Folded Ralph Lauren polo shirts in various colours

How to Care for Your Polo

Our iconic polo shirt has been an international trendsetter since 1972. Learn how to care for this smart-casual garment so it can serve you best across the seasons, whether you’ve opted for a classic RL design or one from an exclusive capsule.

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The Ralph Lauren polo shirt is a timeless wardrobe staple that’s celebrated for its boundless versatility and iconic pony insignia. Since 1972, this American standard has captured style-seekers with its enticing array of colours, eye-catching patterns and graphics, and high-performance fabrics such as cotton and cashmere.

While the Ralph Lauren polo is widely considered a throw-on-and-go essential, it still requires care to keep it in tip-top condition. Our guide below will show you how to wash, dry, iron, and fold our cult classic shirt, so your investment can go the distance.

How To Wash Polo Shirts

Wondering how to wash a Ralph Lauren polo shirt? It’s a failsafe task, if you follow the rules. While the majority of our polos are machine washable, some require a little extra care (like hand washing or dry cleaning) if they’re made from delicate fabrics like cashmere or silk.

If you’re using a washing machine, set it to a cooler temperature, turn your polo inside out to protect any buttons, beading, or embroidery, and pop the collar to prevent curling. Ensure you separate garments into similar colours (for e.g., don’t wash your white Origin Polo with our post red Jersey Crewneck T-Shirt or our Cotton Quarter-Zip Jumper).

Check Labels

Inspect your Ralph Lauren polo label for specific garment care instructions (shirts made from cotton, linen, silk, cashmere, and polyester blends may showcase different washing guidelines).

Select The Correct Setting

When fabrics are exposed to high temperatures in the wash, they can become misshapen. Set your machine to a cool temperature (and delicate cycle) to avoid any shrinkage.

Consider Colour

Don’t mix shades (for e.g., keep pale polo shirts separate from reds, blacks, purples, and navies) to prevent colour bleeding.

Appropriate Detergent

Invest in a quality laundry detergent that’s gentle on fabrics and suited to a cool wash. For polo shirts made from cashmere, select a specialist cleaner that’s designed for this type of wool (baby shampoo can work equally well).

Close-up of a green Ralph Lauren polo shirt showing the collar and label
Assorted Ralph Lauren polo shirts in various colours hanging on a clothesline

How To Dry Polo Shirts

How to dry polo shirts without shrinking them? The key is to never tumble dry them. Instead, slide your cotton polo onto a padded hanger and let it dry naturally (preferably in a gentle breeze, away from harsh sunlight).

For delicate fabrics like cashmere and silk, lay the garment on a flat surface (or better still, store it in an airing cupboard) so it retains its shape. Occasionally, one of our polo designs may require dry clean only, so always check the label.

Check Labels

Check your Ralph Lauren polo shirt label to follow specific drying instructions. Different polo shirts will come with different recommendations, depending on their fabric type and/or any special adornments.

Air Drying Options

Air drying is the method of drying clothes naturally, whether that’s on a hanger on a clothes line, or laid out in an airing cupboard. While our 100% cotton polos can be hung up to dry, delicate fabrics like cashmere should be dried flat.

Machine Drying

Polo shirts might be robust, but they can experience shrinkage if exposed to certain temperatures. Therefore, it’s always best to avoid machine driers and tumble driers, and instead choose an air-dry option.

How To Iron Polo Shirts

As with any garment, Ralph Lauren polo shirts can become less pristine as they age — bobbling and pilling as their fibres stretch from the friction of wearing them, and succumbing to general loss of shape. Ironing a polo shirt is a great way to prevent collar curling, while leaving it free of creases and wrinkles, and maintaining its overall aesthetic.

Select The Correct Settings

While many of our polo shirts are made from 100% cotton, some are crafted from more tactile blends. Whatever the fabric, we recommend setting your iron to a cooler temperature and turning the garment inside-out to protect its buttons, preserve its colour, and prevent general spoilage and damage.

Chest And Back

Lay the body of the inside-out polo shirt on an ironing board, ensuring it’s free of any creases and kinks. Iron the shirt from the top to the bottom, taking care to manoeuvre around the buttons and insignia, before moving onto the sleeves.

Collar

The best way to iron a polo shirt collar is to start in the centre and then work the iron out towards the edges in a swift diagonal motion, making sure you use the steam function for a little added moisture. Flip the collar over and iron the other side, repeating the same steps as before.

Ralph Lauren polo shirt highlighting the embroidered logo
Stack of folded pastel-coloured Ralph Lauren polo shirts with the embroidered logo

How To Fold A Polo Shirt

How to fold a polo and store it correctly is as important as the way you wash, dry, and iron it. Instead of using clothes hangers (which can cause the garment to warp), we recommend folding it to maintain its shape before storing it away from moisture and sunlight.

Lay Flat

After fastening the buttons, lay your Ralph Lauren polo face down on a flat, dry surface. Ensure you smooth out any kinks or creases to prevent the need for re-ironing.

Fold The Sleeves In

Take one sleeve and gently fold it towards the centre of the shirt so it lines up with the collar. Repeat this for the other side until the garment is symmetrical.

Fold The Bottom Up

Fold your polo in half vertically until the bottom edge meets the top of the collar. Your polo shirt should resemble a rectangle (which can fit snugly in a drawer or container).