Men count on their
dress shirts to help them look good. So it’s wise to give
the garments extra attention. Luckily, the professionals at
Door To Door have mastered the art of cleaning and pressing
shirts and know how to keep your investment in great shape.
Whether you bring your shirts to Door To Door 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 Door To Door.
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 Door To Door Valet 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 Door To Door Valet 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. |
