Like all clothes you wear, dress shirts will eventually need washing, and that is perfectly normal. Here are a few tips on how to wash your dress shirts at home without damaging them. With proper care, your dress shirts can last for a long time. Read on to learn how to care for and wash your dress shirt properly.
Washing your dress shirt at home saves time and gives you more control than taking it to a cleaner. It is a good option, but there are a few things to keep in mind to get the best result. Follow the step-by-step guide below to care for your dress shirts properly.
1. Start the process by preparing the dress shirt or dress shirts you want to have washed. Make sure to unbutton all of the buttons; don't forget the cuff and collar buttons. Remove any collar stays if the dress shirt has those.
2. Any visible stains? Pre-treat them by working in some detergent into the stains. Pro-tip: use a stain remover pen if you have one of those.
3. Prepare your washing machine and make sure you use the appropriate cycle for your dress shirts. Washing dress shirts in fine fabrics? Use the most delicate cycle available to avoid any shrinking or damage. If your dress shirts are on the heavier side in terms of materials (or very dirty), you may use a normal cycle.
4. We strongly advise against using any detergent that contains chlorine, as it can cause unwanted discolouration in many shirt fabrics. Instead, choose a detergent suited to the colour of the shirt. A high-quality detergent is the best choice when washing your dress shirts.
5. After washing your dress shirts, make sure to remove them fast from the washing machine to stop the deep wrinkles from drying into the fabric.
6. Either hang up the dress shirts or lay them flat and let them air dry. Avoid sharp hangers or hangers with tight clothespins, as these may distort the fabric or leave marks on the dress shirt.
7. Lastly, iron your dress shirts. This step does not require the dress shirt to be completely dry, but it should not be soaked either. Read our guide to learn how to iron a dress shirt. If you prefer to skip this step, explore our non-iron dress shirts instead.
Should I use hot or cold water when washing a dress shirt?
If you're washing a white or light-colored dress shirt, you can use hot water, however, for black and dark-colored dress shirts, you're better off using cold water to avoid fading.
How to remove a stain from a dress shirt
Accidents happen. If you get an unwanted stain on your dress shirt, acting quickly can help minimise the damage. Read our guide to learn how to remove stains from your dress shirt.
Can a dress shirt shrink?
Short answer: yes, it can. Longer answer: your dress shirt may shrink if the drying process is too harsh. For that reason, we recommend avoiding the dryer for dress shirts, as it can cause noticeable shrinkage.
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