Tips on Easy Wash to Iron Long Sleeve Shirts

Dry Cleaning

• Professional dry cleaners use chemicals and very little water to clean clothing. Shirts made of delicate or shrinkable fabrics can be dry cleaned. Water-based stains, such as sweat, are best cleaned with water; however, oil-based stains are best treated with dry cleaning. Let the dry cleaner know of any stains when you drop the shirt off. Also, dry cleaners often have services available to mend or alter shirts.

Home Cleaning

• Most shirts can be cleaned at home without damage or shrinking. Start by treating any stains. Use a commercial stain remover as directed on the bottle before washing and especially before drying the garment. Heat sets stains, so don't put the shirt into hot water or the dryer, until you've removed them. Wash your shirt according to the directions on its tag. If you aren't sure, use cold water. For best results, hang the shirt to dry. This way, you won't set in any stains you missed, and the shirt won't shrink.

How to Iron

• Set the iron heat to the fabric setting appropriate to your shirt. Some fabrics can handle higher heat than others. Spray starch is available in the laundry aisle of grocery and discount stores and adds body to your shirt. Start by ironing the collar and shoulders, then the cuffs and sleeves, followed by the front and back of the shirt. Iron between the buttons last. If you don't use starch, sprinkle water on tough wrinkles. Hang your shirt as soon as it is ironed to keep wrinkles from setting in again.

How to Fold a Shirt

• Hanging your shirt keeps the wrinkles out best, but sometimes you need to fold it. If you're traveling, knowing how to fold your shirts to avoid wrinkling is an important skill. Button the shirt up, and lay it on a flat surface, face down. Use your hands to smooth any wrinkles. Fold the sleeves, so they cross at the back of the shirt. The shirt should be a rectangle now. Fold the sides of the shirt in, so they meet in the middle, making a narrower rectangle. Finally, fold the bottom of the shirt up, so it's even with the collar. Turn the shirt over, and it is ready to pack or store.