We all have different categories of garments. We have our “lounging around the house” outfits, the clothes we wear to bed, the clothes we work out in, the clothes that we wear on a night out, and so on. But, for most people, it’s work clothes that require the most attention. Why? Well, because in many cases, we are judged based on how our clothing looks. And, few people can get away for long with wearing dirty clothes to the job, day in and day out.
What is the Best Way to Wash Work Shirts?
Of course, when it comes to how to wash a work shirt, it’s all about the care label. Thankfully, virtually all clothing comes with a care label, that tells you exactly which steps to follow to both wash and dry the garment, and even whether or not it can be ironed. Whatever kind of work shirt you have, whether it be a crisp business shirt or a t-shirt that you wear as a server, the best way to keep it clean is by following those instructions carefully. Failing to wash your work shirt according to its care label could mean damaging your shirt, either by allowing the colors to fade, allowing it to get misshapen, or allowing the material itself to be ruined, which could be detrimental to your job.
Can You Wash Work Clothes with Normal Clothes?
Again, this really depends on the instructions of the care label. In general, there’s no need to separate work clothes from other clothes, unless the care label has special instructions that make the garments incompatible with the cycle you use for the rest of your clothes – such as requiring cold water, when all of your other clothes are good in warm water.
How Do You Wash a Cotton Business Shirt?
Many office workers wear a cotton business shirt – the kind that buttons-down, and also is worn with or without a tie. Often, these shirts require special care, because of the thin cotton material that can’t withstand harsher styles of washing. And, of course, because business clothes need to look absolutely perfect, you don’t want to mess around.
Again, the care label should tell you everything that you need to know. But, in the event that you are still confused, allow us to walk you through the steps.
Step #1: Unbutton the shirt completely, including the cuff buttons. Remove a collar stay, if you have one.
Step #2: If the shirt is made from a finer or lighter material, wash using the delicate cycle. If it’s a sturdier fabric, you can use the normal cycle. With dark shirts, you should stick to cold water, although whites and other light colors are good with hot water.
Step #3: Pick a high-quality laundry detergent, such as the laundry detergents from Grab Green Home, to prevent color fading and other forms of damage during the washing process. Wash the shirt according to the appropriate wash cycle, and simply allow it to go through a complete spin in the washing machine once the actual washing process is over. This will wring out the majority of the water.
Step #4: Remove the shirt as soon as the cycle is done, to prevent it from getting wrinkled while it’s damp and crumped up. Then, hang it to dry using a hanger or clothes pins, making sure that the shirt isn’t being stretched, which could cause it to dry misshapen.
Step #5: Wait until the shirt is completely dry before ironing it. Now, you have a work shirt that looks as good as new.
What About Work Clothes That Get Heavily Soiled?
Let’s say that you work in an industry in which your clothes get dirty on a regular basis. Aside from actual stains, if your clothing is covered in dirt, dust, or some other form of residue, you may need to do a more intensive style of washing. Again, the care label should cover all of your bases when it comes to telling you what the clothing can handle. But, if need be, consider first treating the soiling by allowing the clothes to dry and fully shaking them out, or letting them soak in cold water for about 30 minutes prior to washing, depending on the type of soiling that you’re dealing with.
What if My Work Clothes are Stained?
In the event that your work clothes have stains on them, you’re going to need to treat the strain prior to washing. And, there are a number of methods for treating stains which we’ve covered before in other articles. Every type of stain requires a specific method of treatment, as grass stains, blood stains, grease stains, sweat stains, mustard stains, and so on, all require individual steps due to consisting of different compounds. Still, given the fact that these are clothes you must wear for work, we urge you to really take the stain removal process extra seriously.
How Often Should I Wash My Work Clothes?
You should wash your work clothes according to how often they need to be washed, in the most general sense. If you’re working at a restaurant, and always get food all over your clothing with each shift, then of course, you’d need to wash your clothes after each use. If you’re wearing a business outfit that barely gets dirty at all, then you could get away with doing a batch of laundry once a week.
