T-Shirt Care
A premium tee earns its price only if it lasts. Most tees are ruined not by wear but by careless washing and drying. This hub is a practical routine for keeping cotton soft, colours true and prints intact. For brand-wide advice see the clothing care guide (/pages/clothing-care-guide).
Washing
Washing Cotton Tees
The core rule: wash cool, inside out and with like colours to protect fibre and colour.
The routine
A 30-degree cycle with a gentle detergent cleans thoroughly while protecting the cotton. Turning tees inside out shields the outer face and any print.
Why it works
Cool water limits shrinkage and fading, and lower agitation reduces pilling on the visible surface.
Washing Performance Tees
Synthetic and technical tees need cool washes and no softener to keep wicking and anti-odour working.
The routine
Wash cool, skip fabric softener and avoid high heat. Softener coats the fibres and blocks moisture management.
Why it matters
Heat and softener are the two things that kill a performance tee's function fastest.
Preventing Shrinkage
Heat is the enemy -- cool washes and low-heat drying keep a tee true to size.
The routine
Wash at 30 degrees and either air-dry or tumble on low. Most shrinkage happens in a hot wash or a hot dryer.
Extra insurance
Pre-shrunk tees are more forgiving, but cool care protects even untreated cotton.
Preventing Colour Fade
Cool water, inside-out washing and drying out of direct sun keep colours deep.
The routine
Wash inside out on cool with like colours, and dry away from strong sunlight, which bleaches over time.
Darks tip
New dark tees can be washed separately for the first few washes to avoid transferring dye.
Washing Printed Tees
Prints last longest washed cool, inside out, and never ironed directly.
The routine
Turn printed tees inside out, wash cool and avoid the tumble dryer, which cracks prints with heat and friction.
Ironing
Never iron directly over a print -- press inside out or avoid the printed area entirely.
Drying and pressing
Air Drying
The gentlest way to dry a tee, protecting shape, size and print.
Best practice
Dry flat or on a wide hanger away from direct heat and sun. Flat drying best preserves the shape of heavier tees.
Why it matters
Air drying avoids the heat and tumbling that cause most shrinkage and print damage.
Tumble Drying
Convenient but the biggest cause of shrinkage and print wear -- use low heat and remove promptly.
If you must
Use a low or delicate setting and take tees out slightly damp to finish on a hanger, reducing creasing and shrinkage.
Avoid
High heat is what shrinks cotton and cracks prints. Never over-dry.
Ironing and Pressing
Match the heat to the fibre and always keep the iron off prints.
The rule
Cotton takes a medium-hot iron; synthetics need low heat. Press inside out to protect the surface and any print.
Shortcut
Hanging a tee while slightly damp lets many creases drop out without ironing at all.
Storage and longevity
Folding vs Hanging
Fold heavier tees to protect the shoulders; hang lighter ones to avoid creases -- with the right hanger.
Folding
Heavyweight and knitted tees keep their shape best folded, avoiding shoulder bumps from hangers.
Hanging
Lighter tees can hang on a wide or padded hanger; thin wire hangers distort the shoulders.
Long-Term Storage
Store tees clean, dry and cool to avoid yellowing, mustiness and moth damage.
Best practice
Always store tees clean -- body oils and invisible stains oxidise into yellow marks over time. Keep them dry and out of direct light.
Cotton blends
For blends with natural fibres, a breathable box or drawer and the occasional airing keeps everything fresh.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should I wash t-shirts at?
A cool 30-degree wash is ideal for almost every tee. It cleans well while minimising shrinkage and colour fade, and it is gentler on prints and performance finishes.
How do I stop my t-shirts shrinking?
Wash cool and either air-dry or tumble on low heat. Most shrinkage comes from a hot wash or a hot dryer, so keeping the heat down is the key.
How should I wash a printed t-shirt?
Turn it inside out, wash cool, skip the tumble dryer and never iron directly over the print -- press inside out instead.