“You may turn into an archangel, a fool, or a criminal – no one will see it. But when a button is missing – everyone sees that.” Author (All Quiet On The Western Front) Erich Maria Remarque’s observation about buttons was spot on!  Buttons are one of the most important parts of a dress shirt, suit, and may other garments, but also the most overlooked when it comes to upkeep.

At laundrymann, we understand this, which is one reason button care and replacement is a fundamental step in our process. It’s also why you should bring your dress shirts to laundrymann. There is nothing more embarrassing than having a button pop off in the middle of a meeting, date, or dinner with friends especially in places like Lekki Phase 1.

Lekki Phase 1

Lekki is a city in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is located to the south-east of Lagos city. Lekki is a naturally formed peninsula, adjoining to its west Victoria Island and Ikoyi districts of Lagos, with the Atlantic Ocean to its south, Lagos Lagoon to the north, and Lekki Lagoon to its east; however, the city’s southeast which ends around the western edge of Refuge Island, adjoins the eastern part of Ibeju-Lekki LGA.^[2]

Measurement of Lekki Phase 1

The city is still largely under construction; As of 2015, only phase 1 of the project had been completed, with phase 2 nearing completion. The peninsula is approximately 70 to 80 km long, with an average width of 10 km. Lekki currently houses several gated residential developments, agricultural farmlands, areas allocated for a Free Trade Zone, with an airport, and a seaport under construction. The proposed land-use master plan for Lekki envisages the Peninsula as a “Blue-Green Environment City”,^[2] expected to accommodate well over a residential population of 3.4 million in addition to a non-residential population of at least 1.9 million.^[4]

Part of the Lekki peninsula was formerly known as Maroko, a slum, before it was destroyed by the Raji Rasaki led Lagos State military Government. One of its neighbourhoods, Lekki phase 1 has a reputation as an area with some of the most expensive real estate in Lagos State.^[citatio

Buying High-Quality Buttons

It’s important to assess the quality and use of buttons before you buy a garment. This makes maintenance and cares much simpler.

1. Check to see if the buttons are spaced evenly and secured by multiple threads underneath. This helps keep them in place. Be certain extra buttons are included. Quality clothing typically has at least one extra button attached to the label or hem.
2. Next check the buttonholes. These should always be reinforced with densely stitched thread. This keeps the buttons from pulling or even ripping the fabric. No raw edges of the fabric should be visible through the stitching.
3. Keyhole buttonholes should be used on jackets, cardigans, and garments that present a clean silhouette. This means they include a round hole on one side, allowing the button to sit comfortably in the hole without distorting the fabric.

Button Care

Inspect buttons (and buttonholes) every time you launder or dry clean any garment. Check for loose threads that may cause a button to come off. Do you see cracked, broken, or missing buttons? Dry clean garments with buttons that can’t be washed to prevent damage. If you’re not sure, ask the customer service rep at your Lekki Phase location of Laundrymann before washing at home.

While important, button care is generally overlooked until it’s too late. To prevent embarrassing mishaps, bring your shirts (and other items) to laundrymann. You will always be buttoned up and ready for any occasion when we care for your clothes!

How To Take Care Of Men’s Button-Down Shirts

The button-down shirt is a symbol of the white-collar worker and the uniform of the male professional. Taking care of men’s button-down shirts and keeping them up to standards, however, is a little more complicated than just washing and drying them. They can accumulate the grime of a workday and lose the lustre you expect your button-down to bring to the table.

So what should we do? Do we need to slash and burn our worn-out button-down shirts and get new ones?

For the most part, a shirt usually lasts up to six months – it could live as long as two to three years with the proper care – and it really depends on how frequently you wear it. In some cases, a shirt can be unsalvageable (waxy seams, yellow stains, and rips around the neckline and the armpits), but all some button-downs need to seem fresh again is some proper care and attention.

So, before you go grab that machete knife and flamethrower, do yourself a favour and read up on these tips for managing and preserving your dress shirts.

• Wear an Undershirt for Extra Protection

Men, you should really invest in some undershirts if you haven’t already. Undershirts provide an extra wall of protection between you, your natural body emissions, and your shirt. Of course, an undershirt can’t stop 100 per cent of body stains from reaching the shirt fabric, but it can be huge for adding months, even years, to the life of your shirt.

• Use a Special Deodorant

The kind of deodorant you use can be a powerful tool in protecting/preserving your shirts. Make sure the deodorant you use has a neutral pH with little to no acidity. Also, if possible, make sure the deodorant completely dries before wearing your shirt.

• Launder and Press the Shirts by Hand

If you’re too lazy to do this, go to a nearby laundrymann station and ask them if they could do it for you. If they can’t, ask them if they could at least launder it. You won’t regret it as a dress shirt can cost up to a few hundred dollars, and they start to show their wear after six to seven months.

• Use White Vinegar in Wash

Dropping about a cup of white vinegar into some cold water along with your dress shirts can help remove the yellow sweat stains as well as give your shirts a fresh clean odour.

• Wash Your Shirts Right After Your Wear Them

Lastly, it is a good practice to wash your button-downs after each wear, mainly because remaining deodorant and sweat stain chemicals can be extremely harmful to the shirt fibres.

Ultimately, there will come a day when your button-downs need to be replaced from old age, but, until that day comes, these tips can prolong their life. They are, after all, a reflection of your professionalism!

Conclusion

Let someone else take care of the laundry

If you’re overwhelmed by piles of grubby laundry, then why not let someone else deal with it? Our award-winning dry cleaning and laundry service makes wash day a breeze. Upon subscription, We’ll collect your laundry, clean and iron it using professional methods and equipment, and return it to your door. We’ll even fold or hang it for you, so it’s ready to go straight in the wardrobe or drawer.

Your washing machine needs to be cleaned thoroughly every couple of months, and you should be running a hot maintenance cycle at least once every two weeks. This will leave your machine out of action for a few hours, so subscribe to our service and let us handle the hard work while you scrub up.