17 Sep '15 / Guides

How to care for your formal shirts

Follow our simple steps below to keep your formal shirts looking sharp for years to come.

Prepare your shirt

Before washing, prepare your shirts properly. Unbutton all buttons, including cuff and collar buttons and remove the collar stiffeners. Pre-treat any stains by carefully spraying a little stain remover into them. Never use bleach on your shirt as this will damage the fabric.

Wash at 30 degrees

Unless the care label specifies otherwise, machine wash your cotton shirts at 30 degrees to avoid them shrinking. A lower temperature will also help the shirt’s fabric retain its colour for longer. And always separate white and dark colours.

With the right care, a high quality shirt can last for several years.

Never tumble dry

Never tumble dry cotton shirts as this will shrink the fabric and shorten their life cycle. Instead, hang them up to air dry naturally. We recommend using treated wooden hangers. A wooden hanger reduces the stress on the fabric and seams around the shoulders.

Iron while damp

It’s best to iron your shirts while they are still damp. This will enable you to dry iron without having to use the steam function and will ensure a smooth finish. For more ironing tips, read our ironing masterclass.

Don't like ironing?

If you're not a fan of ironing, try our outstanding non-iron shirts. Our non-iron shirts have been perfected with a unique finish to ensure that when they are hung up to dry after washing, they remain remarkably crease free.

Shop Non-Iron Shirts

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