Mysterious Wrinkle/Fold in Shirts

February 2, 2007 7:28 AM

I need help identifying the cause of a mystery wrinkle/fold that occurs in a lot of my shirts (I'm sure I'm not the only one too!)

I just got this dress shirt back from the drycleaner and it came back nicely ironed except for this one fold on the bottom left side of my shirt!

I also have other regular t-shirts that I wash and fold myself and many of them have the same thing as well. What's going on!? I know this happens to other people as well but why always just the bottom left side???

posted by blim8183 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Response by poster: Link to an image of the wrinkle
posted by blim8183 at 7:33 AM on February 2, 2007

When you pick your shirts up, do you hang them up on the "oh shit" handles of your car, or do you lay them flat on the back seat?
posted by JeremiahBritt at 7:43 AM on February 2, 2007

Is it because whoemever is ironing it thinks that that particular part of the shirt will be tucked into your pants and thus never be seen? After the first time the shirt is pressed like this, it will tend to fold over slightly every time, so whenever it is ironed that spot will likely be folded over.
posted by davey_darling at 7:47 AM on February 2, 2007

Response by poster: Neither, I carry them home by the hook.
posted by blim8183 at 7:47 AM on February 2, 2007

Response by poster: davey_darling: That seems to make sense except that it's always happening in the same spot on different shirts. Both dress shirts ironed by others and t-shirt I wash and fold on my own.
posted by blim8183 at 7:49 AM on February 2, 2007

I'd check in store next time you do a pickup and ask. If you have a brand new shirt, wear it and take it to the cleaners does it start from that point? Maybe their equipment is doing a permanent 'burn' that causes this...
posted by ronmexico at 7:59 AM on February 2, 2007

Best answer: Looks to me like the problem is with the machining. Machine neatening seams and hems can cause pulling where tension is created between the straight grain of the fabric and the tension of the stitching. The problem is at its worst around curves, for example sleeve and neckline seams, so much so that fabric is cut on the bias especially for neatening these edges. Once pulls are created they are difficult - if not impossible - to iron out.
posted by de at 8:35 AM on February 2, 2007

I'm pretty sure davey_darling has it - the person operating the iron is doing a poor job. You say it happens to different shirts in the same spot, but are you haveing the same cleaner press the shirts? You might try a different cleaner to see if it keeps happening.
posted by lekvar at 8:58 AM on February 2, 2007

Response by poster: lekvar: Yes, this is a problem that's occured with multiple cleaners and when I wash my own clothes.
posted by blim8183 at 8:59 AM on February 2, 2007

Do you have a bag that you carry over your shoulder?
posted by srboisvert at 9:07 AM on February 2, 2007

Response by poster: yup but the strap goes from my left shoulder to my right hip, never over the afflicted area of the shirt.
posted by blim8183 at 9:10 AM on February 2, 2007

Shirts are pressed by a big machine. An operator lays it out in the machine, but doesn't typically go to the effort to make certain that the bottom is perfectly flat. So when it's pressed, the end folds over a little. It's a high-volume, low-margin business, so unless you find a super premium cleaner (they exist) or start hand-ironing, it will continue.
posted by raf at 9:35 AM on February 2, 2007

I'd say that for the dress shirt, it is from the clamp they use in the machine that presses your shirt (it isn't ironed by hand). Not sure why it would also be on T-shirts you do yourself, other than it happens every once in a while and you have confirmation bias.
posted by qwip at 6:52 PM on February 2, 2007