Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by Ali Hamza
Do you ever feel what your cotton tee feels like? Are they giving you the softest, plushest feel on your skin? Or do you feel them skin-allergic, scratchy, or stiff?
As we all know, cotton is a natural fiber, which has been the top pick for every industry to manufacture the most comfortable, softest, and breathable clothing. But still, why do you feel like your cotton t-shirts are not allowing you to enjoy that extra perfect comfort feel?
Does this happen all the time whenever you buy a new cotton t-shirt? Or why are some of them uncomfortable? All this and more will come right after this, so let’s dive into this guest post!
Table of Contents
Which cotton t-shirts are softer than the others?
Not all people are the same, so not all t-shirts are the same! The quality of cotton t-shirts varies from material to material, fabric to fabric, and content to content! When it comes to the composition of cotton t-shirts, different industries have different processes for making cotton t-shirts. While some processes might include the use of 100% organic cotton, other processes involve the blending or combination of cotton with other synthetic fibers like polyester, etc. It means the constitution of a cotton t-shirt plays a vital role in determining its quality of a t-shirt.
Also, just because a shirt’s content label says “made of 100% organic cotton,” that doesn’t mean it should feel velvety soft or be of superior quality. There are other different factors that make or break the softness of a cotton t-shirt.
In this post, we will also be discussing how to avoid your cotton t-shirts becoming stiff and scratchy. So let’s go!
What Are The Factors That Make The Softest Cotton T-Shirts?
So, here are the four steps that make up the process of making the softest cotton t-shirts!
- Weaving Process
- Dyeing Process
- Blending Process
- Thread Counting
The Weaving Process:
The first step to making the softest cotton t-shirts is the weaving process! In this step, there are three different stages, which are carding, combing, and blending.
So, in the stage of carding, the cotton is spun and knitted on a loom. In the second stage of combing, the cotton goes through a process in which the roughness of the cotton is reduced to make it soft. Not all the cotton goes through the combing. That’s why the resultant t-shirts are not soft.
Now, in the last stage, the cotton is blended with other materials to make the softest t-shirt. For example, a combination of cotton and rayon. Rayon is a fiber that adds extra softness and helps in maintaining the plushness of the t-shirt.
So, all these stages are essential to make the desired, softest cotton t-shirts!
The Dyeing Process:
In the second step, which is the dyeing process, as the name suggests, experts dye the cotton. As a result, the cotton gets colored! However, one disadvantage that can ruin the soft experience of a cotton shirt is that if the industry uses strong dyes, it will probably have harsh chemicals that will affect the quality. So, ultimately, after a few washes, the cotton t-shirt will lose its softness and become stiff. In this regard, Fruit of the Loom 3931 is the best in all aspects because it is made of sustainable cotton that has gone through fabric-safety procedures to maintain the plushness and durability of the shirt.
The Blending Process:
The third step is the blending or combination of cotton with other fibers like rayon, polyester, jersey, etc. There might be two materials blended together, or three, but the point of consideration here is that if the fibers are not pre-treated properly before blending, it will damage the quality.
The Thread Count:
The last step is also crucial to the softness of a cotton t-shirt. The thread count plays a vital role in softness. So, it is essential to know how many thread counts would make up the perfect soft cotton tee. It is not mandatory that the higher the thread count, the softer the shirt.
How Do I Deal With The Stiff Cotton Fabric?
So, luckily, there are four different hacks to deal with the cotton shirts that have become stiff. Using these expert hacks could help you in unimaginable ways. So let’s see!
The Vinegar Wash
If your cotton t-shirt has 100% organic cotton, you can use white vinegar with a small amount of baking soda to get rid of the stiffness of the t-shirt. After drying, you will see the change!
The Salt & Brining Solution
It is a very common home remedy for t-shirts that have cotton and polyester blends like the Fruit of the Loom 3931. However, don’t use this formula if your shirt has rayon in it. Make a solution using salt and hot water and wash off your shirt in it. You will get a fresh, soft t-shirt on the go!
Conclusion
To summarize, not all cotton shirts are soft! But, to make them soft, you can use the right technique, procedures, and materials.
