How to Wash Dress Shirts: A Step-by-Step Guide to Keep Them Looking Sharp

July 29, 2025

How to Wash Dress Shirts (Without Wrecking Them)

Dress shirts are a wardrobe essential—but washing them wrong can leave you with a shrunken collar, set-in stains, or that dreaded “crispy” feel. Whether you're doing laundry at home or thinking of outsourcing it, this guide walks you through the right way to wash, dry, and care for your dress shirts so they stay fresh and professional.

Start with the Label

Every shirt has different care instructions. Take a moment to read the tag:

  • 100% cotton: Safe to machine wash, but avoid hot water.

  • Non-iron or wrinkle-resistant shirts: Usually okay in the wash, but gentle cycles work best.

  • Silk or linen blends: May need dry cleaning—don’t guess.

The label tells you everything you need to know. Ignore it, and you might regret it.

Pre-Treat Stains Like a Pro

Dress shirts love to pick up stains—collar grime, deodorant marks, food splatters. Before tossing them in the wash:

  • Rub in a stain remover or dab with detergent.

  • Let it sit for 5–10 minutes.

  • Gently brush the collar and cuffs to loosen buildup.

This pre-wash treatment helps break down oils and sweat before they become permanent.

Wash Cold, Wash Gentle

Once stains are pre-treated, follow these steps for the main wash:

  • Button the shirt (but leave the collar and cuffs open).

  • Turn it inside out to protect color and fabric.

  • Wash in cold or warm water on a gentle cycle.

  • Use a mild detergent—skip harsh bleach or heavy-duty formulas.

Avoid mixing with towels or denim to protect the shirt from friction and lint.

Skip the Dryer (Or Use it Carefully)

Heat is the enemy of your dress shirts. Your best bet?

  • Hang dry on a wide plastic or wooden hanger while still damp.

  • Smooth out wrinkles with your hands before they set in.

If you must use a dryer:

  • Tumble dry on low for a few minutes, then hang immediately.

This keeps the shirt from shrinking and saves time on ironing.

Iron or Steam for That Crisp Finish

Once dry:

  • Use a steam iron on medium heat (or a handheld steamer).

  • Iron in this order: collar → cuffs → sleeves → body.

  • Don’t forget to iron inside seams for that professional look.

Still not a fan of ironing? Let a laundry service do the pressing for you—you’ll get hotel-quality crispness without the hassle.

Bonus: What If It’s Already Stained or Smelly?

If your shirts have lingering odors or old stains:

  • Soak in warm water with white vinegar or baking soda.

  • Try a color-safe oxygen bleach like OxiClean.

  • Avoid regular bleach—especially on colored or dark fabrics.

And for deeper cleaning, ozone laundry systems (used by Get Fresh Start Laundry) kill bacteria and remove odor at the molecular level—something regular washers can’t do.

Quick Recap: Dress Shirt Laundry Tips

Step

Pro Tip

Check the label

Every shirt has different needs

Pre-treat stains

Focus on collars, cuffs, and underarms

Gentle wash cycle

Cold water, mild detergent, inside-out

Air dry preferred

Or tumble dry low and hang immediately

Steam or iron

While still damp for best results

 

Want to Skip the Laundry Altogether?

Let’s be honest: washing dress shirts takes time, effort, and a bit of skill. If you’re over it, we’ve got you covered.

Get Fresh Start Laundry offers:

  • Professional stain removal

  • Precision shirt pressing

  • Free pickup & delivery

  • Ozone-sanitized cleaning

So your shirts look sharp—without you lifting a finger.

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