National White Shirt Day Honors Skilled Labor – Including Dry Cleaners!
Ever Ironed a Man’s Shirt? Learn Why So Many Leave It to the Experts
“I was in the military for years and taught the younger guys to iron,” said one of our customers when he first arrived. “I’m retired now, so I’ve decided to give myself a break and let you guys do it!” He went on to explain that he didn’t want to spend 10-20 minutes per shirt, ten times per week, tending to his garments. Instead, he loves stopping in to chat for those ten minutes while dropping off and picking up the items (and we love seeing him!).
Most people don’t realize that ironing a shirt properly takes knowledge, skill, patience, and time. It’s why so many opt to have us provide the service. It is also one of the best ways to preserve or prolong the life of even the least expensive shirts. Professional laundering and pressing (by hand or with specially designed presses) puts a great deal LESS wear and tear on the shirts and keeps them in the very best shape for much longer than regular machine washing.
That’s of particular interest today – National White Shirt Day.
Recognize Skilled Workers Today…and Every Day!
Although National White Shirt Day honors labor unions, it is also a day honoring skilled workers. Here at Oak Hill Dry Cleaners, we put great pride in the skills of owner Travis Bartlett. While his dedication to customer service is always his priority, it is also the emphasis on the quality of his work that shines through. And while many might think of dry cleaning as an automated process, there is a huge amount of handwork that goes into each order.
As a prime example, men’s shirts.
The Challenges of Men’s Shirts
Whether made through mass production or hand-tailored, they are some of the most complex garments available. According to clothing experts, the average man’s shirt features 26 separate pieces, with the collar composed of six pieces alone! Understanding the construction of a shirt, its style, and how to press or iron it properly is quite the undertaking!
And while we love that there are extreme sports involving shirt pressing (see Extreme Ironing), we also know that most people don’t have the time and background knowledge needed to tackle a pile of shirts.
If you scour the internet for some tips and pointers, you’ll find that most experts talk about acquiring the right equipment (including a sleeve board, ironing board, tailor’s ham, iron, and so on). They then talk about pre-spotting, cleaning collars and cuffs, how to launder properly based on material and construction, cleaning the iron, using the best water (distilled), knowing the right temperatures, and only THEN do they address just how to press the garment.
This involves a specific order of events that starts with the cuffs and sleeves, and also knowing how to handle the crease in the sleeve based on the shirt’s construction. Then comes the collar, the yoke, the back, and lastly, the body. All of these steps can be ruined if you don’t have the right gear and find yourself ironing two layers at once. Of course, there are also the extras like the pocket and button areas, and learning how to starch a shirt properly.
So, if you want to show your appreciation for skilled work, skip trying to become an expert a pressing men’s shirts (or other garments) and leave it to the professionals! Oak Hill Dry Cleaners has 30+ years of experience in garment care as well as household items. Travis knows exactly how to handle everything from the most delicate formal items to the most durable garments and household goods. While you won’t see him competing in extreme ironing events, he is a grand champion at the presses in the shop and is always ready to offer his skilled work or expert advice.
To see for yourself just how tedious and time-consuming proper ironing can be, check out the video from Gentlemen’s Gazette below: