How to Wash Polo Shirts

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Polo shirts have become a wardrobe essential for anyone seeking a casual but stylish look, and washing them correctly is an integral part of keeping them fresh. Polo shirts can be somewhat delicate. Pretreat stains before washing the polo in cold water to increase the chances of removing them. Then you can dry polo shirts by hand to avoid wearing out the fabric. If you wash carefully, you can get more mileage out of your shirts.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Removing Stains

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  1. Before attempting to treat a stain, make sure it is completely dry. Be careful, though, since you don’t want to make the stain worse. Scrape any solid matter off gently with a dull knife. Then, use a paper towel to soak up as much of the stain as possible. [1]
    • Treat stains immediately, if possible. The sooner you treat a stain, the easier it is to remove.
  2. Stain removal products include sprays, sticks, pens, and gels. All you have to do is apply the product until the stain is completely saturated. You can also work the spray into the stain using your finger or a laundry brush. [2]
    • You can buy stain removal products at most general stores.
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  3. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle for the recommended drying time, since this may vary slightly from product to product. The wait time will typically be short. If you’re unsure, wait 5 minutes no matter what. You can then launder the shirt normally to remove the stain and the stain removal product. [3]
    • If you don't plan on washing the entire shirt, rinse the stain removal product off under cold running water.
  4. If your polo shirt still won’t come clean, using bleach is worth the risk. Try using a bleach gel pen, but check the label first. Make sure the product doesn’t include hypochlorite, which may wear out or discolor your polo shirt. Rub the product into the stain and launder the shirt immediately.
    • You can also try adding some all-fabric bleach to your laundry cycle. This may take out stubborn stains if you don’t have a gel pen.
    • Non-chlorine or all-fabric bleach may still damage some polo shirts, so you may want to test the product on an inconspicuous spot first.
    • Oxygenated bleach is useful for brightening shirts that look dull. It’s used the same way as non-chlorine bleach.
  5. Sometimes light-colored polo shirts pick up dye in the wash when cleaned with other clothing. You may be able to fix this by mixing a color run remover product into water, then soaking the polo in it for several hours. Finish by washing the polo normally with liquid detergent. [4]
    • Your best chances of removing unwanted dye is right when you notice the stain. Once the dye dries, removing it is unlikely.
    • You may also be able to remove dye stains on your own with rubbing alcohol or bleach.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Washing Polo Shirts

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  1. You can find washing instructions printed on a tag underneath the collar. The manufacturer may offer some specific directions for their product. If you’re ever stuck, you can use those directions to protect your polos as you clean them. [5]
    • All polos can be washed and dried the same general way, which is with cold water and low heat.
  2. A floppy collar is a nuisance, but it is bound to happen after you wash your polo a few times. To prevent this, button the top button on the collar. Now turn the entire polo inside out, then flip the collar up. This should protect it during the washing and drying process. [6]
    • You may also be able to fix a floppy collar by spraying it with starch and ironing it.
  3. Putting a polo shirt through a wash cycle is fine, but you have to pay attention to any other clothing you wash with it. Dark colors from other clothing can bleed and discolor light polos. In addition, avoid washing white polos with colored fabric. [7]
    • Polos with white stripes are typically safe to wash with both white and colored clothing.
    • Be careful with red clothing or red-striped polos. Red dyes are the most likely to bleed. You may want to avoid washing red clothing with polos or red-striped polos with white clothing.
  4. Make sure your detergent is safe to use on delicate clothing. A lot of detergents designed to treat heavy stains are harsh and may even have bleach that can damage a polo shirt. Then, check the manufacturer’s instructions on the soap container to find out how much detergent to add. This depends on how big the laundry load is. [8]
    • Be careful if you use a powdered detergent, since a lot of them are too harsh to be used on polo shirts.
    • You can use bleach on white polos. Check the shirt’s tag. It will likely instruct you to use non-chlorine bleach.
  5. Set your laundry machine for a single cycle using only cold water. The “delicate” or “hand wash” settings some machines have are safe to use. Leave the polo shirt in the machine for the entire cycle and get ready to take it out as soon as it is done. [9]
    • Avoid warm water, since it will wear out your polo shirts over time. Cold water will still get your shirts clean.
    • You can hand wash polo shirts in cold water, but this isn’t recommended since it can cause the dye to bleed a little.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Drying a Polo Shirt

