October 16, 2004

Curious George: T-shirt aging. I am wondering why my T-shirts always start out soft and fashionable, then after a few months they are tough, prone to wrinkles, and embarrassing to be out in. My wife thinks it is a fabric softener / high pH washwater problem, but I've often used softeners. I think it's all the fine fibers being gradually being eroded out in the dryer (thus all the lint). Any idea what is going on, and how to improve a shirt's lifespan (or restore an old shirt)?
posted by rolypolyman 20 years ago
  • Do you use the dryer sheet type of softener, or the liquid type? I find that if I want to really keep a favorite shirt, I have to use the liquid softener, and then hang it to dry.
  • my shirts I like, I dont dry more than a few minutes. Then I take them out and hang them up.
  • yup- drjimmy has it right. Dryer until they are still MOIST, then HANG DRYING leaves them CRISP and FRESH feeling. Takes more time, But I swear by this for clothes I care about. Hang over night near good ventilation and they're dry in the AM.
  • For those of us lacking in both patience and space, I've had good results just being careful not to overdry things. Pull them out as soon as they feel dry, after a time or two you'll know how long that takes.
  • Come on people, clotheslines? We live in the future! Clotheslines are for cavemen from the twentieth century. Here's my advice: Adjust your laser to it's lowest setting, and fire it at your shirt for 13-17 seconds. Or you could start buying T-shirts in pill format, just add water.
  • Thanks for all the suggestions... I'll try these.
  • Mr. Roly: One thing that might be happening is a buildup of detergent and/or minerals in your shirts. I ALWAYS use only 1/2 to 2/3 the recommended amount of detergent for the average wash, and ALWAYS second rinse stuff because of allergies, but even so, I can occasionally see detergent residue when I second rinse. Take and run all your stiff T-shirts through the wash cycle WITHOUT any detergent and add two cups of white vinegar (cuts minerals, softens fabric) to the water. Look to see if you have mild suds indicating detergent residue. Use a little less than the indicated amount of a name brand fabric softener--I use the kind with the white teddy bear. ?name. Don't use the highest heat--perm press is best. Take out while slightly damp and toss over a dry rack. Good luck.
  • I am just lazy and usually end up wearing my clothes at least twice before I get around to washing them.
  • To dry in a machine? Or hung to dry upon a line? Either one will suit me fine (Just so 'tain't me who gets 'em clean). Alas, such a quandry, over wet laundry!