How to properly wash men's shirts in a washing machine: Review + Video

Shirts have become a part of both men's and women's wardrobes as casual and formal wear.
The variety of modern styles allows you to use them in a wide variety of combinations: from classic business suits to democratic jeans and shorts. To ensure that shirts retain their original shape and color for a long time, and that collars and cuffs do not look shabby, it is very important to properly care for them, including washing them. What are the features of automatic and manual shirt washing? What is the optimal water temperature? Is it possible to remove various stains and traces of sweat at home, and how to properly wring out and dry things?

How to wash a white shirt

A white shirt requires special care. It is very important to wash it correctly, otherwise:

• it takes on a grayish, unsightly appearance and loses its shape;
• Old spots and yellow marks remain on it;
• Folds and creases may appear on the cuffs and collar.

All this leads to rapid failure of the product, the need to purchase a new item, and unnecessary expenses.

You can wash it in two ways: in an automatic washing machine or manually. In both versions, you must adhere to a number of simple rules.

Tips and prohibitions

In order for white items to last as long as possible and not lose their original appearance, it is recommended to follow a number of rules:

• It is preferable to wash linen products by hand using detergents without chlorine;
• When rinsing, do not spare water;
• do not load too many things into the machine drum at the same time so that there is enough free space there;
• It is advisable to dry white shirts in the fresh air, but not under direct exposure to sunlight;
• when machine washing, choose delicate or manual mode to protect the fabric from damage;
• viscose and silk products are washed without spinning, synthetic ones - with spinning at 800 rpm.

How to properly wash shirts in a washing machine

To ensure that the appearance of the shirt does not deteriorate after washing, you must complete 3 successive steps:

1. Preparation. Separate items by color to avoid color shedding between white and light colored items. Fasten all buttons, including the cuffs. This will prevent shirts from wrapping around the drum and getting tangled with other items. Check the pockets thoroughly and remove all contents. Turn the clothes inside out. Carefully study the information on labels about machine washability, optimal temperature conditions, whether it can be wrung out and dried, as well as other rules for handling the product.
2. Soak. This procedure is necessary if the white shirt has turned gray or has stains that are difficult to remove. If your machine has a “Wash with Soak” mode, use it. If this mode is not available, soak the item manually: pour water into a basin, add washing powder, and dip the item. Rub the cuffs, collar and armpit area with laundry soap (if the shirt is white, you can use soda), then rub gently with a soft brush. Leave for 15–20 minutes. Rinse with water and vinegar. The item is ready for further washing.
3. Wash. Place the prepared shirt in the washing machine. Pour half of the detergent required for washing into the powder compartment. Turn on the device in delicate mode for 2-3 minutes, then add the second half of the powder, pour in the conditioner in full. Turn the appliance back on to the delicate cycle. To whiten a shirt, you can add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide or soda (2 tablespoons) to the second detergent compartment.

To wash white clothes, you can use any powder containing o, as long as there is no indication on it that it is intended for colored items. It is advisable to wash your shirts daily or at least every other day. This way they will not wear out, dirt and stains will not eat into the fabric. If the shirt is not very dirty, you can wash it in the “quick wash” mode.

Attention! Do not use the spin and dry functions when washing shirts in the washing machine. Squeeze them out with your hands, being careful not to twist them too much, otherwise the material may stretch out and change shape.

Important Tips

To avoid damaging your shirt during hand washing, you need to take into account the following tips:

1. Before you start washing, you need to read the manufacturer's recommendations, which are indicated on the product label.
2. If soaking is to be done, then only plain shirts are placed in the basin. Items of different colors are washed separately.
3. After washing with bleach, the item must be rinsed thoroughly.
4. It’s easier to deal with fresh dirt, so you need to start washing as early as possible, without waiting for the dirt to penetrate into the deep structures of the fabric.
5. For hand washing, it is not recommended to use washing powder labeled “automatic”. Its particles are less soluble in water and produce less foam. Because of this, the quality of washing suffers.

