if you use too much.
- Let the item sit in the water overnight.
- Take the item out of the water and wash it in the washing machine on cold water.
Food Stains
To remove food stains, you will need:
- A paper towel or cloth
- Spray bottle
- White vinegar
- Water
- Dish soap
Follow these steps to remove food stains from polyester.
- Blot the stain with a paper towel or cloth. Do not rub the stain, as this could cause the stain to set in more, making it harder to remove.
- Fill the spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar.
- Add some soap to the spray bottle and shake it to mix everything.
- Spray the stain with the mixture and let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Blot the stain again to absorb some of the spray and the stain.
- If the stain is coming out, wash the item in the washing machine using cold water.
- If the stain isn’t coming out, fill your sink with water, add ½ cup of vinegar, and let the item soak for at least 30 minutes.
- Wash the item in the washing machine.
Removing Oil-Based Stains From Polyester
Oil-based stains are tougher to remove because the polyester fibers absorb oil and oil doesn’t react with water. Some oil-based stains come from food, but not all of them. Examples of common stains that are oil-based are:
- Butter
- Deodorant
- Gasoline
- Lotion/Makeup
- Mayonnaise
- Salad dressing
This is certainly not a complete list, but knowing what kinds of products cause oil stains will help you understand what you need to do to remove them.
To remove oil spots, you will need:
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Borax or hydrogen peroxide
Follow these steps to remove stains:
- As soon as you notice the stain, lay the item on a flat surface.
- Sprinkle baking soda on top of the stain to soak up any oil that hasn’t been absorbed by the fibers.
- Once the baking soda has absorbed as much oil as possible, brush it off over the sink or trash can.
- Squeeze some soap onto the stain. The soap helps to break down oil. Let it sit on the stain for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Do not rinse the soap off. Instead, toss it in the washing machine and turn the knob to warm water.
- Add the usual amount of laundry detergent. Then add a cup of borax or hydrogen peroxide (your choice) to the washing machine to aid in lifting the stain.
- Wash the item, then let it air dry so that you can see if the stain was removed. If the stain wasn’t removed, drying it in the dryer can further set the stain.
- If the stain isn’t gone, repeat the treatment.
Are Oil Stains Permanent?
As long as you treat an oil stain as soon as it gets polyester, you can usually remove it. The longer you wait to remove an oil stain, the more the fabric will absorb the stain. This will make it harder to remove, and in some cases, you may not be able to remove it at all. In other words, the earlier you catch it, the better.
What Does An Oil Stain Look Like?
One problem with oil spots is that you might not see them as easily as you would other types of stains. On black or dark clothing, you may not even notice that they’re there until after the stain is set in.
Most oil stains will take on the color of the fabric and will appear slightly darker than the fabric itself, but you may not even be able to see the stain until after it dries. This is why it’s important to be aware of what kinds of things cause oil spots so that you immediately know how to remove them effectively.
How Do You Get Old Oil Stain Out Of Polyester?
Old oil spots are harder to remove because the fabric has had more time to absorb the stain. You may not be able to completely remove an old oil stain, but following these steps may prove to be effective.
- Lay the item on a flat surface.
- Use a cloth and cool water to dampen the area where the spot is.
- Squeeze some liquid soap onto the stain and rub it in. Let the soap sit on the spot for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash the item in the washing machine using regular detergent, then let it air dry.
- If the stain isn’t gone, repeat the treatment.
How to Get Grease Stains Out of Polyester
Grease stains mostly come from greasy foods, and grease stains are very similar to oil stains. As with oil-based stains, the sooner you can treat them, the easier the stain removal will be. To treat a grease stains, all you will need is a bar of grease-fighting dish soap. Follow these steps to remove a grease stain from polyester.
- Rinse the spot with cold water as soon as you notice it.
- Squeeze a little soap onto the stain. According to Dawn, 1 teaspoon is plenty.
- Rub the soap into the stain to loosen it. Let the soap sit for about 5 minutes. You can rinse the soap off or leave it on there and let the washing machine do it.
- Put the stained item in the washing machine with some detergent and wash it in cool water.
- If the stain is gone, you can wash it in the dryer. If not, repeat the treatment.
How to Get Ballpoint Pen Ink Out of Polyester
Leaving a pen in your pocket in the washing machine can cause the ink to get on your polyester clothes. If you catch it early enough, use a paper towel to blot up as much ink as you can. Here is what you’ll need to remove the stain:
- Hairspray
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Water
Follow these steps to remove ink from polyester:
- Spray some hairspray on the stain.
- Make a solution to soak the stain in. You will need to mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of soap with 4 cups of water.
- Let the ink stain soak for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Rinse the stained area. If the spot is still there, repeat steps 1-3.
- If the stain is gone, wash the item as you normally would.
How to Get Yellow Stains Out of White Polyester
There are several ways to remove yellow stains from polyester. One of the easiest ways to get yellow stains out of white polyester is to use oxygen bleach. Chlorine bleach may be too harsh for synthetic fabrics like polyester, but oxygen bleach is less harsh and safer for both you and the fabric. Here’s how to use it:
- Mix a solution of oxygen bleach and warm water following the directions on the package.
- Put the item in the solution and leave it to soak overnight.
- Take the item out of the solution and wash it in the washing machine using warm water.
- Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- Dry it in the dryer or let it air dry. Hanging it out in the sun to dry can also help to whiten it.
You can also try adding 1 cup of lemon juice to the washing machine. Or, mix a bluing agent with cold water according to the instructions, add it to the washing machine and wash the item as normal.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped teach you how to remove different types of stains from polyester. Different types of stains have different treatments, but the sooner you can treat a stain, the more success you’ll have at removing it. If you enjoyed this article, be sure to share it with others and leave a comment. Thanks for reading!