Starch and sizings are laundry additives that can increase the firmness of fabrics, particularly dress shirts. A study conducted by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, the Association of Professional Drycleaners showed starch and sizings can both protect and harm shirts at the same time.

Shirts undergo two types of abrasions. One type is called flat abrasion, and it refers to the abrasion that occurs when the shirt rubs against any other surface. The other type, flex abrasion, refers to the stretching of the fibers when the wearer bends an elbow, or otherwise stretches the material.

Starch adds protection to shirts, enabling them to withstand higher degrees of flat abrasion. However, since starch stiffens the fibers and makes them less flexible, it reduces the degree of flex abrasion a shirt can withstand.

Tensile strength is the measure of how well fabrics and fibers resist breaking under tension. Evaluation by DLI’s Textile Testing laboratory found that shirts with medium starch and no starch had similar tensile strength. Variances in tensile strength were evident between shirts with no starch and shirts with heavy starch.

After 10 laundering cycles, the tensile strength results on the shirts with no starch was 29% higher than the results on the shirts with heavy starch. Even after 25 and 50 cycles, there was still about a 20% difference between the two groups of shirts.

Heavy starch and sizing can decrease the tensile strength of fabrics not by degrading the material directly, but by increasing its rigidity.

The major function of starch is to add body or stiffness to a fabric which in turn will produce little flexibility. This lack of flexibility causes the fabric to snap when tested rather than stretch, which decreases the fabric’s tensile strength. Starched and sized shirts were laundered to remove the starch and tensile strength was retested. The results indicated a significant increase (30%) in tensile strength after starch removal.

The life expectancy of a shirt is shortened by the use of starches and sizings by reducing its ability to bend, stretch, and straighten during use, according to the DLI study. Balancing out those negatives are the bonuses of having better whiteness retention, a crisper look, and increased resistance to staining.

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Take a look at our Youtube video that’s only about a minute long and takes you through the entire process. 

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The Dress Shirt.

The uniform of the corporate world and countless other professions.

It’s a style choice, valued wardrobe item and personal statement all in one.

But, dress shirts aren’t perfect and how you go about caring for dress shirts in your closet will contribute greatly to the look and longevity of this most versatile of wardrobe pieces.

Dress shirts will not last a lifetime.  Don’t be surprised if after a year or so your favorite dress shirt begins to show signs of wearing our.  And please, don’t blame your dry cleaner when the seams of a shirt give way.  The Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institure estimates an average shirt shirt will withstand 50 launderings before showing signs of wear. I’ve had plenty that lasted longer…and some even less.

Dress shirts all face the same common problems: basic wear and tear, stains and spills, and your own forgetfulness. Here’s what you should know.

Basic Wear & Tear

Dress shirts, like any clothing item, experience wear and tear during their life span. You can greatly extend the life span of your shirts by doing a few simple things:

Wear a T-shirt underneath to limit the transfer of perspiration, deodorant and cologne. These elements can weaken a shirt’s fabric more quickly and can cause discoloration.

Watch the size and placement of your wrist watch to protect your cuffs. The more your watch rubs against the cuff, the more likely you’ll experience fraying.

Buying the right size of shirt particularly in the neck and torso will limit the stress on the collar and seams.

Caring for dress shirts includes having them laundering regularly.  While laundering or dry cleaning any garment causes some stress on the garment, allowing it to get soiled and not cleaning is regularly causes more stress.  Launder your dress shirts regularly to keep them looking their best.

The Stain Solution

You can’t prevent all stains and spills. It’s just not possible. But, you can limit and treat stains as soon as possible to keep them from becoming permanent. Talk with your dry cleaner about the best way to pre-treat a variety of stains and spots. Then, when spills and stains happen, treat them and get your shirt to the dry cleaner ASAP to be laundered. The longer the stain sits, the more likely it is to set.

Routine is the Spice of Life

No, actually variety is but not when caring for dress shirts. Set up a weekly routine of dropping off and picking up your shirts. The longer they sit around in a crumpled ball in the corner of your room (you know it’s over there), the more likely they are exposed to indoor pollutants and those elements like rain, perspiration and cologne that cause problems for dress shirts.

If your dry cleaner offers a once or twice-a-week dry cleaning pickup and delivery service, use the service regularly.  Don’t let your dress shirts (or any garment) sit around soiled for long.

Keep the most valued part of your wardrobe looking it’s best. Know the common problems you face in caring for dress shirts and make sure you look your best each and every day.

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