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  1. Polo shirts can be dried in a dryer, but always use low heat. You can choose the “delicates” setting if your dryer has it. Be careful if you wear polyester polos, though, since these shirts may be more prone than cotton polos to heat damage. Check the tag for the manufacturer’s recommendations. [10]
    • Remember to keep the polo’s collar up while drying so it retains its shape.
    • If you have the time, you can avoid the risk of damage to your polos by skipping to air drying.
  2. To avoid putting a delicate polo shirt through an entire drying cycle, be prepared to remove the polo almost immediately. If you’re in a rush, you can continue the cycle until your polo shirts are completely dry. However, briefly drying the polo this way gets rid of some of the water without causing heat damage to the fabric. [11]
    • Most wear and tear from machine drying won’t show up right away. The polo may shrink at first, but the heat also can wear out the fabric over time.
    • Instead of machine drying the polo now, you can also choose to throw the polo into the dryer for the last 2 or 3 minutes of the drying process.
  3. If the polo is still wet, the fabric will take on some unappealing crinkles. Prepare to finish the drying process as soon as possible.
    • If the polo is completely dry, you won’t have to worry about water damage. However, still try to put the shirt away as soon as you can.
  4. You can do this for both undried and partially-dried polos. Try to pick a warm, exposed area with good air circulation for this. You may want to put the towel near a window or fan to facilitate drying. [12]
    • Direct sunlight weakens and discolors fabric over time, so avoid drying your polos in it.
    • You can also spread the polo on a drying rack instead of a towel.
  5. Place the polo on the towel, spreading it out as much as possible. Flatten the polo as much as you can against the towel. The towel will absorb moisture from any parts of the shirt it contacts. If you have the towel in a good location, the shirt should dry out relatively quickly so you can store it. [13]
    • A polo that has been partially dried in a drying machine may finish drying in about 15 to 25 minutes, although this varies depending on your environment.
    • If the shirt seems to be drying slowly, try flipping it after 15 minutes. This encourages both sides of the shirt to dry at an even rate.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I prevent polo shirts from shrinking?
    Jeimy Flournoy
    Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert
    Jeimy Flournoy is a Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert based in Capital Heights, Maryland. Jeimy is the Founder of Salon 809 and 809 Laundromat, which offers self-service, drop-off, and commercial laundry services. 809 Laundromat prioritizes cleanliness and providing exceptional customer service, and is passionate about giving back and making a positive impact. They have garnered over 5,500 customers and 125,000 cleans in their first year open. Jeimy is a dynamic entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio. Jeimy opened the second location of Salon 809 in 2019 and successfully franchised the brand. In 2023, she further diversified her entrepreneurial pursuits by launching the 809 Laundromat.
    Jeimy Flournoy
    Laundry & Dry Cleaning Expert
    Expert Answer
    Aside from washing them in cold water and drying them on low to medium heat, you can also invest in high-quality brands, as they often use better materials that are less prone to shrinking.
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      Tips

      • Always check the polo’s tag for a quick refresher on how to wash and dry the shirt properly.
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      • Hanging the polo during drying and storage isn’t recommended, since this can stretch out the fabric.
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      • When ironing a polo shirt, be sure to get the collar too so it retains its shape over time.
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      Warnings

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      Things You’ll Need

      • Washing machine
      • Cold water
      • Gentle detergent
      • Towel or drying rack
      • Stain pre-treater
      • Non-chlorine bleach for tough stains
      • Color run remover for dye stains

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about laundering clothes, check out our in-depth interview with Jeimy Flournoy .

      References

      1. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-wash-polo-shirts
      2. ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/stain_removal_chart.aspx
      3. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-wash-polo-shirts
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a17219/stains-dye-may07/
      5. ↑ http://www.textileaffairs.com/lguide.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL-WixKAq8I&feature=youtu.be&t=4
      7. ↑ https://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/laundry-basics-how-to-sort-clothes/
      8. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-wash-polo-shirts
      9. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273829746_Assessing_the_Impact_of_Wash_Water_Temperature_Detergent_Type_and_Laundering_Platform_on_Basic_Clothing_Attributes
      1. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-wash-polo-shirts
      2. ↑ https://homequicks.com/how-to-wash-polo-shirts
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhgkMPJ1JuA&feature=youtu.be&t=463
      4. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/laundry-linens/clothes/dry-clothes/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Since polo shirts can sometimes be a little delicate, you’ll want to wash them carefully to keep them looking fresh. Wash your polo shirts with cold water and regular detergent. If they're stained, apply a stain remover and let it sit for 5 minutes before throwing them in the wash. If the stains are really stubborn, you can also add an all-fabric, non-chlorine bleach to the wash cycle. If you’re in a rush, it’s OK to dry your polo shirts on low heat for a full cycle. However, it’s best to dry them for a few minutes on low heat, then leave them to air dry the rest of the way. For more cleaning tips, including how to help your shirt collars retain their shape, read on!

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