Finding the perfect fit of a shirt is just the first step on a man’s way to looking sharp. It would not be much of an overstatement to say that with a great shirt comes great responsibility. Taking care of your shirt and making sure it lasts is a must.

Professional cleaning of garments is a popular option. Contrary to common belief, though, dry cleaning is not always good for your shirts. Chemicals used in the cleaning process may affect the quality of your shirt, shorten its lifetime, and even discolour the yarn.

Furthermore, cleaning is followed by industrial ironing, which can also negatively affect the quality of the fabric. Ironing machines put too much pressure on the fabric, thus weakening it and damaging elements such as seams, monograms, or buttons. 

It is worth checking how your cleaners treat fabrics and what detergents they use. However, you can also wash your shirts yourself at home, following a few simple steps.

1. Prepare your shirt by removing the cuffs, collar and other detachable elements. If these are also made of fabric, remember to wash them as well.
2. Pre-treat any stains by carefully working a little gentle detergent into them. This way you can focus solely on “freshening up” the shirt later on. Difficult stains should be removed immediately. With each passing day, the stain dries into the fabric, which can cause discolouration or even permanently ruin the shirt.
3. Wash the shirt, following all care instructions on the label. Using the right cycle and adjusting the temperature to the type of fabric will help maintain its properties. Watch out for the spin speed — it should not be very high. Most washing machines have a delicate cycle with less agitation, which helps prevent micro-creases.
4. Properly drying your shirt is the first step in removing creases. If you hang the shirt correctly after washing, the final steps will be easier. Shirts made of heavier fabrics should be dried flat — this way the weight of the water in the yarn does not pull the fabric down, so your shirt keeps its shape.
5. Start ironing when your shirt has not completely dried. This makes it much easier to get rid of small creases and wrinkles. If the fabric has dried, wet particularly stubborn creases with clean water or steam before pressing.
6. After you iron the shirt, you should put it on a hanger and wait for it to cool down. When you wear a shirt that is still warm, new creases will form — and stay there.