Not sure how to soften a shirt? It can be extremely disappointing when our favorite t-shirts become stiff and uncomfortable to wear.
T-shirts can become stiff overtime due to various reasons. If you air dry your clothes, this can cause your clothes to become brittle as they dry out. Shirts can also become stiff if you add too much detergent in the washer.
Other common reasons are overloading the laundry machine with too much clothes, using the wrong type of fabric softener, or using hard water to wash your clothes.
Thankfully, a stiff shirt is easy to fix at home using a few items. In this post, I’ve gathered the best methods on how to soften t-shirts.
Without further ado, here’s how to make a shirt soft!
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How To Soften A Shirt
How To Soften T-Shirts
- Liquid Fabric Softener
- Dryer Sheets
- Wool Dryer Balls
- Fabric Softener For Sensitive Skin
- Booster Beads
- Booster Pacs
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Downy Ultra Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener
Best Budget: Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets
Most Eco-Friendly: Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
Best For Sensitive Skin: All Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin
Best Fragrance: Gain Fireworks Laundry Scent Booster Beads
Easiest To Use: Snuggle Laundry Scent Booster Pacs
1. Best Overall: Downy Ultra Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener
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Not sure how to soften a shirt? Liquid fabric softeners are hands-down the best method to soften stiff clothes. Fabric softeners are a type of laundry additive that are added to the wash cycle to soften clothes.
To soften a stiff shirt, I recommend using Downy Ultra Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener. This product softens, freshens, and protects shirts from stretching, fading, and fuzz. It is also easy to use—just add it alongside your favorite detergent.
Liquid fabric softeners have many benefits. They can make shirts softer, reduce static cling and wrinkles, and leave clothes smelling fresh. Liquid laundry fabric softeners are one of the best methods on how to make shirts soft!
NOTE: Liquid fabric softener may irritate sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend using a product designed specifically for your skin type or a natural, chemical-free product. Note that fabric softener can also reduce the effectiveness of fire-resistant clothing.
Features
- This listing is for Downy Ultra Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener. This product softens, freshens, and protects shirts from stretching, fading, and fuzz. It has a cool cotton scent and leaves clothes smelling crisp and clean.
- This fabric softener fights static and reduces more wrinkles than using detergent alone in the wash. It is easy to use—just add a capful to your next wash for soft, fresh tees. Use it alongside your favorite detergent.
2. Best Budget: Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets
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Looking for tips on how to soften t-shirts? Dryer sheets are another reliable method to soften a stiff shirt. They are usually made of a thin sheet of polyester or nylon that is coated with a layer of fabric softener.
Dryer sheets can be used to make clothes softer and fresher. They can also be used to reduce static cling and prevent wrinkles. I recommend using Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets to keep shirts looking great, feeling soft, and smelling great!
The best way to use dryer sheets is by placing them in the dryer with your t-shirts. This product is a convenient and mess-free alternative to fabric softener. Dryer sheets are one of the quickest and easiest methods on how to make a shirt soft at home!
Features
- This listing is for Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets. This product reduces wrinkles and static cling, repels lint and hair, and softens stiff fabrics.
- These dryer sheets make your laundry smell clean, fresh, and crisp straight out the dryer! Just pull a sheet from the box and toss it into your dryer with your wet t-shirts. The sheets keep shirts looking great, feeling soft, and smelling great!
- These dryer sheets are infused with fabric softener. During the dryer cycle, these sheets transfer lubricating fabric care agents to the surface of your laundry to make them feel soft.
3. Most Eco-Friendly: Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
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Looking for an eco-friendly method on how to soften a shirt? Wool dryer balls are a natural alternative to fabric softener. Since they are made of 100% wool, these balls won’t cause any damage to the environment when they’re disposed of.
Other benefits of wool dryer balls are that they can soften clothes without using any chemicals or fabric softeners. Since they don’t contain any chemicals, they are safe for people with sensitive skin or allergies. Much like fabric softeners and dryer sheets, wool dryer balls also help reduce static cling and wrinkles in clothes.
Wool dryer balls are reusable and can be used for a long time. They also reduce the amount of time it takes to dry clothes. This is a great solution on how to make shirts soft while saving electricity! To soften a stiff shirt, I recommend using Handy Laundry’s Wool Dryer Balls.
Features
- This listing is for Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls. These environmentally-friendly, reusable dryer balls are made from 100% premium New Zealand wool.
- Wool dryer balls are natural alternatives to dryer sheets and fabric softeners. The balls make shirts softer, have fewer wrinkles, remove lint and pet hair, and create less static sling.
- This product is rolled into a tight, extra-large ball, and felted for a natural, long-lasting construction. It shortens drying time by 10 minutes or more, reducing appliance usage and electricity bills!
