How to care for your Eton shirt

Paul Simon CoFeatured

If an average garment stays in use three times longer than today, its carbon footprint is reduced by 65% and its water use by 66%. By caring for your shirt in the right way, you not only increase its life length, but also decrease its negative impact on the environment.

General Guidelines– Always follow the washing instruction for each shirt.
– Unbutton, turn up the collar and turn the shirt inside out.
– Do not overfill the washing machine.
– Set the washing machine on a low spin-dry.
– Once the washing program is finished, hang it on a hanger and button the collar. Stretch the cuff, collar and front placket softly. Do not wring the shirt.
– A light ironing may be desirable for that extra finishing touch. Avoid ironing the cuffs and collar on a high heat setting, lower the heat and iron them gently.

Wash eco-friendly and keep my shirt crisp?For normal wear shirts we recommend a 30-40C washing program. For more soiled shirts you can use a 40-60C washing program and if needed pre-treat any stain with a detergent approximately 30 minutes before washing. Set the machine on low-spin dry program, which saves energy and reduces the wear and tear. Always try to fill your washing machine – without overfilling. Measure washing powder accurately and follow the advice on the washing powder package in order to reduce any surplus. The amount of washing powder is determined by the hardness of your water. Softer water requires less washing powder. Furthermore, we do not recommend using a fabric softener since it is unnecessary to get the shirt clean. If possible let your shirt dry on a hanger in room temperature.

How to keep your white shirt white?– Wash your Eton shirt with similar colours and follow the care instructions carefully.
– Unbutton, turn up the collar and turn the shirt inside out.
– Do not overfill the washing machine.
– Set the washing machine on a low spin-dry.
– Dry the shirt on a hanger and stretch the collar, cuffs and front plackets softly. Do not wring the shirt.
– A light ironing may be desirable for that extra finishing touch.

What are your recommendations for dry cleaning?Due to its high impact on the environment we do not recommend dry-cleaning our shirts. However, if need be please ask your cleaner to use light press and no starch. Do not press the shirt collar, cuffs and front placket.

How do I prevent underarm stains?Underarm stains are often caused by the reaction between anti-perspirant ingredients and the salts in sweat. Most anti-perspirants contain aluminium compounds to reduce wetness. The aluminium causes a build-up and yellowing on the fabric after continuous wear. To best avoid these stains try switching to an aluminium-free deodorant or a deodorant with minimal aluminium. After applying deodorant, allow it to dry before putting your shirt on to prevent rub-off on the fabric. If you have perspired while wearing a garment, wash it as soon as possible since stains are more difficult to remove once they have set.

How do I remove common stains?Stains can ruin any shirt. Try to treat the stain as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage. Avoid rubbing the stains, which can fray the fabric. Below you will find general tips for removing common stains. Please note that none of the tips are guaranteed to remove stains.

Perspiration and deodorant – Mix equal part colourless dishwasher liquid detergent and citric acid, dilute with a little cold water to get a more liquid consistency. Apply this on the stain for about 20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water before putting the shirt in the washing machine and wash according to the care instructions.

Blood – Remove any excess with a clean cloth and immediately rinse the fabric in cold water. The sooner you treat the stain the better. After treatment, wash as usual.

Coffee – For a fresh coffee stain, dabbing or rinsing the fabric in cold water will resolve the issue most of the times. For more ingrained coffee stains we recommend pre-treating the fabric with a detergent in approximately 30 minutes before washing your shirt in a normal cycle.

Ink – Remove the stain with methylated spirits or citric acid. Wash as normal.

Grease – Gently rub the stain with a clean cloth and liquid dish detergent (preferably colourless). Wash the shirt in hot temperature (if recommended in washing instructions).

Wine – Sprinkle the stain immediately with salt, which absorbs the wine. Rinse with warm water and wash as normal.

How do I best care my indigo-dyed shirt?– Avoid washing indigo with other garments since indigo can rub off.
– Turn the shirt inside out to avoid tear.
– Wash on a lower washing temperature and low spin dry.
– Reduce the use of laundry detergent.
– Do not let your shirt dry in direct sunlight. Natural sunlight can quickly make the indigo fade or discolour.

How do I keep my dark shirt dark?– Never wash dark colours with bright colours.
– Turn the shirt inside out to avoid tear.
– Wash on a low temperature and low spin dry.
– Reduce the use of laundry detergent and/or use a special detergent made for dark coloured garments. These detergents are milder and can keep fabric from fading.
– Do not leave the shirt in the machine after finished program. It can cause wrinkles.
– Avoid drying your shirt in direct sunlight. Natural sunlight can quickly make fabric fade or discolour.

How to take care of your jewellery?Leather and semiprecious stones are a natural material, which need special care. General wear and cleaning may cause colour variations and minor shrinkage to the leather. To preserve the high quality of this jewellery piece, please avoid contact with water, perfume, soap, and chemicals. Do not place the item near a source of heat. When leather absorbs perspiration from the body it will lose its original beauty.

For rhodium, rose and gunmetal plated jewellery avoid chemicals, perfume, oil, moisture, and soil since it may cause it to show wear over time. We recommend using a soft cloth when cleaning this item. Please store your item away from chemicals, extreme temperatures and sunlight.