Let's get straight to it — here's what actually matters on this one.

• Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle — hot water is the single biggest cause of unwanted shrinkage in cotton shirts.
• Turn shirts inside out before washing to reduce surface friction and fading, especially for darker colors.
• Air-dry when possible; if using a dryer, choose low heat and remove the shirt slightly damp to prevent over-shrinking.
• Wash similar colors together and avoid overloading the machine, which causes more friction-based wear on the fabric surface.

The fit-and-fabric-health takeaway: Correct washing preserves both the fit you originally chose and the fabric's surface feel — most 'shrunk' or 'rough' shirts are a care issue, not a quality one.

Next up: check out our guide on why ironing temperature matters for fabric health.