# Sweat, polyester clothing, and corrosion
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweat-polyester-clothing-and-corrosion/745613
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 9, 2016, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweat-polyester-clothing-and-corrosion/745613 "2016-02-09T12:00:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2016, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweat-polyester-clothing-and-corrosion/745613/1 "2016-02-09T12:00:02Z")
So, before traveling abroad for 1 month, I had two polyester garments that had sweat on them from exercise. Wasn’t able to get them washed before leaving.
I ponder chemistry questions a lot, so, how corrosive is the salt and other stuff in sweat, on fabrics like polyester?
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sweat-polyester-clothing-and-corrosion/745613/2 "2016-02-09T16:10:12Z")
Pretty much not at all. Polyester isn’t quite inert, but it’s pretty resistant to everyday things, especially at room temperature.
> **[Polyester - Chemical Resistance](https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/chemical-resistance-polyester-d_784.html)**
>
> Chemical resistance of Polyester to products like Acetic acid, Diesel oil and others.
I’d think the biggest issue might be washing whatever it is out of the polyester after it’s been festering in your bag for a while.
> **[Stinky T-Shirt? Bacteria Love Polyester In A Special Way](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/09/05/346055067/stinky-t-shirt-bacteria-love-polyester-in-a-special-way)**
>
> Why does that sleek polyester T-shirt reek after 10 minutes, while the old-school cotton stays relatively sweet? Polyester attracts very different microbes, which may account for that special stink.