wrinkled flag

[eliasmae]

I recently ordered a flag to hang in my dorm room, but i received it folded into very wrinkled rectangles. The flag is 3 x 5 made of polyester. Do the folds come out over time? can i put it in the dryer? it's brand new, just has small rectangle creases all over it. Please help! i want it to hang nice with no abnormal creases!

[Peter Ansoff]

Hi! This is a real problem with polyester flags. I have quite a few of them, and fly them on the poles in front of my house. My experience is that the wrinkles do *not* come out over time -- they are very persistent. What's even worse is that if the flag gets wet, the water runs down the creases and causes the dyes to run. I have a couple of flags that have white streaks across them for this reason.

The best solution I've found is to spread out the flag as soon as you get it, and iron it. Use the lowest possible heat setting for the iron, and do it slowly. It'll make the flag look much better, and also more run-resistant.

The good thing about poly flags is that they are cheap -- you can get almost any national or state flag for less than $10. The most common alternative is nylon, which is much more rugged but also costs a lot more.

Peter Ansoff

[american_flag_uk]

yea i found that ironing them when i had them was the best solution. i only have one such flag now which has no creases in anymore.

one thing tho DOOOOONT wash it in the wasshing machine i made that mistake with a flag last year and the color faded alot!!

[Peter Ansoff]

one thing tho DOOOOONT wash it in the wasshing machine

Yes, absolutely right! Even if they don't fade, washing takes off the sheen and makes the flag look dull.

One other good thing about poly flags is that they fly very well in light winds. I've actually done some experiments with flying a poly flag and a nylon flag side by side -- the poly flags look slightly more transparent, but they definitely fly better. There's also a noticeable difference between printed and sewn nylon flags -- the sewn ones are heavier and don't fly as well.

Peter Ansoff

[american_flag_uk]

.

There's also a noticeable difference between printed and sewn nylon flags

i have both an all sewn nylon flag and a half and lhalf one (the stripes are sewn together but the stars are printed)
ther is also noticable difference when flying these two flags especially in the sunlight - the sun will shine through printed stars and make them look lovely and bright and white and will stand up brilliantly wheras with the embroidered stars they block the sun and they look dark and sometimes cannot be seen atall up the pole and you only see a blue field!