5 Tips for Keeping Your T-Shirts Alive

T-shirts are a great way to not be naked, but they can also develop wear and tear faster than other types of attire. Like chainmail. Chainmail is very durable attire. Here are 5 great tips to keeping your t-shirts alive longer than ever!

1. Wash cold.
   Setting your washing machine to tap cold prevents colors from bleeding all over the place onto other shirts like an infectious disease. However (and speaking of infectious diseases) cold washes do allow bacteria to spread in your washing machine. We recommend washing underwear and kitchen cloths in a separate batch using hot water.
2. Dry cold.
   Drying cold, as in air drying on a line or drying rack, is great for increasing the longevity of not just t-shirts but most clothes. Avoid drying clothes in direct sunlight though, as that can fade colors over time. If you’ve ever lived in a 300 sq. ft. apartment in Manhattan, you’ve probably seen one of these. They’re great. If you live in a basement or in England and are deprived of natural light, at least set your dryer to a lower temperature than the “Hell” setting found on most industrial tumble dryers at laundromats. It may take longer, but your clothes will thank you!
3. Zip up.
   The average washing machine spins clothes at 120 mph. I made that up, but it is still a very harsh process. Zippers, metal buttons, quarters, etc, can damage your favorite shirts. Most people know to flip jeans inside out, but fewer people take the time zip up.

   

4. Flip out.
   We don’t mean you should throw a fit after finding your roommate using your favorite t-shirt to dry between his toes. We mean you should flip your t-shirts inside out, especially ones with printed designs, before throwing them in the washer. Those zippers and metal buttons we mentioned can slowly scratch away at the ink on your t-shirts.
5. Buy better t-shirts!
   Lower quality, cheaper clothing will simply not last as long as higher quality clothes. That’s why we offer a wide range of brands and levels of quality, ranging from economical options to use as promotional giveaways to premium t-shirts that make great gifts. Check out all our apparel here!