Preserving Your Favorite T-Shirt: Tips For Longevity

T-shirts are a staple in most wardrobes, but they can be prone to wear and tear. To preserve your favourite tee, it's important to take care when washing, drying, and storing. Wash similar fabrics together, zip up any zippers, and turn silk-screened shirts inside out to protect the image. Avoid tumble dryers, which can cause shrinkage and damage, and instead, opt for air drying. When storing, fold your t-shirts and place them in drawers to avoid stretching, and use lavender or cedar to repel moths.

Wash by fabric type

Sorting your laundry by fabric type is a great way to preserve your t-shirts. When you wash t-shirts together, they are less likely to be damaged by buttons, zippers, or other items with hardware. This simple step will help extend the lifespan of your t-shirts.

To further protect your t-shirts, turn them inside out before washing. This is especially important for silk-screened shirts, as it will help preserve the image. For t-shirts with prints, turning them inside out will prevent the print from cracking or fading.

If you have t-shirts with iron-on graphics, always wash them cold and inside out. Drip dry them, and avoid tumble drying if possible, as heat and abrasion can damage the graphics.

For delicate t-shirts, consider using a delicates bag to protect them from other items in the wash. Alternatively, you can place the t-shirt in a pillowcase while washing to protect it from damage.

Wash inside out

One of the most important steps to preserving your t-shirts is to wash them correctly. In fact, washing your clothes is the leading reason why they wear down.

Washing your t-shirts inside out is a good way to preserve the print and prevent it from cracking or fading. This is especially important if your t-shirt has silk-screened or ironed-on graphics. Turning your t-shirts inside out will also help protect the image on the shirt.

When washing your t-shirts, it's also a good idea to wash by fabric type rather than by colour. This will prevent buttons, zippers, or anything else from beating up your t-shirts in the washer. It's also recommended to wash in cold water and to avoid tumble drying, as heat can be the enemy of preservation. Instead, air-dry your t-shirts by hanging them up or laying them flat.

Avoid tumble dryers

Tumble dryers are one of the worst offenders when it comes to causing damage to your favourite T-shirts. The tumble dryer is a modern convenience that can significantly reduce the time and effort required to complete a load of laundry. However, if you want to preserve your T-shirts, it is best to avoid using them.

Tumble dryers can cause T-shirts to shrink, affecting their fit and drape. The heat from the dryer can cause the fibres in the fabric to constrict, resulting in a smaller size. Even if your T-shirt is not visibly shrunk after one cycle, the cumulative effect of multiple drying cycles can lead to a noticeable reduction in size over time.

Additionally, tumble dryers can also cause damage to the fabric of your T-shirts. The constant tumbling and agitation can cause fibres to weaken and break, resulting in a loss of elasticity and the formation of pills or fuzz on the fabric. This type of damage is typically minor and hardly noticeable at first, but over time, it can add up and compromise the integrity of your T-shirts.

To avoid the negative effects of tumble dryers, it is best to air-dry your T-shirts. Hang them on a clothesline or drying rack, or lay them flat on a towel to dry. If you must use a dryer, consider using a low or no-heat setting and taking the shirts out while they are still slightly damp, then allowing them to air-dry the rest of the way.

Another option is to invest in a drying rack that can be placed indoors, in a well-ventilated area. This allows you to avoid the outdoor drying process, which can be challenging during inclement weather. By skipping the tumble dryer and opting for air-drying methods, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your T-shirts and keep them looking their best for longer.

Store correctly

Storing your T-shirts correctly is an important step in preserving them. When storing T-shirts for short periods of time, it is best to fold them and store them in a drawer. Hanging T-shirts can decrease their lifespan as the weight of the shirt causes it to stretch out. If you are storing your T-shirts in a closet, use wooden hangers as plastic and wire hangers can stretch out the shoulders.

For long-term storage, it is important to find a cool, dry, and dark place in your home. Before placing T-shirts in long-term storage, make sure they are freshly washed and fully dried. Check for stains and treat them before storing the T-shirts. Use archival storage boxes to protect the T-shirts from yellowing or other damage. If you are storing wool T-shirts, add some lavender or cedar chips to the storage container to keep moths away.

In addition to following these general storage tips, you can also take some preventative measures to protect your T-shirts. For example, if you have silk-screened T-shirts, wash them inside out to preserve the image. You can also add a pinch of pepper to the wash to keep the colours bright.

Learn basic mending

Learning some basic mending skills can help you preserve your favourite T-shirts and keep them in good condition for longer. Here are some simple techniques to help you repair your T-shirts:

Darning

Darning is a method used to fix holes in knit fabrics, such as T-shirts. It's important not to add more tension to the weakened area of the fabric. Instead of stitching the hole closed, allow the fabric to sit naturally and reinforce the fabric around the hole. You can do this by finding a patch of fabric to reinforce the hole, using something with a bit of stretch like an old T-shirt or spandex. Place the patch behind the hole and sew it in place with small stitches. Then, turn the T-shirt right side out and weave the thread back and forth across the hole to reinforce the repair. Finally, reinforce the stitching with close stitching, making sure the fabric is lightly stretched to avoid straining it.

Fusible Interfacing and Webbing

This method uses a small piece of lightweight fusible interfacing and fusible webbing to repair a hole in a T-shirt. First, lay the T-shirt with the wrong side facing out on an ironing board and smooth out the fabric. Cut a 1-inch square of interfacing and a slightly smaller square of webbing, rounding off the corners. Place the webbing on top of the hole, then place the interfacing on top of the webbing. Set your iron to the cotton and steam setting and place it on the patch for 10 seconds. Flip the shirt so the right side is facing up and use your fingernails to gently press the edges of the hole together.

Preventing Holes

To prevent holes from forming in the first place, try tucking your T-shirts into your trousers or skirts to avoid rubbing against belt buckles or buttons. You can also wear "button covers" made of soft silicone to protect your T-shirts from touching trouser buttons. Choosing belts with smooth buckles can also help reduce the formation of holes.

Frequently asked questions