Keeping a black tee black

Black cotton fades from three directions: abrasion, heat and detergent residue. All three are manageable.

Abrasion

Friction is what dulls the surface first. Washing inside out reduces it, and washing less often helps more than people expect. A shirt worn once and aired is not dirty.

Heat

Hot water and a hot dryer both fade dye and stress the print. Cold water and hang drying solve both at once.

Detergent

Powder detergent that does not fully dissolve leaves a pale film in the cloth, which reads as fading. Use liquid, use less than the bottle suggests, and skip softener entirely.

What not to do

• Do not bleach, ever — including 'colour-safe' bleach on a black garment.
• Do not wash with new dark denim, which sheds dye unevenly.
• Do not iron directly on the print.

If it has already faded

A cold wash with a dedicated colour-restoring detergent can pull some depth back, but it will not restore a print that has cracked. Prevention is cheaper than correction here.

Common questions

Why do black tees fade?

Abrasion, heat and undissolved detergent residue. Cold washing inside out addresses the first two.

Can I use bleach on a black shirt?

No, including colour-safe bleach.