The T.E.E guide
How to wash and care for your cotton tee
Start with the sewn-in care label for your tee. T.E.E recommends a cold, gentle wash with similar colours, avoiding bleach and fabric softeners. For drying, the published care guidance allows low tumble drying or laying the tee flat to help maintain its shape.
What should you check before washing?
Read the care label, separate colours and look for any marks that need attention. Wash with similar colours rather than assuming that every white, cream or indigo garment can share the same load. Follow detergent instructions instead of adding extra product by habit.
If your tee has a mark that you do not know how to treat, ask for advice before using bleach or a harsh stain remover. A general washing guide cannot account for every stain, finish or previous treatment.
What wash cycle does T.E.E recommend?
Use cold water and a gentle machine cycle with similar colours. T.E.E's care page advises avoiding bleach and fabric softeners. The individual garment label takes priority if it gives more specific instructions.
Keep the routine consistent if you want to compare how fit changes over time. Changing temperature, cycle and drying method together makes it harder to understand what caused a change in the way a tee feels or measures.
Should you tumble dry or lay the tee flat?
T.E.E's published guidance permits tumble drying on low or laying the tee flat to dry. If holding the current outline is your priority, laying it flat gives you a chance to arrange the hem and sleeves gently without pulling them.
Do not use a hot drying cycle as a sizing tool. T.E.E has not published controlled shrinkage percentages for each style, so there is no reliable rule that a particular cycle will reduce a tee by exactly one size.
How should you iron and store the tee?
If needed, use low heat in line with the care label. T.E.E's care guidance also notes that a light pass of steam may help refresh the garment. Let the tee dry fully before putting it away, then fold it without forcing the neckline or shoulder area into a stretched position.
Revisit the main care page when you need a quick reminder. If the fit seems different after washing, measure the tee again in the same flat position and compare it with your earlier notes. Our measuring guide explains how to make that comparison useful.
What if a problem appears after washing?
Keep the order details and note the cycle, temperature and drying method used. A clear description and measurements make it easier for us to help. Contact T.E.E with that information rather than repeatedly washing or stretching the garment to try to correct it.
Care can support a consistent routine, but this guide does not promise a fixed garment lifespan or guarantee that cotton will never change shape.
