How to Wash a Polo Shirt Without Ruining It
Cold water, less detergent, shade drying and no wringing: how to wash a cotton polo by machine or by hand so it keeps its colour, shape and collar.
Care
How to Care for a Supima Cotton Polo
Supima cotton is built for regular wear and regular washing. You don't need special products or a dry cleaner — just a few simple habits that keep a polo soft, keep the colour deep and keep the collar standing.
Washing
- Cold water, gentle cycle. Heat speeds up fading.
- Turn it inside out. This protects the outer surface from friction, which is what causes pilling.
- Wash with similar colours — whites with whites, darks with darks.
- Use a mild detergent, and less of it than you think. No bleach or harsh stain removers.
- Avoid heavy, rough items like jeans or towels in the same load; they rub against the fabric.
Hand washing, monsoon drying and the most common mistakes are covered in how to wash a polo shirt without ruining it.
Drying
- Line dry in the shade whenever you can. Direct sun fades dark colours over time.
- Or tumble dry on low, and take it out while it's still very slightly damp.
- Don't over-dry. Long tumble cycles are what make cotton shrink, and high heat leaves it stiff.
- Reshape while damp: smooth the collar and placket with your hands, then hang it on a wide hanger.
Ironing
If you hang it promptly you'll rarely need to iron it. When you do, iron inside out on low to medium heat, and press the collar from the underside so it lies flat without a shine. Step by step: how to iron a polo shirt the right way.
Storing
Fold it or hang it on a wide, shaped hanger — thin wire hangers stretch the shoulders. Make sure it's fully dry before you put it away, and never leave it damp in a pile.
Quick reference
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Wash cold, inside out | Use bleach or harsh chemicals |
| Use a gentle cycle | Wash with jeans or towels |
| Line dry in shade | Tumble dry on high heat |
| Iron on low to medium | Leave it damp in a pile |
| Smooth the collar while damp | Hang it on a thin wire hanger |
Why it's worth the effort
A Supima cotton polo starts soft and, looked after properly, stays that way. The longer fibres resist pilling and hold their colour — care just helps them do it for longer. Every Core Polo is machine washable, so this is all it needs.
