But you’ve got the option to capture the same sharp and professional-looking results at home.
By following these tips, you’ll save time and money by making fewer trips to the cleaners.
The shirt must be made of awoven fabric.
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You cannot achieve a crisp finish with a knit fabric.
If the shirt islabeled dry clean only, it’ll be difficult to achieve the desired result at home.
This will especially affect the collars and cuffs.
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This may prolong the life of the shirt.
Starch andlaundry sizingare two different products.
Dip the Shirt in the Solution
Submerge and saturate the shirt in the water-starch mixture.
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Don’t allow the shirt to dry completely.
It should be ironed while it’s still slightly damp but not damp enough to clog the iron.
The contoured shape of the board will help you prevent unwanted creases.
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Don’t use the steam setting.
For the best, crispest results, you need anironwith a clean non-stick soleplate and adjustable temperature.
It doesn’t need to be a steam iron because steam doesn’t equal crispness.
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Thus, using aclothes steamerwon’t help.
Iron the Collar First
Heavily starched shirts areironed the same wayas any shirt.
Hold the cuff in one hand to make the fabric taut.
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Iron from the armpit across the bottom seam down to the cuff.
Then, iron a straight crease into the top of the sleeve from the shoulder down to the cuff.
Next, iron the cuff.
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Iron the other sleeve the same way.
Remember to iron both sides of the button placket (the vertical strip of button holes and buttons).
It’s usually easy to removelight scorching, and an attempt should be made to remove even darker marks.
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A damp shirt will wrinkle more easily.
If you plan to store shirts away during the off-season, don’t starch them first.
Starch is food for several types ofinsects.
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Tips for Starching Shirts Like a Pro
Professional Wet Cleaning Guidebook.UCLA Sustainable Technology & Policy Program
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kyoshino / Getty Images
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