How to wash shirts

Not everyone understands how to wash a shirt themselves. Most prefer to avoid complicating their lives with personal chores, so they quickly run to the nearest laundromat and use public washing machines.

However, regularly washing or dry cleaning items in such establishments causes irreparable damage to the fabric, deteriorating it. This is due to the use of harsh chemicals. To preserve your favorite shirt longer, it's best to master the simple principles of proper shirt washing at home.

Basic rules for washing shirts

To machine wash a shirt without damaging it, you need to exercise a little caution. First of all, never ignore the washing temperature range indicated on the garment label. Washing shirts at water temperatures above 30°C is contraindicated due to the high risk of damaging the garment by distorting the fabric.

The next rule to always remember concerns fading of colored and white shirts. When asking yourself, "How do I wash a white shirt?", it's important to understand: white items should never be washed together with colored ones.

An experienced housewife understands perfectly how to wash men's shirts. High-quality shirts may not fade. If you have such shirts, it's permissible to wash them together. However, it's important to separate dark-colored fabrics from light-colored ones to avoid any unintended consequences.

Preparing for washing

Before washing shirts in a washing machine, it is better to take care of the safety of these items:

• the shirt cuff should be buttoned,
• Also, the remaining buttons should not be loose.

This procedure will help prevent shirts from wrapping around the drum and clothes from becoming tangled into a single ball.

White shirts should be washed on a delicate cycle, creating relatively gentle conditions for the items being washed, and significantly reducing the spin cycle. It's best not to use additional washing functions. This includes drying and spinning. These steps should be done manually.

To prepare shirts for washing in the washing machine, place the items in the drum, add half a dose of detergent, and set the washing time to approximately two minutes. Next, add the remaining detergent, pre-mixed with softening additives. After selecting the appropriate cycle, start the washing process. To achieve a whitening effect, add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide or regular bleach along with the detergent.

What should I do if certain parts of the shirt won't wash? Before washing, it's recommended to soak it for 5-10 minutes. You can also rub the collar, cuffs, and underarm areas with appropriate products. Stubborn stains are easily removed with soft water, significantly reducing the amount of detergent used. To soften the water, add a little vinegar or baking soda. After a short wait, gently scrub heavily soiled areas with a soft brush.

Rubbing stains with your hands is not recommended, as it weakens the fabric holding the collar and cuff inserts, significantly reducing the lifespan of the shirt. Particularly stubborn stains should first be treated with specialized stain removers. Be careful when detecting stains; old stains are incredibly difficult to remove, even with the appropriate products.

To avoid potential harm from chemicals, it's essential to exercise extreme caution. Proper instructions for washing shirts using a specific detergent are often provided on the back of the detergent container. High-chlorine detergents are only used on whites.

Washing linen products

There are also several key rules for properly washing a linen shirt. First, choose the right detergent. If the item is made of linen, you can wash it with regular laundry detergent. Colored linen should be washed with a detergent for delicate fabrics; there's a good chance the shirt's color won't fade.

How do you wash a linen shirt if stubborn stains have formed or the white fabric has yellowed? You need to add a little bleach, but chlorine-based products are strictly prohibited in this case. When washing linen bed linen, you should add fabric softeners.

How to wash men's linen shirts to prevent shrinkage?

Indeed, linen fabrics can shrink significantly after washing. Therefore, to avoid shrinking your shirt, it's essential to buy quality linen. Such clothing is often made using long fibers. With a smoother surface, a stronger weave, and a deeper color, these products will last longer. Most such items are specially treated before sale to eliminate the risk of shrinkage.

Vigorously wringing linen shirts is strictly prohibited. It is recommended to straighten the fabric by hand, smoothing it out and shaping it as desired.

Overdrying linen is dangerous. The fabric loses its natural moisture, becomes brittle, and tears easily.

By following simple hand or machine washing guidelines for whites, linens, and colored items, you can enjoy your favorite items for a long time. Anyone who understands how to properly wash men's shirts will keep their items looking fresh for a long time.

   

4 reader comments

1. March 7, 2017 at 10:05 AM

   Anonymous:

   Thanks for the interesting information!

   Answer
2. August 9, 2017 at 5:33 PM

   Alexey:

   Holy shit, which mode should I choose? Who are you writing this article for? For those who already know what's going on? I was pleased by the comment, which even the naked eye can see is fake. Write for the people, and then they'll find it themselves.

   Answer
   • August 12, 2017 at 11:16 AM

     Moderator:

     Good afternoon! I recommend choosing a cycle based on the fabric type. Washing machines typically have programs like "Cotton," "Synthetics," and so on. If the soiling is light, I prefer to use a quick or daily wash at 30 degrees Celsius. That's usually enough. And the whole process goes pretty quickly. As someone who moderates the site, I can confirm that this comment is genuine. Moreover, there are quite a few similar comments here. And I'm grateful to those who give positive feedback on our staff's work. 🙂

     Answer
3. May 30, 2021 at 4:31 PM

   Amir:

   Is it possible to throw a white and a red shirt together?

   Answer