You just got a new Windbar tee, the one with the faded sunset graphic. You toss it in with your regular load, and next thing you know, your white socks have a pinkish tint and the tee's black areas look washed out. Sound familiar?

Ring-spun cotton is prized for its softness—it's made by twisting and thinning the fibers, which gives that worn-in feel right out of the bag. But that same softness comes with a trade-off: the fibers are more open, so they can release dye more easily than tighter weaves. Add hot water and a vigorous cycle, and you've got a recipe for color bleed.

We're not talking about a one-off accident. For many people, this happens repeatedly, until the tee looks tired and faded long before it should. The good news? Most of the time, you can stop it with a few simple laundry tweaks.