Best Ways to Soften T-shirts

uwakmfon September 28, 2023

0 703 4 minutes read

Best Ways to Soften T-shirts. There are several methods to update your worn-out t-shirts, including a quick trick to make all of your favorites softer. And you could already have the necessary ingredients at home! Therefore, avoid wasting money on pricey, delicate, pre-distressed t-shirts. Give each item in your current t-shirt collection the soft, worn-in feel you desire.

To make new, starchy t-shirts feel as soft and fluffy as your favorite vintage tee, all you need is some plain table salt and a little warm water. I’m not sure if the salt actually dissolves the fibers as your t-shirt soaks, or if it simply removes a starchy residue, but either way, it works well!

Best Ways to Soften T-shirts

To soften stiff tees, you can also add baking soda, vinegar, or fabric softener. Any of the quick, simple, and inexpensive methods in this post will make t-shirts softer and more comfortable to wear. Use one of these methods to soften new cotton t-shirts if they are too scratchy or stiff!

Although I would advise against using these techniques on more delicate textiles like linen, they do work on popular brands like Gildan, Hanes, and Fruit of the Loom’s ring spun cotton and rayon and polyester mixes. Try these suggestions out; I think you’ll be as amazed as I was!

Best Ways to Soften T-shirts

Sometimes you don’t love the design of a baggy t-shirt enough to wear it, but you still retain it. But there’s no use storing your trademark t-shirts at home like some sort of dragon made of t-shirts. Fortunately, there is a way to make those puppies pliable so they can become clothes you can’t wait to wear. This technique will work well on cotton, cotton/polyester blends, and even comfortable, trendy modal shirts, which will come out extra-soft, if you want to give a stiff or scratchy t-shirt new life.

You’ll require

Bucket
A half-cup of salt
A quart of warm water

Instructions:

One quart of warm water and half a cup of table salt should be put in a bucket.
Stir the mixture until all of the salt has dissolved.
For up to three days, let the clothing soak in the salty water. (While this technique involves some time, the results are well worth the wait!)
Once daily, agitate the clothing in the water. It’s usual for some salty spots to appear on the shirt or for salt crystals to form in the water.
Remove your t-shirt from the salty water after three days and throw it in the washing machine.
The shirt should be washed as usual, then tumble-dried until nearly dry.

Best Ways to Soften T-shirts With Vinegar

You’ll require

Massive bowl
Baking soda, 1 tablespoon
A single cup of distilled white vinegar

Instructions:

One cup of vinegar should be added slowly after the baking soda has been added to the basin.
Stir the mixture until all of the baking soda has dissolved.
Place the garment in the washing machine, add the vinegar solution on top, and then perform a cold water rinse cycle. (If preferred, you could also use the fabric softener dispenser to add clear vinegar to the rinse cycle.)
The shirt can be worn once it has been washed and dried as usual.

Making New T-Shirts Softer With Fabric Softener

You’ll require

Fabric softener (either my homemade fabric softener or one from the shop!)

Instructions:

Use your regular detergent to wash the t-shirt, and add fabric softener to the rinse cycle.
The shirt should be allowed to air dry until it is barely moist.
Put a couple of wool dryer balls and the shirt in your tumble dryer on low heat. (Tennis balls may also be used; however, they make a loud noise.)
Before it’s entirely dry, remove the item and shake it vigorously.

Additional Method:

It might be time for severe measures if you’ve attempted the aforementioned solutions but your t-shirt is still stiffer than you’d like. Some individuals damage and soften t-shirts around the neck, sleeves, and hem by using scouring pads, pumice stones, or even sandpaper.

Although it wouldn’t be my first recommendation, it’s worth a shot if the only other option is to simply give up on the garment altogether. To avoid tearing the fabric, use a soft touch when using your selected instrument. After that, wash the shirt in boiling water with 1 cup of salt and 1/4 cup of washing soda.

Examine These Alternative Fabric Softeners

If you’d rather not use conditioner, you can make a fantastic fabric softener with glycerin and vinegar that cleans as it softens. This homemade fabric softener, which I mentioned before, is quite affordable and smells amazing.

Additionally, you can produce your DIY dryer sheets using soiled cloths and commercial fabric softener. They maximize the use of a single bottle of fabric softener. Another option is to add homemade fabric softener crystals to the wash cycle; these are simple to produce with Epsom salt and your preferred essential oils and can then be used in homemade laundry detergent.

Conclusion.

Finally, you might just be able to use wool dryer balls to get the desired outcomes! Particularly with fabrics composed of natural fibers, they work wonders for reducing stiffness and enhancing fabric flexibility. They can also aid in the battle against static cling. You can maintain the softness of your t-shirts without spending a fortune with these adaptable choices!