4. Best For Sensitive Skin: All Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin
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There are many different types of liquid fabric softeners on the market, but not all of them are suitable for sensitive skin. Some people have allergies or skin conditions that can be aggravated by certain ingredients in the product. If you have sensitive skin, it is important to read the label carefully before buying a product and using it on your clothes.
Not sure how to soften t-shirts without irritating your skin? If you have sensitive skin, it is best to use a product formulated specifically for your skin type. This is a great tip on how to make a shirt soft if you have sensitive skin!
To soften a stiff shirt without irritation, I recommend using All’s Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin. This product is hypoallergenic, gentle, and 100% fragrance-free and dye-free. It is a great product to soften shirts, can be used on most fabric types, and is especially good for sensitive skin.
Features
- This listing is All’s Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin. This product softens stiff fabrics, removes stains, and is specifically formulated for sensitive skin.
- The liquid fabric softener is hypoallergenic, gentle, and 100% fragrance-free and dye-free.
- All free clear is the #1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians for sensitive skin.
5. Best Fragrance: Gain Fireworks Laundry Scent Booster Beads
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Looking for ideas on how to make shirts soft AND smell great? Laundry scented booster beads are small, round beads that are used in a washing machine to add fragrance and freshness to clothes. If you love long-lasting scents, I recommend using booster beads in your preferred fragrance to soften stiff shirts.
Gain Fireworks Laundry Scent Booster Beads are a great way to make your clothes smell fresh and clean. They work by releasing a burst of fragrance every time you wash your clothes. The beads will release the scent for up to 12 weeks, so you can enjoy the freshness all year long.
Although laundry booster beads are not fabric softeners, they will help soften your clothes in the wash. This is a creative idea on how to make shirts soft without using fabric softener. If you want a fragrance-free option to soften your laundry, I recommend using All’s Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin or Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls.
Features
- This listing is for Gain Fireworks Laundry Scent Booster Beads. This product gives your laundry up to 12 weeks of freshness, from wash until wear.
- The booster beads work with your favorite detergent to add softness to every load. To use, simply shake a little or a lot into the cap. Then, toss it into the washer at the beginning of the wash.
- This product is safe for all colors, fabrics and loads. It can be used in all laundry machines.
6. Easiest To Use: Snuggle Laundry Scent Booster Pacs
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Looking for more ideas on how to soften t-shirts without fabric softener? Laundry scented booster pacs are a great way to make your clothes feel soft while adding extra fragrance to your laundry. Similar to laundry scented booster beads, these easy-to-use pacs are dissolved in the wash cycle and won’t create any messes behind.
To soften a stiff shirt, I recommend using Snuggle’s Laundry Scent Booster Pacs. These pacs are designed to be used with your favorite detergent for an extra boost of freshness. To use, simply place a scented booster pac into the washer drum before adding clothes and detergent.
This is another genius idea on how to make a shirt soft at home! Although fabric softener is a popular method to soften shirts, there are many other effective solutions! I recommend choosing a product based on your desired scent and fragrance level.
Features
- This listing is for Snuggle Laundry Scent Booster Pacs in island hibiscus & rain flower scent. This product is great for all types of clothes, including everyday t-shirts, active wear, and sleepwear.
- The concentrated pacs conveniently dissolve completely in your wash with no messes or spills. To use, simply place a scented booster pac into the washer drum before adding clothes. Then, use detergent like normal.
- This product is safe for all washing machines. It helps clothes smell great and feel soft.
Top Picks: How To Soften A Shirt
In this post, I’ve gathered six helpful solutions on how to soften a shirt. Here’s the all the recommended products in one convenient list:
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Downy Ultra Liquid Laundry Fabric Softener
Best Budget: Bounce Outdoor Fresh Dryer Sheets
Most Eco-Friendly: Handy Laundry Wool Dryer Balls
Best For Sensitive Skin: All Liquid Fabric Softener for Sensitive Skin
Best Fragrance: Gain Fireworks Laundry Scent Booster Beads
Easiest To Use: Snuggle Laundry Scent Booster Pacs
Conclusion
It can be extremely disappointing when our favorite t-shirts become stiff and uncomfortable to wear. Thankfully, a stiff shirt is easy to fix at home using the right products. In this post, I’ve gathered the best methods on how to soften t-shirts at home.
Liquid fabric softeners are hands-down the best method to soften stiff clothes. This laundry additive is formulated specifically to soften clothes and is added to the wash cycle. Although this is the most popular method to make shirts soft again, there are so many other amazing solutions and products!
For example, wool dryer balls can soften clothes without using any chemicals. Since these balls are made of 100% wool, this product is eco friendly and won’t cause any damage to the environment.
Another unconventional method to soften laundry, is to use laundry scented booster beads or pacs. These products are a great way to make your shirts feel soft while adding extra fragrance to your laundry. They are both easy to use and won’t create any messes behind.
I hope this post gave you some helpful ideas on how to make shirts soft. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the ones below:
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