How To Take Care of Your Shirts

The dress shirt is a staple in any man’s wardrobe, it is a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down. Whether you're wearing an extreme cutaway shirt for a meeting or rocking a t-shirt for a casual day out, it's important to know how to care for your shirts, so they always look their best. After all, some Tender Loving Care (TLC) will go a long way in preserving the lifespan of your wardrobe staples.

If you're looking for tips on how to take care of your shirts, you've come to the right place! Read on for our top tips on how to wash, care for, and store your dress shirts.

How To Wash Your Shirt

You have several options when it comes to washing your shirts. The route you take will depend on the fabric of your shirt and how often you wear it, as well as personal preference.

Photo by Dieter K on Unsplash

Wash And Dry in One Cycle

Washing your dress shirt in one cycle is a great way to save time, and it's also an easy way to care for your shirt. However, only cotton dress shirts should be washed and dried in one cycle since other fabrics can wrinkle and take more damage. And when drying, make sure to select the lowest heat setting and remove the dress shirt as soon as it's done drying.

Hand Wash Your Shirt

Hand washing garments is a great option for preserving a shirts longevity. This method is also ideal for dress shirts made with delicate fabrics. Extreme cutaway shirts and wide collar dress shirts, in particular, benefit from being hand washed.

To hand wash your dress shirt, follow these simple steps:

• Fill a sink or basin with cold water and add a small amount of gentle detergent (no more than 1/4 teaspoon).
• Soak the dress shirt in soapy water for 3-5 minutes.
• Gently massage the dress shirt to loosen any dirt or debris.
• If the dress shirt is very dirty, you can use a soft brush to remove stains.
• Rinse the dress shirt in cool water until all the soap has been removed.
• Remove the dress shirt from the sink and gently squeeze out any excess water.
• Hang the dress shirt on a hanger or clothesline and allow it to air dry.

Dry Clean Your Shirt

If you're not comfortable hand washing or machine washing your formal dress shirts, you can always take them to the dry cleaners. Dry cleaning is the best option for dress shirts made with delicate fabrics or for dress shirts that are very dirty.

Most dry cleaners will have a standard process for cleaning dress shirts, but it's always a good idea to ask about their specific process before leaving your shirt. This way, you can be sure that your shirt will be properly cared for.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

How to Take Care of Your Shirt

Washing isn't the only thing you need to do to take care of your dress shirts. There are a few other things you can do to keep them looking their best! Here are a few tips:

Alternate Between Wearing Your Shirts 

A single white dress shirt can only be worn so many times before it starts to look dirty and worn-out. To avoid this, alternate between your different dress shirts. This way, you can wear each shirt multiple times before it needs to be washed!

Having a collection of 5-10 dress shirts for men is a good way to ensure that you always have a clean shirt to wear. This way, you'll also have some variety in your wardrobe and can alternate between different styles and colours of dress shirts. For example, you could have a few extreme cutaway shirts, a wide collar shirt, a contrast collar shirt, and a few dress shirts in different colours and wear them all throughout the week!

Hang Your Shirts Up When You're Not Wearing Them

Hanging your dress shirts when you're not wearing them is a great way to keep them looking their best. This will help prevent wrinkles and will also keep the shirt from getting dirty.

Did you know! Today you can buy hangers which are specially made from dress shirts. However, if you don't have a dress shirt hanger, you can always hang your dress shirts on a regular hanger. You can also fold your dress shirts and store them in a dresser drawer. Just be sure to fold them properly so they don't get wrinkled.

Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash

Be Careful When Washing

Cooler wash temperatures should be your go-to when washing dress shirts. Warm water can cause dress shirts to shrink and damage the fabrics. It's also best to avoid using too much detergent when washing dress shirts. A small amount of mild detergent is all you need to get your dress shirt clean.

If you are hand washing your dress shirt, be sure to use cool water. When machine washing your dress shirt, use the delicate wash cycle and select a cool water temperature. You can also add your dress shirt to a mesh laundry bag to help protect it from damage.

Use the Right Fabric Care Products 

If you want your dress shirts to last, it's important to use the right fabric care products. Dress shirts are usually made with delicate fabrics, so you'll need to be careful when choosing laundry detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry products.

Mild, unscented laundry detergents are best for dress shirts. You should also avoid using fabric softener as this can damage dress shirt fabrics. If you need to remove wrinkles from your dress shirt, use a handheld steamer or iron on the lowest heat setting.

Iron Damp

If you need to iron your dress shirt, always iron it with plenty of steam while the fabric is still damp. This will help prevent wrinkles and will also make ironing easier. Be sure to use the lowest heat setting on your iron to avoid damaging the dress shirt fabrics.

If you have delicate garments, you can also put a clean, damp cloth over the shirt while you're ironing it. This will help protect the shirt from damage while also preventing wrinkles.

Photo by Dieter K on Unsplash

Know Your Dress Shirt Colours

The essential dress shirt colours are white, blue, and black. These colours can be worn with any outfit and can be dressy or casual. However, there are also a few other dress shirt colours that you may want to add to your wardrobe.

Pink or lilac dress shirts are perfect for spring and summer. They will add a pop of colour to any outfit and can be on any occasion! Autumn and winter are the perfect seasons for wearing darker dress shirt colours. Burgundy, green, and grey dress shirts are all great choices for these seasons. 

However, always remember to wash your shirts with same or similar colours. Never put a white shirt together with a red sock! If you want a pink shirt, why not check out Dandy & Son’s selection of pink shirts.

Extreme Cutaway Pink Premium Contrast Shirt French Cuff from Dandy & Son

Air Dry Your Dress Shirt 

After washing your dress shirt, air drying is the best option. This will help prevent wrinkles and preserve the dress shirt's shape. If tumble drying is the only option, be sure to use the lowest heat setting and remove the dress shirt while it's still damp.

Don't Forget The T-Shirt 

T-shirts are an essential part of any man's wardrobe. They can be dressy or casual and are perfect for layering under dress shirts. When wearing a t-shirt under your dress shirt for men, you will protect your dress shirt from any direct contact with sweat, which will keep it fresh and clean longer!

Be sure to choose a quality t-shirt that fits well and is made with a breathable fabric like organic cotton. This type of fabric will help keep you cool and dry throughout the day!

And finally…

The care label on your dress shirt from men isn’t there just for fun. It contains all the information you need to know how to care for your shirt. So, if you want your shirt to look fresh and last longer, don’t cut it away!

Give Your Wardrobe A Makeover with Dandy and Son

Now that you know how to take care of your dress shirts, it's time to give your wardrobe a makeover. Dandy and Son is the perfect place to find high-quality dress shirts that will fit you perfectly.

Dandy & Son offer a wide range of dress shirt styles, including extreme cutaway dress shirts, cutaway shirts, wide collar dress shirts, and more. Dandy & Son also offer collections featuring dress shirts with French cuffs, non-iron shirts, and dress shirts that are perfect for work or travel.

No matter what style you're looking for, we are sure you will find a shirt you like from Dandy & Son!

Extreme Cutaway Shirt from Dandy & Son

Thank you for reading! If you would like to read more articles about shirts for men, formalwear, and men’s fashion. Then head over to our blog!