Take Care of Your Shirts

A handful of crisp cotton shirts are a staple of every man's wardrobe. Whether you stick with good old white or branch out into a range of colors, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your shirts stay in tiptop shape. And they're probably easier than you'd imagine. Herewith, four simple steps.

Avoid Anti-
perspirants

Even if you're wearing an undershirt, an aluminum-based antiperspirant will likely end up staining your shirt's underarms and eventually eroding the fabric. Spare yourself the embarrassment and only use deodorant.

Alternate

You should have at least six staple shirts you normally wear in your wardrobe. Alternate them evenly and you'll get a much longer life out of them. And you can likely get two to three wearings out of each shirt before needing to wash them if you don't mind a slightly wrinkled back and elbows.

Wash 'em Right

Launder your shirts on a cold setting. Hot water will fade the color, make the fabric brittle and prone to ripping, as well as damage or loosen the buttons. Keep in mind that washing can cause slight shrinkage the first few times, so prepare for that when you buy your shirts.

Don't Over Dry

Too much heat damages the cloth and shortens a shirt's lifespan. If you put shirts in the dryer, use a warm setting and take them out midway while they're still slightly damp. Hanging them up will naturally help the creases fall out as they dry, making ironing or steaming the shirts much easier, if it's even necessary at all.

Take Care of Your Shirts

Avoid Anti-perspirants

Alternate

Wash 'em Right

Don't Over Dry

How to Iron

Avoid Anti-
perspirants