HOW TO MAINTAIN A SHIRT TO PROLONG ITS LIFE
You wear your shirts very regularly? You notice that they wear out quickly? You don't know how to take care of them by yourself and systematically entrust them to the dry cleaners for fear of seeing them fade, shrink in the machine or burn under your iron?
Here are our tips to maintain them in a sustainable and responsible way so that you can keep your shirts in perfect condition from day to day and prolong their life.
-
Washing
The steps :
1. Unbutton your shirts and turn them inside out before putting them in the washing machine, remove the collar stays to prevent them from twisting
2. Wash your shirts with similar colored clothes to prevent unfortunate staining
3. Do not overload your washing machine to avoid wasting energy and the risk of your shirt not being washed properly
4. Do not wash your shirt with other clothes that could damage it, such as zippers...
5. Choose a powder or liquid detergent that will wash more evenly than a capsule and stick to the indicated dose
6. You can add a little fabric softener
7. Choose a 30° program for a lightly soiled shirt, and a 40° program for a really dirty shirt
8. Opt for a light spinning at moderate speed: 400 turns for linen which creases very quickly, 900 turns for cotton
9. Do not use a tumble dryer
10. Do not twist your shirt to spin it
11. Once the shirt is washed, place it on a hanger with the collar and cuffs properly positioned to facilitate ironing later
12. Do not lay the shirt out in the sun as this could cause discoloration.
-
Ironing
Do not iron your shirts with a too high temperature. A temperature of 120° will be perfect, except for linen for which you can increase the degrees. Iron your shirts inside out to avoid iron marks on the fabric, especially for dark fabrics and linen. Alternatively, you can equip your iron with an anti-shine soleplate. When ironing, start with the cuffs and sleeves flat. For the bust and back, use the steam function which moistens the shirt, relaxes the fibers and facilitates the disappearance of creases. Go around the buttons to avoid making marks. Finish with the collar by ironing it flat on the reverse side, then fold it while it is still warm so that it keeps its original shape. If you make any creases, dampen them and iron again to remove them.
Once ironed, rearrange the shirt on a hanger, closing only the first button to avoid wrinkles. Don't choose an iron hanger as it can distort the shoulders. Choose a wooden or plastic hanger with wide, rounded edges at the shoulders.
To fold it, wait for it to cool.
If you can, avoid going to a dry cleaner who uses techniques that are sometimes too aggressive and not respectful of the fabric of your shirt or the environment.
Finally, on the day you want to wear your ironed shirt, place it over a basin of boiling water so that the steam will loosen the last folds and the fabric will relax. There are also very practical steam ironers that you can take with you when you travel and that don't cost much. Very useful before a wedding!
-
Tasks
Stains can be removed more easily if they are treated quickly. So don't let a stain soak into the fabric of your shirt for too long.
Deodorant stains
They are most often caused by deodorants made of aluminum. Aluminum in contact with perspiration creates yellow stains on the fabric. We therefore advise you to choose deodorants without aluminum and to let your deodorant dry before putting on your shirt. However, to wash these stains, you can apply a mixture of clear dishwashing liquid, citric acid and water for twenty minutes. Rinse before washing.
Coffee tasks
Coffee is the must-have for office breaks. There is a great risk of being inadvertently pushed around and spilling a little coffee on your shirt....
In this case, immediately rinse your shirt with cold water and soap. If that's not enough, once you get home, you can put a little detergent (baking soda with salt and water) on the stain, leave it for half an hour, then rinse it off before putting your shirt in the machine.
Blood stains
Easy to remove if treated immediately: rinse the shirt with cold water and rub lightly until all the blood is gone, then wash.
Grease stains
Rinse the shirt and rub it lightly with clear dishwashing liquid before putting it in the machine.
Wine stains
To be taken into consideration right away: cover the stain with salt which will absorb the wine. Then dab it with dishwashing liquid and water and let it work. Once the stain is gone, rinse it with warm water and then put the shirt in the washing machine at 30°.
In conclusion, the golden rule to keep a shirt in excellent condition for a long time is not to wear it too often. Repeated washing and ironing will eventually damage the fabric. When washing, do not exceed 40°. Once the washing is done, take the clothes out quickly so that they don't wrinkle too much and don't get impregnated with bad smells. Let your shirts dry naturally by smoothing them out, no more tumble dryers. Finally, do not iron on a stain, you risk it. Look at your shirt carefully when it comes out of the washing machine and if it is not completely clean, wash it again by hand with Marseille soap.
