Dress shirt sleeve length shrinkage

[floridasenior]

I have experienced sleeve length shrinkage after washing dress shirts and from past posts on Style Forum this seems to be a common problem. I have been buying OTR shirts with a sleeve length an inch longer than what I need, washing and drying them in a dryer (I know that some people prefer to hang dry, but I would prefer not to do that) several times and then shortening them to the desired length by removing the cuff and reattaching it. That seems to be the only way I can get a sleeve length (34 inches) that shows the desired 1/4 to 1/2 inch of cuff with a suit jacket or sport coat. Maybe this is why most men that I see are not showing any cuff ? I should also note that usually one sleeve shrinks more than the other.

Is this the only solution with OTR dress shirts ? Is there an OTR brand that does not shrink ?

 

[maxalex]

Shirt sleeves shrink a bit although in my experience not enough to merit your exertions. The dryer doesn’t help. Why are you opposed to air drying shirts? Even if I owned a dryer (almost non-existent here in Europe) I wouldn’t put my shirts in one. If, as your name suggests, you live in Florida, your shirts would dry in the sun faster than in a dryer—for free, and without all that banging around.

 

[dieworkwear]

Clothes can shrink in unexpected ways in the dryer. If you continue to machine dry your shirts, it will be difficult to predict how they shrink.

 

[rjc149]

My Charles Tyrwhitt non-iron dress shirts haven’t shrunk too much after 9-10 launder/presses at the cleaners. They’re a little generous around the neck and in the sleeves when new, and snug down a little bit.

I mainly take my dress shirts to the cleaner in the interests of time and avoiding the drudgery of washing, drying, and ironing 15-20 dress shirts at a time. But, I’ve also found that professional laundering is gentler on the shirts.

 

[notdos]

Dry on low or cool? No problems here.

Phillip

 

[denverbizman42]

My Charles Tyrwhitt non-iron dress shirts haven’t shrunk too much after 9-10 launder/presses at the cleaners. They’re a little generous around the neck and in the sleeves when new, and snug down a little bit.

I mainly take my dress shirts to the cleaner in the interests of time and avoiding the drudgery of washing, drying, and ironing 15-20 dress shirts at a time. But, I’ve also found that professional laundering is gentler on the shirts.

I’m currently in the process of doing just that- ironing about 12 shirts. It certainly makes me want to just go get them professionally done. But I enjoy shining my own shoes and feel I’ve learned so much about that, I find it rewarding. So looking at making ironing feel the same way.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

On the contrary, I used to take my shirts to the cleaners and found that the shirts are usually subject to far more abuse. Frays and tears and loose buttons were common.

I wash my shirts in cold water and on gentle. They line dry and the next morning I iron them.

I’m sure if I waited until I had 25 shirts piled up I’d feel the same way. I wash my shirts Friday after I get home. A weeks worth of shirts, so 5 at most (unless my wife sneaks in a few items).

I iron Saturday morning and It takes a totAl of about an hour.

 

[rjc149]

I’m currently in the process of doing just that- ironing about 12 shirts. It certainly makes me want to just go get them professionally done. But I enjoy shining my own shoes and feel I’ve learned so much about that, I find it rewarding. So looking at making ironing feel the same way.

Yes I agree that a certain connection to the garment is cultivated when caring for it. I also shine my own shoes -- but, I only have 2 shoes to shine, and can do it in about 5-10 minutes. Washing and ironing a shirt wardrobe gets very tedious. At $1.25 per shirt to wash and press, I don't mind the monthly expense. Considering I get 2 wears out of a dress shirt before it goes to laundry, it's about $15 per month to keep my shirts clean so it's pretty efficient cost and time-wise.

 

[rjc149]

On the contrary, I used to take my shirts to the cleaners and found that the shirts are usually subject to far more abuse. Frays and tears and loose buttons were common.

I wash my shirts in cold water and on gentle. They line dry and the next morning I iron them.

I’m sure if I waited until I had 25 shirts piled up I’d feel the same way. I wash my shirts Friday after I get home. A weeks worth of shirts, so 5 at most (unless my wife sneaks in a few items).

I iron Saturday morning and It takes a totAl of about an hour.

Doing 5 shirts at a time wouldn't be an issue for me either, but unfortunately I procrastinate and generally bring a large sack of dress shirts to the cleaners.

I consider white dress shirts to be consumables, which serve their purpose, wear out, and get replaced every few years. If I had expensive dress shirts, I would take a different approach but my ~$35 Charles Tyrwhitt or Nordstrom Rack shirts can go to the cleaners. I also don't have any outdoor space where I can line dry clothing (city apartment), and my dryer is harsh even on low settings.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Doing 5 shirts at a time wouldn't be an issue for me either, but unfortunately I procrastinate and generally bring a large sack of dress shirts to the cleaners.

I consider white dress shirts to be consumables, which serve their purpose, wear out, and get replaced every few years. If I had expensive dress shirts, I would take a different approach but my ~$35 Charles Tyrwhitt or Nordstrom Rack shirts can go to the cleaners. I also don't have any outdoor space where I can line dry clothing (city apartment), and my dryer is harsh even on low settings.

My shirts aren’t exactly high end. I wear Kamakura. A drying rack can be used.

Of course, there’s nothing I can do to help with your procrastination.

 

[floridasenior]

Thanks for the feedback. I am drying on low and taking the shirt out before it is completely dry. I will try air drying.

A 34 inch sleeve length will show 1/2 inch of cuff for me. For 1/4 inch of cuff to show, obviously the sleeve cannot shrink more than 1/4 inch. With air drying, is the shrinkage typically limited to 1/4 inch or less ? If not, to me the only solution for OTR is do what I have been doing, which is buying too long, washing a few times and then shortening.

 

[rjc149]

My shirts aren’t exactly high end. I wear Kamakura. A drying rack can be used.

Of course, there’s nothing I can do to help with your procrastination.

I looked up Kamakura -- thank you for making me aware of them!