Get more wear out of your garments by following our clothing care guide for men.

Shirts 

Dry your shirt by placing it on a hanger, buttoning it and smoothing the collar, cuffs and placket with your hands. This will minimise the amount of ironing required. Once almost dry, iron the garment, starting with the body before moving to the sleeves, cuffs and finally the collar. 

Cotton shirts: To get the best out of your cotton shirt wash in cold water. This will minimise shrinkage and increase the longevity.  

Merino wool shirts: Wash your merino wool shirt as you would its cotton brother but substitute regular detergent for wool wash.  

Linen shirts: Wash as you would with cotton but iron when it is still quite damp, this is the best way to get rid of those pesky wrinkles.

Tips:

• Washing your clothing in cold water is better for both the environment and your wallet.
• Merino wool shirts can be worn more than once between washes. Simply hang your shirt after wearing to allow any odour to be released and any creases to fall out.
• Apply Sard wonder soap to the collar of white shirts as soon as you take them off. It helps to keep the collar clean and is gentle enough it can stay on the shirt, in the washing basket, for a couple of days if required. 
  
  

Pro tip:

• When ironing the collar work from the collar points towards the centre back, ironing the underneath of the collar first, then the topside of the collar. This will ensure the best possible finish.
   

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Tailoring pieces such as suiting and outerwear 

Tailoring should only be dry-cleaned every six months or so as the chemicals used in the process can be harmful if used too often. Between drycleaning, spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent if required. A natural bristle brush can remove dirt and dust from garments, just be sure to use the brush in a gentle fashion (you’re not scrubbing the dishes). 

Tips:

• Always dry clean your suit jacket and trouser together to ensure there is no fabric shading.
• If you wear a suit often, purchase a second pair of trousers. This allows you to rotate the trousers and extend the lifespan of the suit. 
  
  

Pro tip:

• Hang your suit or blazer in the bathroom while you shower in the morning, it will help any creases fall out. This tip is especially useful when travelling. 

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Washable blazers and outerwear

Some blazers and outerwear can be machine washed, however the care instructions must be followed carefully. Hang on a jacket hanger to dry, and smooth out obvious creases with your hands. 

Pro-tip:

• Once dry, have your local dry cleaner press the garment properly. 

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Knitwear

As technology has advanced over the years machine washable knitwear is now the norm but remember to check the care label before throwing it in the machine. 

Merino wool: Machine washable merino garments should be washed using wool detergent on a wool or delicate cycle on a low temperature, preferably in a delicates bag for extra protection. If the water is too warm the washing process can felt the fibres of the garment, rendering it unwearable. This applies to the drying process too, so after pulling the garment in to its correct shape, lay it on a flat surface out of direct sunlight to dry. 

Hand washing knitwear: Fill a basin with barely warm water and a little wool detergent before submerging the garment and gently washing. Rinse a few times in the same manor before squeezing the garment out. Rather than wringing the garment, it’s best to squeeze by hand and then roll it up in a dry towel, then gently pull it back into shape and dry flat, out of direct sunlight. 

Pro-tip:

• Air out your knitwear on a warm day to help release any odours. This ensures you wash your knitwear only when absolutely necessary. 

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Leather Jackets

Leather jackets don’t need to be cleaned very often but when they do, they require special care. Most towns and cities have a specialist leather dry cleaner who can ensure your garment receives the appropriate care. 

More regularly, simply wipe any dirt or dust off with a damp cloth and then dry the surface immediately with a dry cloth. 

Avoid getting your leather jacket wet. If it does get wet, wipe with a dry cloth and then dry it slowly on hanger. Whatever you do, do not tumble dry it or place in front of a heater in an attempt to speed up the process, you risk cracking the leather while it dries. 

Pro tip: 

• Store your leather jacket on a good quality hanger but never in a plastic bag. Leather needs to be able to breathe. 

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Leather Shoes

The idea of polishing your shoes is always worse than the act itself. Start by using a damp cloth to remove any dirt. Then apply a small amount of good quality polish and buff to a shine once the polish is dry. 

Treat leather trainers the same way you treat dress shoes and they’ll last much longer. 

Finally, remember that a pair of shoes should never be worn two days in a row. Just like suits and trousers, they need to rest between wears. 

Tips: 

• Using a shoe horn each time you put your shoes on is the single best thing to do to take care of them. We believe it can double the life of your shoes. Most Rembrandt shoes come with a complimentary shoehorn.
• Buy good quality shoe care products. 
  
  

Pro tip: 

• Buy a pair of shoe trees and put them in your shoes when you take them off at the end of the day. They remove moisture from inside the shoe and minimise any creases. You only need one pair of shoes trees so they’re well worth the modest investment.