How to wash and iron shirts & suits
By taking care of your shirts you can enjoy them for longer and ensure that you have a stylish wardrobe for any occasion. We will show you how to wash, dry and iron shirts and suits correctly. We will also give you some tips on how to iron suits and shirts and how to store them.
How to wash suits and properly store them
It is recommended to not wash suits too often so that they will keep their shape and the colours won’t fade. If your suit is not dirty, it is usually enough to have it cleaned once or twice a year.
Can you put a suit in the washing machine?
It is generally recommended that you have your suits dry cleaned. Dry cleaners can remove stains and wash items of clothing that cannot be washed in a washing machine at home.
Follow the tips below if your suit needs freshening up or you've spotted a small stain:
You can leave your suit outside to air out overnight. This will help to freshen it up and get rid of any unpleasant odours. This is often enough to save a trip to the dry cleaners. As a little tip, do not use fabric freshener as it can leave stains on your suit.
The best way to remove dirt, dust or hair is with a clothes brush.
If there is a small stain, you can try to wipe it off with a damp cloth. However, you should go to the dry cleaners for stubborn stains such as grease stains or coffee stains.
It is advisable not to wear the same suit every day, but to wear a different one each day. This gives the fibres a chance to air out and rest.
What should you keep in mind when ironing a suit?
If your suit is only slightly creased, it's often enough to just steam it to rid of any creases. If you don't have a steamer, you can simply hang your suit on a hanger in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. The moist air in the bathroom will get rid of any creases.
If you have tried the tips above and they don’t get rid of the creases, you'll have to use an iron. Before you iron your suit, you should check the care label. This will tell you whether your suit can be ironed and at what temperature.
Place a damp cloth between your suit and the iron to protect the fabric. This will also help to prevent any shiny iron marks.
How to store a suit
You should store your suits properly in your wardrobe so that they keep their shape and are always ready for use. Make sure to leave a bit of space between your suit and the other items of clothing in your wardrobe so that the fibres are not squashed and can air out. It's best to hang up your jacket on a wooden hanger with wide ends. Fold your trousers at the crease and place them over a wooden trouser hanger.
You can store suits that you do not wear very often in a cotton garment cover. This will protect your favourite suit from dust, sunlight and moths.
A guide to washing and ironing shirts
Looking smart and having a crease-free shirt is very important whether you’re going to a formal occasion or work. Below we will show you how to look after your shirts.
Washing shirts: step-by-step guide on how to get a perfect result
There are a couple of tips you can follow when washing white shirts to help them keep their colour.
Laundry tips for shirts
Before washing your shirts divide them up into separate piles for colours and different fabrics. This will ensure that the fabric doesn’t get damaged and that none of the colours run.
It is a good idea to wash your shirts together if you wear them often. This way, you can wash your shirts on the same wash program.
If you wash shirts together with other items of clothing, you can pop them into a laundry net bag. This will protect them during the wash. If you would like to keep your shirts crease-free, do not wash your shirts with other items of clothing such as jeans or jackets that can become quite heavy once wet.
It is recommended to turn shirts inside out before washing them. This will help to keep them white.
Before washing shirts
Before washing, put the collars up and also fold down the cuffs so that the shirt can be thoroughly washed.
Remove any collar stays before washing.
Fasten all the buttons on your shirt and turn it inside out.
Double check that your chest pocket is empty.
Washing shirts: pre-treating stains on your shirts
It is not always easy to avoid stains. Especially in summer, sweat stains can also appear on your collar or cuff. Therefore, you should pre-treat stains with gall soap or liquid detergent before washing your shirt.
It is recommended to take your shirt to the dry cleaners if the stain has not come out after washing it. Especially with black or coloured shirts, it is better to have experts remove the stain before the colour fades.
How to wash shirts at the correct temperature
It is best to wash your shirts at 30°C to 40°C degrees. Depending on the material, stained white shirts can also be washed at 60°C degrees. However, double check the care label before washing your clothes.
Wash programs for shirts
We recommend washing your shirts on a delicates wash program. Some washing machines also have a shirt program that you can use.