Before the first treatment, you can test the color strength. To do this, an inconspicuous area of ​​the shirt is moistened in warm soapy water, wrapped in a white rag and wrung out.

If colored stains remain on the fabric, the product will fade when washed.

How to wash a shirt by hand

If the label has an icon depicting a hand placed in a basin, the product is made of very delicate fabric, or you are not sure that the shirt can be washed in the washing machine, the item must be washed by hand. For this:

• pour warm water into a basin;
• pour in washing powder;
• soak the product for 20–30 minutes;
• rub any dirt very carefully with your hands or a soft brush;
• if the dirt is strong, rub it with laundry soap, let it sit for another 20 minutes and rub gently again;
• rinse the shirt several times in cool, clean water;
• squeeze gently, being careful not to twist.

For greater whiteness, it is possible to add a little bleach that does not contain chlorine to the powder with softening agents.

What does color affect?

Having sorted the shirts by color before washing, you need to decide on the choice of detergent and temperature:

1. 
   For bright shades, high temperatures are undesirable, as they lead to color washing out. For colored products, universal products and those marked “Color” are suitable.

2. White shirts can also be washed with a similar gel or powder, but the best result will be achieved by using special detergents that are designed specifically for white clothes and contain bleach.
3. For black shirts, a gel designed for washing black items is suitable. It will maintain the brightness of the coloring pigment and prevent it from washing out.

Features of the washing procedure

To prevent washing from harming the product or spoiling it, it is important to know some of the features of this procedure and ensure strict adherence to all the recommendations indicated on the label. This concerns the choice:

• temperature conditions;
• type of washing – automatic, manual;
• drying method.

Properly followed recommendations will significantly increase the wear life of the shirt and preserve its original appearance for a long time.

At what temperature should I wash white and light shirts?

When washing white and light shirts, it is very important to take into account the temperature conditions indicated on the product label. In any case, it should not exceed 40 °C. For most shirts, the optimal temperature is 30°C.

At higher temperatures, there is a high risk of tissue deformation and changes in its structure. Cuffs and collars may lose their shape.

Important! If a white shirt is washed at temperatures exceeding 40 °C, it will lose its whiteness, acquire a gray tint, and look washed out.

Can shirts be washed in a washing machine if it is not indicated on the product label?

If there is no washing symbol on the label, you need to pay attention to the fabric from which the shirt is made. This will allow you to set the correct parameters on the washing machine or wash the item correctly by hand:

1. Cotton. Both automatic and hand washing are acceptable. The product may shrink approximately 5% of its original size.
2. Silk. Hand wash only without pre-soaking. The water temperature should not be higher than 30 °C.
3. Woolen. Can be washed by hand or in a washing machine that has a wash cycle for wool items. You can't push too hard.
4. Made from artificial fabrics (viscose, modal, etc.). Hand wash with cool water is recommended. Fabric shrinkage can be up to 7%.
5. Synthetic (elasthane, lycra, polyamide, dacron, etc.). Can be washed in a washing machine at 40°C.

Use the appropriate detergent for each type of fabric. Cotton clothes can be washed with any universal powders, silk and wool require the use of special detergents for washing silk and woolen products, and artificial and synthetic shirts require mild detergents.

How should a washed shirt dry?

It is not recommended to dry a washed shirt in a washing machine. This can lead to deformation of the collar and cuffs. Hang the hand-wrung product on hangers. Straighten the folds and sleeves. To ensure that the shape of the product does not change, it must be dried in natural conditions, away from heating devices. This drying procedure will make ironing easier in the future.

Drying rules

The famous American shirt tailor Alexander Kabbaz advises drying shirts naturally and not in a dryer. However, you can still use this device, but you must select the No Heat option. Otherwise, you risk significantly reducing the life of the shirt. If you don't have a dryer, or if it doesn't have a No Heat option, you can hang your shirts on hangers—preferably plastic ones, not metal ones. Regular clothes dryers are also quite acceptable. In any case, avoid drying near a radiator or other heating devices.

