Shrinkage Is Almost Always Heat, Not Fabric Quality
A lot of people assume a tee shrank because it was low quality. In reality, cotton fibers relax and contract when exposed to heat and moisture together — wash or dry a 100% cotton tee like our Solid Half Sleeve range on high heat, and it will shrink regardless of how good the fabric is.
Hot Water Is the First Mistake
Hot water opens up cotton fibers more aggressively than cold, and combined with agitation, that's when most shrinkage happens. Washing our Classic Fit or Drop Shoulder tees in cold water avoids this almost entirely.
The Dryer Is the Bigger Culprit
If shrinkage still happens after a cold wash, the dryer is almost always the reason. Tumble drying on high heat is the single fastest way to shrink a 200 GSM cotton tee like our Printed Half Sleeve range — even one cycle on high heat can noticeably tighten the fit.
Air Drying Preserves Both Size and Print
Air drying flat, away from direct sun, keeps cotton tees at their original size and also protects screen prints on pieces like our Peaky Blinders or Squid Game graphic tees, which can crack under repeated dryer heat.
What About Pre-Shrunk Cotton?
Pre-shrunk doesn't mean shrink-proof — it means the fabric has already gone through one shrinkage cycle before being cut into a garment, so it shrinks less on your first wash than raw cotton would. It still needs cold water and air drying to hold its size over years of wear.
If a Tee Has Already Shrunk
A lightly shrunk cotton tee can sometimes be gently stretched back into shape while damp, then dried flat pinned at the shoulders and hem. This won't reverse major shrinkage, which is why prevention with the right wash routine matters more than a fix after the fact.
Milange Tees Need the Same Care
Our 170 GSM milange tees are lighter but no more shrink-resistant — if anything, the lighter weave makes cold water washing and air drying even more important to keep the relaxed drape intended in the design.
Shop Cotton Tees at BLISS
Browse BLISS's full range of solid, printed, and milange cotton tees, and keep them fitting the way they did on day one with a cold wash and air dry routine.