Do your t-shirts look as good as the day you bought them? If you are like most people then your collection of tees probably includes some stains, yellowed armpits, and cracked or peeling designs. Unfortunately, there’s probably nothing you can do about those, however if you follow a few of these tips, your new shirts may last a whole lot longer.

One thing to keep in mind is that you get what you pay for in terms of quality. Cheap t-shirts are usually cheap in every way – quality of fabric, dyes and/or design – and they will not last long, no mater how well you take care of them.

That being said, here are some quick tips to help get the most out of your cool t-shirts:

• Read the care labels on each shirt, but when you do, keep in mind that the instructions usually apply to the shirt’s fabric only and not to any add-ons like iron-on transfers or other decorations.

• Set in bright colors on new tees by running them through the rinse cycle (cold water) with a cup of vinegar (the distilled white kind).

• Treat stains when they happen, otherwise you may forget to treat it before washing and risk making the stain permanent.

• If you have a tendency to develop yellow armpit stains, start preventing them early by rubbing straight detergent to the inside of the armpit area of the shirt before laundering.

• Always wash whites separate from colors, and it is a good idea to go a step further with reds and wash them in a load of their own. Adding a cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle will also help to keep the colors looking bright.

• Wash t-shirts inside-out in cold water – only using warm for whites when absolutely necessary (like in the case of stains) and only when allowable according to the care label.

• Drying t-shirts is probably the most damaging when done in a hot dryer. The best way to dry tees with minimal damage is to tumble on an air-only (or delicates) setting for a few minutes and then hang to dry the rest of the way (out of direct sunlight). If they are not badly wrinkled, you can just hang them to dry.

• If you use a hanger to air-dry your shirts, remember not to go insert the hanger through the neck hole, instead feed it up through the bottom of the shirt to avoid stretching.

• If you feel the need to iron your t-shirts, remember to follow the care label and to keep in mind that not all decorations can tolerate an iron’s heat.