Drying shirts on hangers

You should not unnecessarily dry it until it is completely dry: a shirt that is still slightly damp is easier to iron.

If the item has dried completely, you can sprinkle it with water and put it in a plastic bag so that it is evenly moistened. However, for some shirts this nuance does not matter - for example, for models made from non-iron or easy iron fabrics. They iron well in any case.

Removing contaminants

On white shirts, some parts become dirty over time. Especially it concerns:

• a gate at which a yellow stripe appears at the break;
• cuffs, due to their frequent contact with various surfaces;
• armpit area where traces of sweat remain.

How to remove these contaminants?

How to remove yellow stripes from a man's shirt collar

Yellow streaks appear due to sebum and sweat remaining on the collar due to friction against the neck. Dirt and dust settle on them, penetrating deep into the fabric and eating into it. Ironing additionally “welds” the dirt. It becomes quite difficult to wash it off.

There are several most effective ways to get rid of the unpleasant yellow stripe on your collar:

1. Laundry soap. Dip the collar in warm water. Apply soap to it thoroughly. Place the shirt in a plastic bag and leave for 1 hour. After the specified time, carefully rub the collar with your hands. If necessary, additionally carefully go over the collar with a soft brush. Rinse to remove all soap.
2. Stain remover. Mix the product with a small amount of warm water. Finish the collar. After 5 minutes, rinse with cool water.

Advice! To remove a yellow stripe from the collar of a white shirt in the absence of a stain remover, you can use hair shampoo or dishwashing detergent, increasing the exposure time to half an hour.

After using one of the above methods, wash your shirt either by machine or by hand, depending on the type of fabric.

Uniform, with shoulder straps

Uniform shirts can and should be washed regularly. But first, the shoulder straps are unfastened or paired, depending on their type.

The shirt is washed in the usual way, dried, and after ironing the shoulder straps are returned to their place.

If you leave the shoulder straps on the shirt while washing, then with a high degree of probability they will suffer and become deformed . At the same time, it will be almost impossible to return them to their original appearance.

In addition, there is a possibility that the elements of the shoulder straps can damage the drum and even lead to breakdown of the washing machine.

If you need to wash the shoulder straps themselves, it is recommended to use dry cleaning services . Or replace those that have lost their appearance with new ones.

Effective ways to remove yellow spots

How to wash white shirts that have yellow stains on them? Several effective ways using various means can help:

1. Ammonia. Mix 4 tbsp. spoons of warm water, table salt, ammonia. Apply to existing stains. Rub lightly and rinse with cool water. 2nd option: add the resulting composition to 1 liter of soap solution. Immerse your shirt in it for 30 minutes. Rub and rinse gently.
2. Hydrogen peroxide 3%, liquid soap. Take 50 ml of peroxide, add 4 tbsp. l. liquid soap. Apply to the product. Leave for 40 minutes.
3. Toothpaste. Works well on tough stains. Just lubricate the stained areas with paste, rubbing a little into the fabric. Leave for 15–20 minutes. Use only pure white paste, without any multi-colored additions!

After following one of the above methods, wash the shirt following the instructions on the label.

Important! The faster you wash a shirt with stains, the easier it is to get rid of them. Old stains are much more difficult to remove.

How to remove sweat marks from armpits

Traces of sweat appearing in the armpits are quite difficult to get rid of. Often an almost new item has to be thrown away just because of these unsightly stains. There are several products that can remove them and are safe for fabric:

1. Soda, table salt, vinegar. Add 250 ml of vinegar to a bowl of hot water. Place the shirt and leave for 20 minutes. Mix 210 g of soda (about 1.5 cups) and 10 g of table salt (1 tablespoon). You can pour 10 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon) into the mixture. Take out the shirt and wring it out a little. Apply salt and baking soda (and peroxide) to problem areas. Leave for another 20 minutes, then rinse and wash in an acceptable manner.
2. White vinegar. Take ½ cup of the product, add to 1 liter of warm water. Place the shirt in the solution for 40 minutes. Rinse. If one time is not enough, the procedure can be repeated. This method allows you not only to get rid of traces of sweat from your armpits, but also to remove unpleasant odor.
3. Lemon. Citrus is known for its whitening and disinfecting properties and is an environmentally friendly product. Just apply the juice of 1 lemon to your armpits, leave for 40 minutes, then wash. Another option: cut the lemon into thin slices and place in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp. l. hydrogen peroxide, pour warm water. Place the shirt in the basin for 1 hour, then rinse and wash.

