Ridolfi

Shirts Care Tips
A GUIDE TO IRONING, FOLDING AND CARE OF YOUR SHIRTS

Preparation
Before beginning to iron, you should lightly dampen your shirts all over with a water spray and leave loosely rolled for at least half an hour.
Collar

It is best to start with the collar. Remove collar stiffness (we recommend removing before washing) Begin with the underside of the collar and neckband,iron from the outside edge to the center ,and repeat for the opposite side. This avoids creases forming at the points and helps to eliminate any expansion caused by dampening. Repeat the previous ironing process on the topside. If you prefer a crisper looking collar, spray a little start on the topside before ironing. Finally fold the collar along the neckband seam and iron, creating a definite fold.
Note: A "Jeremy Street" collar is designed to follow the contours of the collarbone making it the ideal partner for a jacket, whereas a standard High Street shirt collar will tend to "bow" and"roll".
Cuffs

Iron the cuffs before the body of the shirt as they have a natural stiffness and will not easily crease once ironed. Follow the same basic principle as for ironing from the outside edge to the centre. Repeat this process on the right side. Double Cuff shirts. Fold cuff in half, lining-up cufflink holes and press a firm cease along fold. Spray starch is optional.
Yoke

It's best to iron one half of the yoke at a time. Lay one half of the yoke over the end of the ironing board (with the "toe" of the board angled towards the sleeve. Spread out fabric to eliminate Aany creases.) With the point of the iron, work from the sleeve towards the centre join in the yoke. Swing the shirt around and repeat for the other half of the yoke.
Sleeves

Place one sleeve at a time on the ironing board with the gauntlet opening uppermost. Spread out the sleeve avoiding any crease (watch out for folds underneath as you will be ironing both sides at once). Use mist spray if necessary then iron from the underarm seam towards the top edge of sleeve forming a crease along the top edge. Pull out material at the cuff as you carefully push the point of the iron into the pleats and gathers. Turn the sleeve over and repeat.
Back

Lay the back of the shirt body over the ironing board with the collar at the "toe" end board. Iron from the tail to the yoke, mist spraying with water if necessary. Carefully avoid spraying areas already ironed. Move the back across board and finish off the rest of the back. Use the point of the iron around arm hole seams.
Note: Crease easily return when the fabric is warm and damp, so when ironing large areas such as backs and fronts, make sure each section is as cool and dry as possible before moving on to the next.
Front

Pull shirt diagonally across the ironing board so that the end of the end of the board is in the top of the arm hole. Iron around the seam. Move shirt front around the board so you have covered every area, ironing between the buttons. Repeat on the other side. Run iron along the button hole front from the tail up to the collar pulling lightly to stretch the material.
Airing

Fasten the top buttom and place on a coat hanger to air for at least 30 minutes before folding.
Folding
Button up shirt. and rest on a flat surface. Take a standard glossy magazine and place it at the centre of the yoke right up to the edges of the shoulder.

Fold the side nearest to you over the magazine. Lay the sleeve parallel with the folded edge, then fold the sleeve with 3 or 4 folds, concertina fashion, to fit within the dimensions of the magazine. Fold the opposite side and sleeve in a similar manner.
Make a fold at the shirt tail then bring the fold up to the shoulders wrapping as tightly as possible round the magazine. Turn folded shirt over and remove the magazine and stack shirts top to tail.
Care of Your Iron
According to the manufacturers instructions.
Ridolfi's Warning
Some older steam irons can seriously damage your shirt! Check your iron has smooth edges around the steam holes. Older models with sharp edges will wear your shirt's collar and cuffs, reducing it's life by up to 50%. Professional laundering of the shirts is also recommended but we do not advise dry cleaning.
Washing Instructions
Machine wash at 40 degree Celsius for maximum colour fastness on deep colours. Plain whites and light colours can be washed at 65 degree Celsius (always wash white separately). Short tumble dry only (to damp). Press with a hot iron whilst still damp. If completely dry, mist spray with water.
Machine wash as wool - do not tumble dry, Iron with a medium hot iron whilst damp and use a damp cloth on the collar and cuffs to avoid 'shine'.