Cotton polyester blend fabrics can be made into everything from bedding to dress shirts. The guidelines that apply to ironing cotton do not apply to cotton polyester blends -- polyester cannot withstand as much heat as cotton.
Things You'll Need
Ironing board
Iron
Pressing cloth
Spray bottle (optional)
Step 1
Set up the ironing board. Turn on the iron and set the heat to low.
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Step 2
Place the cotton polyester fabric on the ironing board. Position the pressing cloth on top of the fabric to prevent iron marks or shine.
Tip
If you do not have a pressing cloth, you can substitute a clean cotton handkerchief or a piece of scrap fabric.
Step 3
Iron back and forth, staying within the area of the pressing cloth.
Warning
Iron continuously, lifting the iron if you need to stop. If you let the iron rest on the fabric, you risk burning it.
Tip
If you want to completely avoid ironing, look for cotton polyester blends with wrinkle-resistant labels. The more polyester in the blend, the less likely the fabric is to wrinkle.
Step 4
When you have finished ironing the first section, move the pressing cloth to another section. Repeat until you have removed all the wrinkles.
Step 5
If the fabric is still wrinkled, slightly dampen it with a spray bottle before layering the pressing cloth on top of it and repeating Step 3.
Tip
If you are ironing a cotton polyester garment, always check the label for specific ironing instructions.
Cotton Polyester Trend
More cotton polyester blends are on today's market because of rising cotton costs. Polyester is less expensive, so blending it with cotton creates a fabric that is more affordable to manufacturers and consumers.
Cotton Polyester Ratio
The ratio of the cotton polyester blend ranges from 65 percent cotton and 35 percent polyester to a 50-to-50 blend. Blends with more polyester are less tolerant of heat from an iron; if your blend is a 65 percent cotton and 35 percent polyester blend, for example, then it can tolerate more heat than a 50-to-50 blend.
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Pros and Cons of Cotton Polyester
No matter what ratio, a cotton polyester blend has pros and cons. For example, while the cotton polyester blends are affordable and keep their shape, the fabric traps moisture and is more susceptible to staining.
Since polyester is a more flexible fiber than cotton, it is also tear resistant. Combining it with cotton makes fabric more durable while still retaining some of the advantages of cotton fiber such as softness and breathable fabric.