Polo Care Guide
Washing Instructions For a Polo Shirt
Washing a polo shirt isn’t all that difficult, especially for cotton polos. Lacoste recommends simply machine washing your polo on a 30° short cycle, with no fabric softener (as it can damage the natural fibres of the shirt), and don’t mix bold and light colours, obviously. That’s straight from the crocodile’s mouth, and if anyone knows polo shirts, they do.
Percival’s Pullover Polo Shirts are 100% cotton — the good stuff. Not all polos are 100% cotton, though. So here are some handy tips that apply to all polo shirts:
1. Turn your polo shirt inside out to avoid any damage to embroidery.
2. Pop the collar to avoid the dreaded collar curl.
3. Fasten the buttons all the way to the collar to help negate stretching or deformity of shape.
4. Use relatively cold washing temperatures. We don’t want shrunken polos — you’re not the Arctic Monkeys and it’s not 2007. If you’re reading this and you do happen to be in Arctic Monkeys, it’s still not 2007 — the point still stands.
5. Don’t use a strong detergent. Fading should be reserved for your back and sides and your barber, not your polo shirts.
Machine wash vs hand wash
Honestly, just machine wash your polos if you can. The temperature of the wash is more difficult to control with hand washing, and that’s our main concern here. You can dry clean a polo if you want to but there’s really no need. Your polo shirts will do just fine in a machine wash as long as you follow our useful tips above.
Material Considerations
Most men’s polo shirts are made from cotton, Pima cotton, polyester, or cotton/polyester blends. You can find out what your polo is made of by checking the label. These fabrics give the shirt different individual qualities. A lot of modern-day sports polos are made with polyester as it’s absorbent (so it’ll mop up all the sweat, blood, and tears), it provides ventilation in high temperatures, and it doesn’t crease.
Pima cotton is basically super cotton. It has a longer fibre length and therefore a higher thread count, making it a smoother, softer material which is also more durable than regular cotton. Whether it’s Pima cotton or regular cotton, your knitted polo shirt will be breathable and soft whilst remaining strong in comparison to other materials in your wardrobe.
In terms of washing, you don’t have to worry too much about the difference between the fabrics. The main thing to consider is the drying. You should never machine dry a polo — they don’t like it. They become deformed. Simply pop your polo shirt on a hanger (preferably plastic) and let it air dry. Also remove your shirt from the wash as soon as it’s done — the sooner it’s drying, the better.
How to Fold a Polo Shirt?
The best way to fold a polo to avoid wrinkles is as follows:
1. Lay the shirt flat, then fold the two sides inwards with the sleeves on top, so your polo sort of looks like a slumbering vampire in a coffin.
2. Bring the bottom of the shirt up to the collar so you’re essentially looking at a square of fabric.
3. Gently tug the corners outward to get rid of any little wrinkles.
4. Pop the kettle on — you’re done.
How To Iron a Polo Shirt?
Don’t iron a polo shirt if you don’t have to. No point. If you’ve hung, dried, and folded your polo properly, it should be crease-free and ready to go. We understand some of you love an ironed shirt, however. We get it. Donning a shirt warm from the iron is truly one of life’s greatest pleasures, and what’s the point of living if not for these little moments? If you insist on ironing, please use the coolest temperature setting and iron your shirt inside-out — you never know when your iron is suddenly going to permanently tattoo a white mark onto your shirt.
Do polo shirts shrink in the wash?
Yes, they do! Cotton, polyester, blends — they can all shrink in the wash if you’re not careful. Follow the steps we’ve provided for you (low heat, no tumble drying, dry on a hanger) and you’ll be fine. Polo shirts are sturdy but don’t take liberties, because they will shrink if you don’t pay them the attention they deserve. Congratulations! Now you know how to care for a polo shirt, we’ll allow you to head on over to our store and grab yourself every single colourway of our Pullover Polo Shirt. Treat them kindly.