How to Wash Men's Shirts by Hand

Men's cotton shirts can be quickly and carefully washed by hand at home.

Men's shirts come in a wide variety of colors, styles and fabrics. Polo shirts, cotton dress shirts and t-shirts are all common choices for men of every age and locality. It's possible to care for these garments in a way that prolongs the color and quality of the fabric. Hand washing shirts is an effective way to clean particularly dirty or delicate men's shirts, and is a relatively quick way to spot-treat and gently wash prized garments. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Sink or wash basin
• Laundry detergent
• Large towel
• Plush hanger

Instructions

1. Fill a sink or wash basin with 1 to 2 gallons of cool water and 3 tablespoons of laundry detergent. This setup can clean one or two shirts effectively.

2. Dip the shirt into the cool water and allow the garment to absorb the water and detergent thoroughly.

3. Gently turn the garment over in the water a few times to allow the detergent and water to begin cleaning the fibers. Agitate the fabric more aggressively in any areas that may have a stain or that is more heavily soiled. The collar and the armpits are both areas that tend to soil more quickly.

4. Allow the shirt to soak in the soapy water for a few minutes then remove it from the detergent bath and gently squeeze out any excess water. Be sure not to squeeze too tightly to avoid stretching or wrinkling the fibers.

5. Empty the sink and refill with just cool water. Place the shirt into the cool water bath to remove any excess detergent and gently move and agitate the shirt in the water, folding and gently squeezing the fibers to ensure the shirt has been rinsed thoroughly.

6. Remove the shirt from the water bath and gently squeeze out the excess moisture. Lay a large towel flat on a counter or other clean surface. Place the shirt face up on top of the towel.

7. Roll the shirt up into the towel like you are rolling a carpet or making a jelly roll. Squeeze the towel gently around the shirt to remove excess water. Unroll the towel promptly.

8. Hang the men's shirt on a plush hanger to avoid stretching the shoulder seams of the shirt. All types of men's shirts, but especially cotton and dress shirts, have the potential to become misshapen when air drying on wire hangers.

9. Hang the shirt in a cool, dry area to dry. This process might take up to 12 hours, depending on the humidity in the air and the temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply a small amount of laundry pretreatment or stain remover to stained or soiled areas, like collars and armpits, before laundering. Allow to set into the fabric for a few minutes. Use sparingly, since pretreatments tend to be very powerful. Blot away the pretreatment from the back of the stain with a clean, dry cloth. This process should also help remove the stain.

• Soak soiled and pretreated shirts in the cool water for about ten extra minutes to allow the cool water and detergent to work its way into the fabric and to gently remove the pretreatment before continuing with the rest of the washing process.

• Only wash up to two shirts at one time to ensure they receive the correct amount of detergent and agitation.

• Wash like colors together.

• Always iron dress shirts once they have dried completely for the crispest and most professional finish.

• Always read care instructions on the inside of the shirt before washing.

References

• Real Men, Real Style: How to Wash & Clean Cotton Mens Dress Shirt
• Proper Cloth: How to Wash a Dress Shirt
• Business Insider: When to Skip the Dry Cleaners And Wash It Yourself