How to Keep Cotton Sweatshirts Soft

You know the feeling—the moment you slip into your favorite cotton sweatshirt, and it’s soft, cozy, and feels like a warm hug, and rightfully so because you spent good money to get that quality.

Now imagine losing its comfort just after a few washes—nightmare! Right? Most of the time it’s due to the quality of your sweatshirt but not always, especially incase of a 100% cotton sweatshirt because pure cotton clothes maintain their shape, texture, and color for a good long period of time provided that they are well cared for.

Now, we are not asking you to turn to hand-washing labor for everyday staples, but there definitely are a few tips that work absolutely and each time with quality cotton athelsures, in your wardrobe.

Here’s how to ensure that your go-to hoodie, sweatshirt, or cotton apparel stays just as soft as the day you bought it, giving you the most bang for your buck.

Laundry Tips for Cotton Sweatshirts

100% cotton sweatshirts are iconic for their comfort, softness, and ability to retain their shape. However, all this goodness demands a bit of dedication to stay put for long. Cotton, while breathable and durable, can get rough over time due to lousy laundry habits that are totally avoidable:

Skip the Scalding Hot Water

One of the easiest ways to ruin the softness of your sweatshirt? Wash it in hot water.

The first most important secret to keep your sweatshirt soft is cold or lukewarm water. High heat breaks down the cotton fibers (the reason for their softness), making them stiff, gritty and scratchy over time. Stick to cold water washes (no hotter than 105°F) and see the difference for yourself!

Water temperature is even crucial to maintaining the dyes or the shape of heavyweight cotton because cold water is a time-tested granny’s tip for retaining the color and structure of organic fabrics. So, resist the urge to crank up the heat even if it's intended to remove stains—it’s not worth the damage!

And for tough stains, we’ll spill the beans later in this blog, so don’t worry. Read on.

Use the Right Detergents

We know it sounds foolish to first spend big bucks on expensive sweatshirts or athleisure and then keep on spending more on some special detergents to maintain its luxury. However, it is true that the softness of sweatshirts, no matter how expensive and high-end they are, stands no chance against harsh, below-par quality detergents.

Natural polymer-based detergents might cost extra, but they often come in concentrated forms and can be diluted for gentle washes. Another advantage is that they don’t need hot water for proper cleaning.

And definitely skip the bleach—bleach doesn’t just ruin colors; it makes cotton rough to the touch. Chemicals are sweatshirts' enemies, and what’s the point in spending so much on pure cotton clothes when sustainability and health are not your ultimate goals?

The same goes for fabric softeners; skip them as they leave a layer of residue on your clothes that not only damages the original texture but also causes skin allergies and decreases the fire resistance of 100% cotton sweatshirts.

So safe that money and invest it in better detergents. For a natural softener, add a splash of white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Trust me, your hoodie will feel softer without any of that built-up residue that fabric softeners leave behind, and for fragrance, use perfumed tissues in your cabinet and drawers.

Opt for Air-Drying

Drying your sweatshirt might not seem like anything tricky, but it is where things can easily go wrong. You’ve got a couple of options like tumble dry on low or, even better, lay it flat to air dry as laying it flat helps keep the fabric from stretching out.

Hanging your sweatshirt to dry can cause the cotton fibers to stretch. Besides, direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time can cause the dyes to faint.

To avoid the rough feel of tumble drying, keep the heat low, and don’t forget to use dryer sheets or 2 tennis balls to repel lint and wrinkles.

The quick-dry option may sound too tempting to avoid during winter, but it’ll fry those cotton fibers over time, making your once-soft hoodie feel like sandpaper.

Avoid Over-Washing

Here’s a pro tip that might surprise you—don’t wash your sweatshirt too often. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but frequent washing wears out the cotton and dulls the softness. Only throw it in the laundry when it really needs it.

Spot-clean small stains instead of going for a full wash. In case you still don’t know this trick, face cleansers can gently remove pesky stains, or you can use spray stain remover and then wash it on a delicate cycle in a washer.

Turn It Inside Out

Another tried-and-tested laundry hack to protect the texture of your cotton sweatshirts is to turn them inside out before washing them. This reduces friction during the wash, preventing the outside from getting rough.

These basic laundry manners work 100% on any genuine and pure cotton apparel. Next time you toss your favorite sweatshirt into the laundry, remember these expert tips from Just Sweatshirts, and you’ll be able to hold onto that fresh-from-the-store softness for years to come.