How to Wash T-Shirts So They Last: Stop Shrinking, Fading and Pilling

A good t-shirt can last for years, or it can shrink, fade and lose its neck in two months. Most of the difference comes from how you wash and dry it. This guide gives you one simple routine, then explains how to fix the most common problems.

#The basic routine

Use these steps for most cotton t-shirts, including oversized and printed tees.

1. Read the care label first. If it says hand wash or dry clean, follow it.
2. Turn the tee inside out. This protects the print and the outer surface from rubbing.
3. Sort by colour. Wash dark, light and white tees in separate loads.
4. Use cold water. Hot water shrinks cotton and fades dye.
5. Use a mild liquid detergent. Powder can leave white marks on dark tees.
6. Choose a gentle or delicate cycle, with a low spin.
7. Take the tees out soon after the wash ends, so they do not crease.
8. Dry them in the shade.

#How to stop a t-shirt from shrinking

Cotton shrinks when heat and movement tighten its fibres. Most of the shrinkage happens in the first wash.

• Wash in cold water.
• Do not use a tumble dryer on high heat. Heat causes most shrinkage.
• Choose tees labelled pre-shrunk or bio-washed. The factory shrinks the fabric before it cuts the tee, so the tee keeps its size.
• If a tee shrinks a little in length, gently pull it back into shape while it is still damp, then dry it flat.

#How to stop fading

Dye fades with hot water, strong detergent, rubbing and sun.

1. Wash dark tees inside out in cold water.
2. Wash new dark or bright tees alone for the first two or three washes. Some loose dye comes out at first.
3. Dry tees in the shade. The strong Indian sun fades colours fast.
4. Wash less often. A tee that you wore for one hour can air out instead.

#How to protect prints

Prints crack and peel when heat and stretching weaken the ink or the glue.

1. Always wash printed tees inside out.
2. Use cold water.
3. Do not iron over the print. If you must iron, iron the tee inside out on low heat.
4. Do not use a hot tumble dryer.
5. Do not wring the tee hard. Press the water out gently.

Different prints need slightly different care. Read DTF vs Screen Print vs Puff Print vs DTG.

#How to stop and remove pilling

Pilling is when small balls of fibre form on the surface of the fabric. It happens when fibres rub against each other.

• Wash tees inside out.
• Do not wash tees with rough fabrics such as denim or towels.
• Use a gentle cycle.
• To remove pills, use a fabric shaver or a lint comb. Move it gently across the flat fabric.

Combed cotton pills less than regular cotton. Read How to Check T-Shirt Fabric Quality.

#How to keep the neck in shape

The neck rib is the stretchy band around the neck. It is often the first part of a tee to fail.

• Do not pull a tee over your head by the neck. Hold the body of the tee.
• Do not hang a wet tee by the neck on a hook.
• Dry heavy tees flat or folded over a rail.

#Drying in Indian weather

Heavy oversized tees of 240 GSM and more take longer to dry. Turn them halfway through. GSM means grams per square metre, a measure of fabric weight.

#Hand wash or machine wash?

Both work. A machine on a gentle, cold cycle is fine for most tees. Hand wash tees with fragile prints, embroidery or hand-painted designs. Soak them in cold water with a little mild detergent for 15 minutes, then rinse.