Dress Shirts - How Long Should They Last? (2024)

FAQs

Dress Shirts - How Long Should They Last? ›

Once you see signs of wear, like color fading, stains or rips, it's time for them to be tossed. While there's no exact time table for when you should toss your old dress shirts, a general rule of thumb is to inspect them every 3 or 4 wears. Some shirts can last 6 months, others can last 1-2 years.

My guess is that a decent dress shirt will last for at least 10 years unless it gets stained or is torn for some reason. It depends on the individual's personal style and budget. Some men may prefer to purchase new dress shirts on a regular basis, while others may only buy new shirts when necessary.

Industry experience shows the average shirt has a two-year wearable life expectancy. A better measurement is the number of launderings. The average shirt has a wear life of 35 to 50 cycles.

It Depends on How You Wear Them

The short answer is that they'll last three to four wears, but there's more to it. If you wear an undershirt, four is more likely; if you don't, then three is safest.

More Shirts Spread Out Wear and Tear

A quality, wrinkle-free shirt that you don't need to iron will look good for much, much longer. That said, it is still worth having at least 10 to 15 dress shirts in your wardrobe to reduce wear and tear. You'll be able to wear each shirt for longer and still have it look perfect.

Obviously, one man's ideal wardrobe will be different from another man's, which is why it can be difficult to determine how many clothes you need. Depending on your situation, you might only need five to ten shirts, a few pairs of pants, and a couple of different jackets.

In most cases, you can wear the likes of work clothes up to five times before they need to be washed. Things like a suit can be worn multiple times, button-down shirts can usually be worn up to four times and pants can last for up to five wears as well before washing is necessary.

If there are loose threads around the button hole, or any sign of fraying, this is the sign of a low quality shirt. Premium quality dress shirts will have more stitches on the button hole and very clean openings with no sign of fraying.

How To Wash A Dress Shirt: Take time to ensure the shirt is entirely unbuttoned. Any buttons remaining clasped will lead to excessive pulling when in wash and will damage the shirt. Turn the dress shirt inside out as this will help with removing deodorant and perspiration stains from the underarm.

Cotton and polyester blends are durable fabrics. The t-shirt is more durable if it has a higher percentage of polyester. 50/50 blends are very common because they have the softness and breathability of cotton, and the desirable durability and flexibility of polyester.

Do expensive T-shirts last longer? ›

“Across the 33 t-shirts tested, the results showed that price cannot be used as a predictor for a t-shirt's durability,” the researchers concluded. “Spending twice as much on a t-shirt does not guarantee that the garment will be twice as durable.”

Designer clothes won't always last longer – it depends entirely on how they're made. If you want to shop for the long-term, then check out what the clothes are made out of, and what green credentials the company has.

If you live in a cool dry climate, maybe 2 or 3 times. If it is warm, humid and you perspire, it should be washed every time. If the shirt has the slightest odor, it will only get worse in the course of the day. If you're wearing an undershirt, and the temperature is cool, 2–3 times.

As long as it's been washed at least once during that time, I wouldn't care at all. They could wear it every week as long as the keep it clean I'm not going to judge somebody's wardrobe choices, and you shouldn't either.

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.

Outer clothes like dress shirts and khakis can be worn a few times before washing unless it is hot out and you are sweating or they are visibly dirty or stained. Jeans can typically be worn 3 times before washing. Leggings and tights should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees.

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.