Buttons open or closed when machine washing shirts?

[houserichichi]

I suppose the title sums it up. Do you close all, some, or none of the buttons on your shirt when you machine wash them (front, gauntlet, cuff)? Any other details? Collars left turned down or do you flip them up? Turnback cuffs; do you unturn them or leave them folder back on themselves?

 

[amerikajinda]

Just speaking for myself, I never button any of the buttons when I put shirts in the machine (gentle wash only). I even unbutton the collar buttons of OBDs. I of course take out the collar stays too... and leave the collars turned down. And for French cuffs, I don't fold those back on themselves -- I leave them extended.

 

[DandySF]

I make it a point to unbutton everything when my shirts are washed.

 

[lee_44106]

I unbutton everything. Intuitively I'd think that unbuttoned, every part of the shirt gets exposed to a good wash.

 

[Hard2Fit]

Originally Posted by DandySF

I make it a point to unbutton everything when my shirts are washed.

What he said.

 

[Tarmac]

unbuttoned.

and inside-out, if I remember

 

[grimslade]

Unbuttoned.

Does inside out have any meaning if the shirt is unbuttoned though? I guess for the sleeves...

 

[SirSuturesALot]

I don't think it's a good idea to wash your shirts buttoned because it puts unnecessary stress on the stitching.

 

[lefty]

When I have time, I do both.

That is, I unbutton all my shirts then button each one to its neighbour creating one big octopus-like shirt. This is then turned inside out and placed upright in my washing machine with the collars and the cuffs just above the level of the water.

Once started, it's like watching a group of whirling dervishes dance the night away. Then with a cigar and a tumbler of scotch, my cats and I sit back and enjoy the floor show.

On the days when I don't have time, I throw my shirts as I find them into the machine and hit ON. Then walk away.

lefty

 

[Master-Classter]

I unbutton mine and flip them inside out for a few reasons...
1. inside out so a) buttons don't get scratched/broken by hitting inside of the washer and b) the inside is probably the dirtiest part so should expose it most to getting washed (not sure if it actually works better though)
2. unbuttoned so that if the shirt gets pulled or caught then the buttons don't pull at the holes and stress the holes.

 

[Tarmac]

I do inside-out because the buttons have less things to catch on, like buttons from other shirts.

But I'm sure it doesn't make much difference, I know for a fact professional cleaners do not turn shirts inside out.

 

[HomerJ]

Why do you have to unbutton them? Aren't they already unbuttoned from taking them off?

 

[Tarmac]

the one I often forget is the upper cuff button.

 

[lee_44106]

Quite logical about turning shirt inside out. I'll have to try that in the future.

 

[houserichichi]

I really only asked because I decided to wash a whole boatload of shirts today and was curious if I'd been doing it wrong.







I found out I had.