Shirts are a staple of men’s wardrobes globally. They make you look smart and confident while creating an illusion that slims the waist and broadens your shoulders. These are a few of the top-notch signs of masculinity. A shirt is a garment that is less likely to fade out from fashion magazines and runaways. This is simply because they are a constant in events, cocktails and weddings and corporates. No wonder the global men’s shirts market size stood at $91.7 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2021 to 2028. The offline distribution channel segments like showrooms and retail stores contributed to the highest revenue share of more than 79% in 2020.
You may have invested a good amount to build your wardrobe. But if you are not careful, the everyday wear and tear will start showing up on your shirt. There are plenty of sustainable approaches to taking care of your clothing while saving money. For instance, embroidered, handwoven, and block prints are trending in men’s shirts. It’s a good idea to wash these separately from your jeans or bedsheets. Here are a few other tips.
1. Pre-Treat Stains
It is a good idea to clean tough stains right away with liquid laundry detergents. This will keep them from penetrating deeper. Spots come from different sources like chocolates, oil and grease, ink, grass and mud, sauces, and juices. One of the best removers is distilled white vinegar which is common in every kitchen. It contains acetic acid mild enough to remove stains without ruining your shirt. You may use mineral oil as well and let it sit for 15 minutes and rinse thoroughly or try turpentine, baking soda paste or salt to treat shirt marks.
2. Drying the Shirt
Try not to overload the dryer since the shirt will need room to tumble. Consider using a dryer sheet to minimize static cling and soften the cloth. Read the manual to pick the correct setting for jeans, polyester, or heavy fabrics. Keep the door tightly closed to avoid hot air from escaping which increases the drying time. Make sure to unbutton the shirt, add fabric softener and select a low spin dry for the best results. All of this is helpful if you wish to avoid professional dry-cleaning services and take care of your expensive shirts at home.
3. Iron Techniques
Consider a wrinkle-release spray that is especially formulated to smoothen creases and relax the fibers. These are reliable lubes that can keep the shirt flat instead of crinkles. The spray sales are set to grow at 5% CAGR between 2020 and 2030 and the US alone accounted for nearly 90% of the share in North America. You can also opt for scented release spray whose segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% in the same period. If you wish to iron manually, moist the shirt, start with the collar and move towards the cuffs. Iron the front and back and finish with the sleeves.
4. Storage
The ideal storage environment is a cool, dry, dark, and clean closet. This can prevent insect infestation and bacterial growth which is necessary since mildew can eat cotton fibers. Color fading and UV damage are other serious concerns. You may either hang the shirts neatly in a row or store them in a cotton garment bag with proper folds like this:
This keeps the cloth crisp and crease-free which is especially necessary for days when you are running late and can easily avoid pressing. Avoid bunching your shirts in a laundry bag with other damp clothes. It leads to musty odor and color stains that can ruin even the best quality garments.
5. Hanging the Shirt
It is a good idea to avoid wire hangers since they may add creases around the shoulders and cause permanent damage. Invest in wooden ones that are at least ¼ inches thick. Plastic and padded hangers are also ideal. Make sure to close the first two buttons to maintain shape, stretch the collar, cuffs, and the front placket gently. You can consider air-dry in a well-ventilated space and remove all the excess water manually before hanging.
Extending the lifespan of a shirt by just 9 months may reduce environmental impacts. You can also lower the emission of clothing by 24% over a year by increasing its useful life from one to two years. Make sure to use gentle detergents and avoid manhandling your clothes for the best results.