How to Wash Black Tees (So They Stay Black)

TL;DR: Wash black tees inside-out, cold, darks-only with a color-safe detergent. Skip bleach/optical brighteners. Use short/gentle cycles, then air-dry out of sun. These steps reduce dye loss and abrasion—proven in fabric care research and industry guidelines.

The science (why cold + gentle works)

• Lower temperature slows dye leaching and reduces fibre damage compared with hot cycles, helping colour last longer.
• Less mechanical stress (short/gentle cycles, inside-out) reduces surface abrasion that makes dark cotton look “dusty.”
• Detergent choice matters: “for darks/colours” formulas avoid optical brighteners that can dull blacks.

Shop Tees

---

Step-by-step: how to wash black tees

1. Sort: Wash blacks with blacks. New deeply dyed items go in their own first wash.
2. Turn inside-out. Protects the outer surface from friction.
3. Choose cold + gentle. Short cycle, cold water.
4. Use color-safe liquid detergent. Measure properly; powders can leave residue on darks.
5. Don’t overfill. Overloading increases rubbing and poor rinsing.
6. Skip bleach & optical brighteners. They make blacks look gray.
7. Air-dry in shade. UV light fades dyes; tumble low only if the label allows.

Bonus: new tee colour test (30 seconds)

Dab a white cloth with cold water + a drop of detergent, rub an inside seam. If you see dye transfer, wash that tee alone the first time and use a dye-catcher sheet.

Care symbols decoded (quick)

• Washtub = water temp/cycle; dots mean heat level.
• Triangle = bleach (crossed out = do not bleach).
• Square + circle = tumble dry; dots = heat level.
• Iron = ironing temp; dots = heat level.

---

References

• American Cleaning Institute: keep darks inside-out, cold wash, and air-dry to reduce fading.
• Levi’s denim care: inside-out + cold water + gentle cycle for dark colours.
• Research: higher wash temps increase colour loss and fibre shedding vs lower temps / shorter cycles.
• GINETEX care symbols: the global standard behind washtub/triangle/dryer/iron icons.

Protect your training tees

Looking after your gear matters — especially if you train often. Our men’s and women’s gym t-shirts are printed with fade-resistant inks and built to handle regular washing when cared for properly.

Want the most popular designs lifters come back for? Browse our Best Sellers or shop by slogan in Designs A–Z.