The Science of Commercial Shirt Laundering
One of the most frequent comments/concerns we receive is, “My shirts feel stiff…and I requested NO STARCH!” The process of commercially laundered shirts is very different than that of home-laundered shirts. First, the water temperature is much higher, and the starch (if requested) is added to the wash cycle and not sprayed on during pressing. The shirts then go through a 7-cycle rinse (very few facilities provide this) to flush any residual detergent. The shirts are then pressed wet and dry during the pressing process. When the outside humidity is low, while the shirts are drying, this can make the fabric become “stiffer,” especially during the cooler/drier months of the year. Also, different brands/fabrics react differently to this process. Some shirts will always feel stiffer, depending on the manufacturer and fabric.
Special Laundry Category
Many manufacturers are adding nylon/spandex to their shirts, as well as sleeve and side seam gussets. These elements improve comfort and fit; however, laundering these shirts becomes very challenging. We cannot press those shirts on our regular shirt unit. The temperature of 350 degrees will immediately melt the nylon, etc. The gussets prevent the shirt from fitting effectively on the unit. We recently purchased a state-of-the-art specialty shirt press that can effectively press the latest styles; however, it requires additional time and labor to operate. (See video below)
Wear ‘n’ Tear
The average length of a commercially laundered shirt is a year. Very high water temperatures and frequent pressings wear the fabric quicker than home laundering. The first areas to wear are the collar, cuffs, and elbows. (The elbow area appears much lower on the shirt when not being worn and will appear as a cut or slit directly above the cuff vent). The fraying may not appear until it is laundered one last time, and the fabric will literally open up during the laundering process.
Why Women Pay More
The cost of cleaning all garments is high. A woman’s shirt cannot fit on the body press utilized for men’s shirts, which is less time and labor. Women’s shirts must be hand-pressed and finished, which requires more labor, hence, the higher cost. It is the same with a child’s shirt. It requires hand pressing/finishing.
Dry Cleaning vs. Laundering
As professionals, we recommend higher-end brand shirts such as Robert Graham, Canali, etc., as the colors stay brighter and the shirt will last longer. Dry Cleaning is more costly, as each shirt must be hand-pressed and finished. Again, more labor results in a higher cost. In the end, it is more cost-effective as the shirt will last much longer. This is only our professional recommendation. We will launder if preferred.
