A Drycleaning and Laundry Institute study showed starch and sizings can both protect and harm shirts at the same time. ... However, since starch stiffens the fibers and makes them less flexible, it reduces the degree of flex abrasion a shirt can withstand (stretching around the elbow for example).

Should shirts be starched?

GQ Magazine agrees that starch is better suited to formal wear and their advice is to avoid starch for other types of shirts. They say the best treatment for your shirts is hand pressed with no starch. However, if you really want a crisp and fresh look, you can ask your dry-cleaner for light starch.

Is it good to starch clothes?

Starching your clothes adds crispness and structure, providing body to cotton and linen items. It also creates a higher resistance to wrinkling and soiling. Using laundry starch will also ease ironing. Durable synthetics can be “starched,” but should not be be treated with grocery brand fabric starch spray.