How to Take Care of Your Dress Shirt

Knowing the proper care for you dress shirts is an essential in keeping them crisp, clean and elegant, not to mention in good condition. But most importantly, keeping your shirts in tip-top shape helps you project a well-groomed appearance.

Below are some simple tips and steps you can use to care and extend the life of your men’s dress shirts from Robert Smart Menswear in York:

– Wash brand new dress shirts you just bought from Robert Smart Menswear in York before you wear them. This will help you avoid allergies especially if you have sensitive skin. Doing so will also make the shirt softer and more comfortable to wear.

– To avoid embarrassing moments caused by missing buttons, routinely check your dress shirts to see if all buttons are secure and there are no loose threads. Getting them repaired immediately not only help avoid nuisances, but will also help in keeping your shirt in good shape.

– Machine wash you dress shirts using gentle cycle with lukewarm water to preserve the fabric quality and color.

– Never dry-clean your shirts. This is because chemicals use in dry cleaning fluids tends to destroy the fabric, weakening the threads and eventually result to holes and rips. These cleaning agents are also very strong that they have the tendency to turn whites to yellow.

– As much as possible, avoid starching your dress shirts. Starching while pressing causes cotton fibers to weaken. To keep the crisp look on your shirts, buy ones that have higher thread count.

– To avoid stains due to deodorant stains, spray or apply deodorant, cologne and other similar products on your body and wait for them to dry before wearing your shirt.

– To prevent permanent stains when accidents happen, promptly wash your dress shirt before the stain sets in and absorbed in the fabric.

– To avoid color runs, separate your dress shirts before washing into three categories: whites, colors and darks. To get white shirts whiter, use bleach. For colors, use a diluted solution or special bleach for colors. As for the darks, avoid bleaching all together.

– Check for stains and clean them before pressing. Heat from the iron might permanently set the stain into the fabric.

– Using a steam iron is better when pressing your dress shirts. But if you don’t have one, it’s best to iron them while the fabric is still damp so that you do not scorch or damage the fabric. It also helps in getting the wrinkles easier.

– When storing and hanging your dress shirts, it is better to use wooden or plastic hangers with firm shoulders to keep them in nice shapes. Wire hangers tend to destroy the shape of your shirts.

Clothes from Robert Smart Menswear in York, including men’s dress shirts are actually investments that every man should take care off. Looking good on them not only give you a good appearance, but also an air of confidence. That is why having them in perfect condition is very important and knowing how to do so is an essential.

Caring for your shirts in the proper fashion will result in a crisp look and a more professional appearance. By treating your shirts their best, you ensure that they’ll last longer and look better for as long as you care to wear them. Banish the wrinkled look and say hello to perfectly pressed, utterly stylish shirts for both work and play!

You should always check the care suggestions on your dress shirt from Robert Smart Menswear in York and try to stick to them. Always wash your dress shirt after you purchase it. If you wear it right after buying, it will feel stiff and could still contain chemicals. Use a trusted detergent that is color-free, such as Woolite or Ivory, and machine wash your shirt on the gentle cycle in lukewarm water. It’s best to wash your custom or bespoke shirts by hand.

Are you set on dry cleaning your shirts because you simply hate to wash your own or don’t have time? You can still bring your dress shirts in for cleaning, but get them laundered instead. Dry cleaning can give your shirts a yellowed appearance, so if you want your shirts to last, avoid dry cleaning as much as you can. Mark your shirts “No Starch” and “No Machine Press” when you send them out.

Ironing

• Begin to iron your dress shirt by beginning with the underside of the collar. Smooth away from the collar points towards the back of the neck. Continue by ironing the front of the collar.
• Next, iron the yoke area from the neck outwards, and then iron the pleats in the same direction of the fold.
• Iron the cuffs of your shirt inside out as well. Put the sleeves down flat and iron upwards toward the shoulders.
• Don’t forget to iron the other side of the shirt sleeve before moving on to the next sleeve!
• Iron the body of your shirt by starting at the top and moving downwards towards the hem.