Premium business shirt maintenance
photo by The U.S. Army
It’s not uncommon to expect that most young professionals will have an array of premium business shirts to choose from. Business shirts actually need to be quite versatile and used from boardroom to the bar!
These business shirts are a significant investment. Once you’ve got your right business shirt (collar, colour, fabric, fit and more), you need to make sure to extend its life especially if you want to save your money and not have to buy another business shirt six months from now. Here are some helpful tips to lengthen your shirts’ life.
How to care for your business shirts to lengthen their life cycle
Daily care – The best way to ensure your shirts are their best is to look them over every day. You need to ensure that there are no loose buttons, noticeable stains, rips and wrinkles. Be proactive about catching any problems and correct them before it’s way too late to do anything about it. Do this checking before you iron your shirt. You should also keep your business shirts a few inches away from each other on non-metal hangers. This allows them to breathe and drape naturally, which keeps them from getting into poor shape. A few minutes of your time every day can lengthen your shirt’s life.
Wash – You have two options when it comes to washing your business shirts: you can wash them yourself or send them out to a dry cleaner.
Washing shirts yourself – If you choose to wash your own business shirts, always look at the tag to see what the recommendations are. You may find that most business shirts must be washed on the gentle cycle in lukewarm water. If you decide to wash them by hand, separate your colours and be careful with the bleach. While white shirts should be fine, always consult the label for care instructions.
Dry cleaners – Many people turn to dry cleaners to get business shirts cleaned but it can be rather dangerous. First, they use chemicals that can alter the colour of the shirt and/or damage it. You’ll need to ensure that the cleaners know not to starch your shirt, as this can weaken the fibres, causing it to possibly tear.
If you want the crisp look, you’ll need to buy a high thread, well-made quality business shirt- we recommend 100% Egyptian cotton. Launder your shirt; don’t send it out to be dry-cleaned since they use chemicals that can cause major damage to them.
Iron – Don’t start ironing your shirt just yet. You’ll need to make sure the shirt has no stains. When you iron over a stain, it becomes close to impossible to remove. You’ll also want to ensure no loose buttons or threads. Your shirt should be slightly damp while you iron. If you can, use a good steam iron to quickly and easily remove those wrinkles and dry it out.
Stains – You’re going to need to deal with stains at some point so it’s best to act right away. If you’ve got mud or grass stains on it, apply stain remover. Oil/grease stains can be removed with liquid detergents. Make sure to hand wash using cold water. Armpit stains are very common on shirts so consider using an undershirt to stop them. Always put on cologne first and wait for it to dry before you put on your shirt, as cologne can discolour your shirt.
When you follow the above steps, you can lengthen how long you have a business shirt for, as you’ll maintain its quality, colour, fit and fabric. It is a must-have in your wardrobe so ensure that it lasts!
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