Therefore, they should be treated with the utmost care when washing or drying.
Taking a dress shirt to be cleaned by a professional gives crisp, stain-free results.
But you might achieve the same look by washing the shirt at home with the proper technique.
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska
Read on for more details on how to wash dress shirts at home without ruining them.
It will give you the instructions on care including what water temperature to use when washing.
If the label directs you todry clean only, believe it.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Washing the shirt at home can result in shrinking or distortion of the fabric and excessive wrinkling.
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Then, addressother areasthat need pretreatment before washing the shirt.
The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu
The inside of shirt collars traps body oils and soil.
Apply some stain remover to the area and work it in with a soft-bristled nylon brush or old toothbrush.
Check theunderarm areasfor deodorant build-up that can cause yellowing and trap odor.
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
Treat with some stain remover and a quick, gentle scrub.
Allow the stain remover to work for about 10 minutes before adding the shirt to the washer.
For an automatic dryer, use the permanent press cycle that has a cool-down feature to help reduce wrinkles.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
When you remove it from the dryer, promptly hang the shirt to keep it as wrinkle-free as possible.
Using a bit ofspray starch or sizingwhile ironing will make your shirts look like a professional washed them.
Be sure to replace the collar stays after ironing to keep the collar tips smooth and in place.
The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo
Do You Have to Dry Clean Dress Shirts?
Most dress shirts are made from cotton or cotton blends that require washing to remove water-soluble stains like sweat.
However, a professional cleaner will wash, starch, and iron a dress shirt.
Should You Hand Wash Dress Shirts?
While it’s possible for you to hand wash a dress shirt, it isn’t necessary.
It is going to take longer for the shirt to drip dry, too.
Only hand wash if you’re in a pinch and can’t get to a washer.
Permanent press uses medium-high heat and has a cool-down component to help reduce wrinkles.
