Shirts are often delicate and quickly crease when washed.
We have a few useful tips to ensure that they always come out of the washing machine neat and tidy.
Business shirts in particular should always look clean and well-groomed in order to make a good impression at work.
But taking proper care of shirts can be a challenge.
The wrong washing program or washing temperature can damage the fabrics or cause the colors to fade.
In this article you will learn which washing program is best for shirts and what temperatures and detergents you should use.
Which is the right washing program for shirts?
Before you wash your shirts, you should make sure that you use the correct washing program.
Most modern washing machines have a special shirt program that is suitable for cotton shirts.
This program works at low speeds and uses less water than other programs to protect fabrics and prevent wrinkles.
Alternatively, you can also use the delicates program (not to be confused with the easy-care programme) or woollens program, which is suitable for more delicate fabrics such as silk or satin.
Both programs have a lower spin speed than the normal washing program and use less water to protect the fabrics.
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Shirts crease easily, so they should only be spun in the washing machine on a low spin.
© lemmi/Imago
What temperature is suitable for shirts?
Shirts should be washed at a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Higher temperatures can damage the fabric and cause shrinkage or color loss.
At lower temperatures, the shirt may not get completely clean, especially if it is heavily soiled.
If the shirt is white and has stubborn stains, you can also wash it at 60 degrees Celsius - but only for hard-wearing materials such as cotton.
Also note that a higher temperature will wear out the fabric faster and cause the colors to fade.
To be on the safe side, you should always first take a look at the care label - it states the washing temperature that the manufacturer recommends for the fabric.
The right detergent for shirts
When choosing the detergent for shirts, you should choose a liquid detergent, either a heavy-duty detergent (for whites) or color detergent (for coloreds).
Liquid detergents are generally gentler than powder detergents because they dissolve better and don't damage fabrics.
Washing instructions: How to wash shirts properly
Sort your shirts by color and material.
Remove collar stiffeners, cufflinks and other accessories before washing the shirt.
Pre-treat soiled collars and cuffs, for example with gall soap or some liquid detergent.
Do not put more than eight shirts in the washing drum so that the fabrics do not crease unnecessarily.
Use liquid detergent.
Set the washing machine to the appropriate program (e.g. shirt program or delicates program) and wash the shirts at 30 to 40 degrees Celsius.
Shirts should be washed at a low spin speed of 600 to 800 rpm.
Hang the shirts on a hanger to dry and flatten them with an iron before hanging them in the closet.
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Do I have to button the shirts before I wash them?
It is not essential to button shirts before washing.
However, if you want your shirts to hold their shape better as you wash and dry, you can button up.
Dry shirts after washing: hangers instead of clotheslines
After washing, hang the shirts on a hanger and make sure they are hanging straight.
Raise the collar and pull the fabric down.
Also avoid direct sunlight and only dry the shirts on the hanger, on the line or on the drying rack.
After drying, flatten the shirts with an iron before hanging them in the closet.
Your shirts stay wrinkle-free and always look well-groomed.
You can also tumble dry shirts, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
It is best to use the shirt program or a gentle program with a low temperature to avoid damage or shrinkage.
Remove the shirts from the dryer while they are still slightly damp and hang them on a hanger to prevent wrinkles.
These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past
These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past
Conclusion
Shirts are an important investment and taking care of them requires special attention.
To ensure that your shirts last and always look good, you should choose the right washing program, wash at the right temperature and use a mild detergent.
This keeps your shirts in top condition and always looking good.
This article was created with the help of machines and carefully reviewed by editor Andrea Stettner before publication.
List of rubrics: © lemmi/Imago
