The Complete T-Shirt Care Guide

A printed tee lasts for years if you treat the print as part of the fabric, not a sticker stuck on top. The entire care routine comes down to one idea: keep heat and friction away from the design.

Wash cold and inside-out. Turning the shirt inside-out puts the print against your body and away from the drum, so it rubs against soft fabric instead of zippers and buttons in the load. Cold water keeps the cotton fibres — and the ink bonded to them — from breaking down over time.

Dry low or hang dry. High dryer heat is the single fastest way to fade a print and shrink cotton. Tumble on low, or better yet, hang the shirt to dry — a made-to-order DTG print in particular prefers air-drying.

Skip the bleach and fabric softener, and never iron directly on the design. If a shirt needs pressing, turn it inside-out or lay a cloth over the print first. Follow this and a good tee will outlast a whole drawer of fast-fashion ones.