Traces of sweat can be washed off more easily in soft water. You can soften the water by adding a small amount of baking soda or table vinegar.

Getting rid of yellowness

White linen often deteriorates due to yellow streaks and stains. Conventional powders and gels cannot remove yellowness, so more stringent measures are needed. So, you can return whiteness using the following methods:

• use oxygen-based bleaches and stain removers (but the stains must be fresh);
• Boil the item with chlorine-free bleach (if the shirt is made of cotton or linen).

If there are old and bright yellow spots, it is necessary to prepare a special paste. Mix equal amounts of liquid soap, salt and baking soda until smooth. Spread the resulting porridge evenly over the contaminated areas and leave for 30-40 minutes. Then we remove the mixture and start the cycle in an automatic machine.

Stains are not a problem

Some stains are easy to remove. With others you have to tinker quite a bit. It all depends on their nature, as well as how long ago the clothes were soiled. But even the most difficult stains can be removed. To do this you need to know some tricks.

How to wash gouache on a white shirt

First of all, carefully examine the stain. If the gouache has already dried and lies in a thick layer, try to carefully clean it with a soft brush, being careful not to rub the paint into the fabric. Then place the stained area under running cold water. Some of the gouache will wash off from clothes on its own. Apply soap to the remaining stain - laundry soap or Antipyatin, an oxygen stain remover. Leave the soap for 20–30 minutes, the stain remover for 5 minutes. Wash the item in an acceptable way, choosing a temperature setting of 30 °C.

Attention! When removing gouache stains from a white shirt, only cold water should be used throughout the entire procedure! Otherwise, the paint may eat into the fabric.

How to wash blood

Blood is quite difficult to wash off, especially from white things. Wash clothes stained with blood only in cold water to avoid coagulation of the organic protein contained in the red cells.

A fresh stain can be removed using:

• laundry soap, rubbing it on a cloth soaked in water and rinsing under running cold water;
• crushed aspirin tablets mixed with water and applied to the blood stain until dry, and then washed off with cold water;
• table salt, poured onto a thing soaked in water and left until absorbed, then also removed with water.

Dried blood is much more difficult to remove. A stain remover such as Vanish can help. Apply a few drops of product to the stained area. Wait 3-5 minutes, then wash the product by hand in cool water with washing powder.

Another remedy for old blood stains is glycerin. Apply it warm to the stain. Leave it on all night. You can wash your shirt in the morning, preferably by hand.

Why do yellow spots appear on white clothes after washing?

Items with new marks appearing are not what you expect to come out of the washing machine. The quality of washing depends on the powder and its dosage, the selected machine mode, and the water temperature. For white items, proper sorting of laundry is especially important.

Untidy stains and streaks on white fabric occur for several reasons:

• the fabric was soaked with sweat;
• interaction of an incorrectly selected antiperspirant with the body;
• cooking or cosmetic oils have come into contact with clothing - vegetable oil, foundation, sunscreen, body lotions;
• unsuitable detergent or too much detergent.

If, after washing, yellow spots are found on more than one item, most likely the problem is in low-quality washing powder. Most often this happens with sports, silk and woolen fabrics, for which ordinary powders or gels are not suitable. Things need to be rinsed without adding detergent, after which all stains will disappear.

Rust from the water “sticks” to greasy and sweaty areas during washing. Soiled items must be soaked before the main wash, sweat must be washed off with laundry soap, and greasy stains must be washed off with special products or powder enhancers.