Plain black T-shirts: fading, washing and what to buy

Why are plain black T-shirts so popular?

Black is the easiest colour to wear: it goes with jeans, chinos and a blazer, it hides small marks and it looks tidy even when the tee is plain. That is why black and white are the two most bought colours for plain tees.

The one catch is fading. After a few months, many black tees turn a dull charcoal. The good news is that most of it is avoidable.

Why do black T-shirts fade?

Black cotton does not so much lose its dye as lose its smooth surface. Several things work together:

• Friction: in the drum, fabric rubs against fabric. Tiny fibres lift, reflect light and make the colour look grey.
• Heat: hot washes and hot tumble drying speed up both friction damage and colour loss.
• Detergent: too much, or a detergent with optical brighteners made for whites, is hard on dark colours.
• Sunlight: drying black tees in strong sun can bleach them over time.

How should you wash black T-shirts?

Six habits keep black tees dark much longer:

1. Turn them inside out before washing, so the friction happens on the inside.
2. Wash at 30 degrees, which is enough for most everyday loads.
3. Use a detergent for darks and do not overdose.
4. Wash with other dark items and avoid mixing with towels, which shed lint.
5. Choose a gentle cycle with a lower spin speed if your machine allows it.
6. Dry in the shade, not in strong sun or a hot tumble dryer.

Here is how the typical habits compare:

Does fabric weight matter for black tees?

A heavier tee has more cotton, so it tends to look deeper in colour and keep its shape longer. Heavy cotton tees of approx. 190 gsm and up have a sturdy, slightly boxy look. Lighter tees of approx. 145 to 150 gsm are softer and cooler in summer, but show wear sooner.

Weight does not stop fading on its own, though. A heavy tee washed hot will still turn grey. The T-shirt gsm guide explains light, mid and heavy tees in detail.

Do black cotton T-shirts shrink?

Like all cotton, black tees can shrink a few percent, mostly on the first hot wash. Washing at 30 degrees and skipping the hot dryer largely avoids it. Pick your normal size, and if you are between two sizes choose the larger one. Classic Fruit of the Loom tees are tubular, with no side seams that can twist after washing.

How do you get lint and deodorant marks off black tees?

Fading is not the only thing that makes a black tee look old. Lint, pet hair and white deodorant marks show up on black far more than on any other colour. A few simple fixes help:

• Wash black items apart from towels and fleece. These shed the most lint, and black cotton picks it up easily.
• Do not overload the machine. A fuller drum means more friction and more fluff sticking to the fabric.
• Use a lint roller or a strip of tape before you head out, rather than brushing hard.
• Let deodorant dry before you dress, and choose a type that says it leaves no white marks.
• Rub fresh deodorant marks away with a damp cloth or a clean sock rather than scrubbing.

Small bobbles (pilling) come from friction too. They are more common on blends than on 100 % cotton. A fabric shaver removes them gently, but the best prevention is still washing inside out on a gentle cycle.

It is also worth rotating your black tees. Wearing three or four in turn, rather than one every other day, spreads the washing out so each tee keeps its colour longer.

Where can you buy plain black T-shirts?

At Marmalade Co. a black Fruit of the Loom T-shirt costs €6.95. From 3 pieces the price drops by 5 %, from 5 pieces by 10 % to €6.26 per tee. The T-shirt comes in 15 colours from XS to XXXL, and there are also V-necks and long sleeve tees.

DHL delivery costs €7 flat and takes about 2 to 3 working days to Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The shop does not currently deliver to the United Kingdom.

Building a set of basics? Pair your black tees with plain white T-shirts, and see the best plain T-shirts for the full checklist.