Helpful guide on washing machine programs
How to wash shirts on the right spin speed
Reduce the spin speed to stop your shirts from becoming creased. If you would like to hang your shirts up to dry outside, then choose 400 to 600 revolutions. If you would like to dry your shirts indoors, you should choose 600 to 800 revolutions.
Helpful tip: shirts made of delicate fabrics such as viscose or silk should not be spun. Before washing these types of shirts, we advise to check the care label.
Washing shirts: using the correct laundry detergent
White shirts should be washed with a heavy duty laundry detergent that contains bleach.
For coloured shirts you can use a colour laundry detergent.
Alternatively, you can also use a mild laundry detergent.
Helpful guide on washing machine programs
Should you wash shirts with fabric softener?
You don’t need to use fabric softener when washing shirts. This can eventually cause the fabric to lose its resilience.
How to dry shirts
The key to crease-free shirts is to make sure they are dried properly. Below we have listed some helpful tips on how to dry shirts:
Hang up your shirts once they have been washed so that they do not become creased or start to smell damp.
The best way to dry shirts is to hang them up on a hanger.
Fasten all the buttons or at least the top button. Fold up the collar and open the cuffs.
Go along the seams and gently pull the sleeves and shirt down around the torso to smoothen out any creases.
Do not leave your shirts to dry in the sun, as it can fade the colour.
Shirts made of durable fabrics can also be tumble dried. However, always check the care label.
Ironing shirts
Ironing shirts can be quite laborious, but it's the key to a crease-free shirt. Follow our tips below for great ironing results:
For crease-free shirts, you can take them off the clothes horse when they are still slightly damp or use the steam option on your iron.
Avoid using chemical ironing sprays to prevent stains or damaging the fabrics on your shirt.
After ironing, leave your shirts to dry on a hanger before putting them away in your wardrobe.
For the best results only put your shirt on when it is completely dry.
How to store suits to avoid creasing
Fasten your button placket on your suit jacket and hang it up on a hanger to ensure that it does not become creased. You can fold non-iron shirts and put them in the wardrobe, as creases will often fall out when you wear them. By hanging your shirts up you can keep them crease-free.
White and dark shirts in particular, tend to attract fluff. It is therefore advisable to store them separately from clothes, such as jumpers. For extra protection, you can also turn shirts inside out or store them in a garment bag. Leave a small space between each shirt in the wardrobe so that they don’t end up full of fluff and the fibres can breathe and remain crease-free.
Men’s shirt guide
Shirts are a must-have for every man’s wardrobe. However, not all shirts and fits are the same and there are a lot of different types of shirts to choose from. We will show you the different types of shirts and collars. We also explain how to find your shirt size.
Different types of suits for men & suit size guide
How to find a suit with a good fit? It’s important to find the right size and style that suits you. We'll show you how to do this and what to keep in mind when buying a suit. Our article will also show you the different types of suits and suit jackets.
Different colours and fabrics for suits
Which suit colours should you wear on certain occasions? What shoes go well with a blue suit? In this article we will answer these and other questions about choosing the right suit colour. We will also show you the most commonly used fabrics for suits and which suits are great for summer and which are better suited to winter.
How to tie a tie and do different tie knots
There is an art to tying ties. In this article we will show you the most common types of tie knots and explain when you should wear them depending on the occasion. Our article has step-by-step instructions on how to tie a tie correctly. You will also find answers to the most frequently asked questions about ties.
Tying a tie and folding a pocket square
Bow ties and pocket squares are elegant accessories that can add a touch of class to your outfit. Whether you want your everyday outfit to look more stylish or maybe you are looking for an alternative to a tie for a formal occasion. In this article we will explain how to tie a bow tie, fold a pocket square and how style them.
______________________________________________
The image sources in this text are in chronological order:
Cover photo: iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko
1. Image in text: iStock.com/Kostikova
2. Image in text: iStock.com/Tatsuo115
3. Image in text: iStock.com/lemacpro
4. to 8. Image in text: C&A