Cleaning dress shirts: Clarification on what it means to wash after every use.

[madman]

Reading through the SF, it is clear that dress shirts should be washed after each wear. I like the Kabbaz method and will use that going forward. However, I am unclear on whether the shirt must be washed right away or if it can sit in a hamper for 1-2 weeks.

What shall I do with my dress shirt when I get home from work:

1) Put it in the hamper as is and wait 1-2 weeks to wash

2) Do something to treat the collar/cuffs/underarms the same evening of the day i wear the shirt, but wait 1-2 weeks to wash it

3) Wash it that same day

 

[Makoto Chan]

Throw it in the hamper.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Treat soon, wash later. More than a week later is getting risky for clothes in general.

 

[GBR]

Wash whenever you are ready, it will not come to harm if dry.

 

[madman]

Wash whenever you are ready, it will not come to harm if dry.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. Previously I wasn't clear on whether the shirts could sit dry in a hamper after wearing for a day.

 

[alexSF]

I experienced that shirts start the yellowing process if not washed quickly.
I had lots of shirts still perfect with any fraying ruined by yellowing...

Wash them as soon as possible.

 

[madman]

I experienced that shirts start the yellowing process if not washed quickly.
I had lots of shirts still perfect with any fraying ruined by yellowing...

Wash them as soon as possible.

Can I take off my shirt each day of the week (M-F) and place in my hamper, and then wash on Sat/Sun? Or is that too long to wait?

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Lighter colors are riskier, because stains that set generally will be more visible.

 

[GBR]



Can I take off my shirt each day of the week (M-F) and place in my hamper, and then wash on Sat/Sun? Or is that too long to wait?

Not in the slightest - there is too much nonsense here. As long as we are merely talking of 'ordinary' wear and not when you have poured red wine or tomato ketchup over it, it will not come to harm.

 

[madman]

Not in the slightest - there is too much nonsense here. As long as we are merely talking of 'ordinary' wear and not when you have poured red wine or tomato ketchup over it, it will not come to harm.

Thanks for the clarification. Really helps me out!

 

[mixProtocol]

I give my shirts a quick check when I take them off. If I see any ring-around-the-collar (or cuff), I pretreat it with a little shampoo/water. Then, regardless, I throw it in the hamper - where they often sit for over a week. I had to google the Kabbaz method -- interesting that it recommends keeping the shirt damp between pretreat and wash (though he expects you to then wash it the next day).

 

[madman]

I give my shirts a quick check when I take them off. If I see any ring-around-the-collar (or cuff), I pretreat it with a little shampoo/water. Then, regardless, I throw it in the hamper - where they often sit for over a week. I had to google the Kabbaz method -- interesting that it recommends keeping the shirt damp between pretreat and wash (though he expects you to then wash it the next day).

After you pre-treat with shampoo/water, do you let the shirt dry before sticking in the hamper or do you put it in the hamper wet?

If it's the latter, I'm surprised that it's ok to leave damp clothes in the hamper for a week.

 

[mixProtocol]

I lightly ring it out and drape it across the top of the hamper to dry. It's dry by the next evening, at which point I just place it in the hamper with the next shirt. It's probably only one or two shirts a week that I feel the need to pretreat.

 

[madman]

I lightly ring it out and drape it across the top of the hamper to dry. It's dry by the next evening, at which point I just place it in the hamper with the next shirt. It's probably only one or two shirts a week that I feel the need to pretreat.

So it's alright to pre-treat, let it dry, store in hamper, then wash a week later?

 

[mixProtocol]

So it's alright to pre-treat, let it dry, store in hamper, then wash a week later?

It seems to be.. I haven't seen any problems; no stains, no deteriorating fabric, no mildew. I am careful though to not use too much shampoo, only use clear shampoo and only pretreat when necessary.