How to Soften T-Shirts in 3 Easy Steps

There's nothing like wearing a super soft vintage graphic tee. Not only does it give you instant street cred — especially if it happens to be a cool band T-shirt — but the item also feels so light on the skin that it's almost as if you're wearing nothing at all. Still, if you aren't one to frequent second-hand shops or flea markets, how do you get the look? We reached out to Ingrid Johnson, who shared an easy step-by-step tutorial for making your new shirts feel old.

Keep scrolling for how to soften T-shirts in three simple steps.

Make a Mix

Start by creating a mix of water and salt or water and vinegar in a large bucket. For one-quart water, you will need about 1/2 cup of salt or vinegar. 

"The salt and vinegar will open up the fibers," said Johnson. "The mixture will add volume to the cotton, much like adding volume to your hair. The fibers will be brushed up."

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Submerge Your Shirt

Soak your shirt in the mixture for about seven minutes, instructed Johnson. 

"Some people say you need to leave your T-shirt in overnight, but all the magic will be done in just about seven minutes, no more, no less," she said. 

This process will work on cotton, cotton/poly blends, and modals.

"Modals will result in the softest of the soft," added Johnson.

Wash and Dry

Next machine-wash your tee as normal with a mild detergent. Machine-dry as usual, but be sure to pull your shirt out of the dryer before it fully dries. 

"If it is bone-dry, the T-shirt will feel scratchy," Johnson said. "Just like your skin, you want the shirt to be a little hydrated and then air-dry."