One day your graphic tee looks sharp. The next, it's baggy in the shoulders and bunches around the waist. What changed? Usually, the wash cycle.

Heat is the enemy of a consistent fit. Hot water shrinks cotton unevenly, and the dryer finishes the job. The result: a tee that's a size smaller in the body but still long in the sleeves. Frustrating, right?

Here's the fix: wash in cold water and hang dry. That's it. If you must use a dryer, set it to low heat and pull the tee into shape while it's still damp. It takes an extra minute, but it keeps the fit predictable.

Also, check the fabric composition. A 100% cotton tee will shrink more than a cotton-poly blend. If you're buying a new graphic tee and know you'll machine dry, a blend might be the more practical choice. But if you want that soft, broken-in feel, pure cotton with cold wash and hang dry is the way.

And when you're shopping, don't assume the size chart is gospel. Different brands cut differently. A large in one line might fit like a medium in another. If you can, try it on or buy from a brand with a consistent track record—like Windbar, which keeps its cuts pretty stable across drops.