You just bought a combed cotton tee that fits perfectly. First wash, and the water turns pink. Or blue. Or black. It's not a defect—it's just dye that didn't get locked in during manufacturing. And it's more common on budget tees because that extra dye-setting step costs money.

The good news? You don't need fancy detergents or professional services. You need a few household staples and a little patience. Here's the script I give anyone who asks me about color bleed: Soak before you wear. Wash cold. Air dry. Repeat that three times and you'll avoid 90% of bleeding headaches.