Men's Dress Shirts

Whether you bring your shirts to Classic Cleaners or opt to clean them at home, there are a few common problems you should consider to ensure proper care.

Colors can Fade

Dress shirts can become discolored where they come in contact with body oils, as on the upper chest and back, inner neckband and upper sleeves. You might notice this condition after the first wearing or over time. Often, the damage can usually be improved with a professional cleaning from Classic Cleaners.

Stubborn Stains Leave Marks

Ring around the collar is common. That’s because as a shirt is worn, the neckband, collar fold and cuffs are exposed to ground-in soils from perspiration, body oils, colognes, hair products, medicines and more. To prevent excess buildup of body oils, launder your shirts after each wearing.

Sweat Sometimes Lingers

Sweat can weaken your dress shirt and make it susceptible to damage during washing. And, antiperspirants contain aluminum chlorides that can compromise the fibers under the arm. These two problems are simple to remedy: allow antiperspirants or deodorants to dry before dressing and wash your shirts soon after use.

Oxfords Grow Holes

Due to the weaving process, tiny holes can randomly appear throughout an oxford shirt over time. Oxford cloth is made with two thin yarns in one direction and one thick yarn in the other direction. This unbalanced construction puts strain on the thin yarns, causing them to break and leave tiny holes. Eventually every oxford weave will develop pinholes from wear and cleaning.

Puckers Pop Up on Collars & Cuffs

Interfacing fabric is used in collars, cuffs and placket fronts to help create a smooth look. If it isn’t fused correctly or isn’t properly pre-shrunk, the outer fabric will be larger than the interfacing after laundering, causing puckers or wrinkles when pressed.

Watch Out for Melted Labels

Some shirts have labels that are glued on instead of stitched. Unfortunately, such labels can soften under high heat from professional cleaning or tumble drying and ironing at home and permanently stain the shirt. If this occurs, the shirt should be returned.

For Best Results: Leave it to Classic Cleaners

On average, industry experts predict shirts have a two-year wear life expectancy. However, a better measurement of their quality is the number of launderings they tolerate, anywhere from 35 to 50 washings is typical. To get the most mileage out of a dress shirt, you should clean it as soon as possible after each wearing. For best results, shirts should be commercially laundered.

Professional shirt laundering differs from home laundering in that specialized wash formulas and different pressing procedures are used—collars are cleaner and the finish is crisper. So trust the experts at Classic Cleaners for all your dry cleaning and laundering needs. The better care you give your dress shirts, the longer they’ll last and the better you’ll look.