How to Wash Knit Pants and Tees So They Don't Pill or Shrink
Turn knits inside out, wash cold on delicate with like colors and away from towels, skip chlorine bleach and dry low to curb pilling, shrinking and lint.
Knits pill from friction and shrink from heat, so the fix is a cooler, gentler wash. The routine below works for the soft stretch-cotton pieces in our Suprema® collection and for most of the knit pants and tees in your closet.
The quick care routine for knit pants and tees
Six habits handle most pilling, shrinking and lint problems. Follow them every wash, not just for new pieces.
- Turn it inside out. The wash rubs the outside of whatever touches the drum and other clothes, so put that wear on the inside of the fabric.
- Sort by color and by texture. Wash knits with like colors, and keep them away from towels, fleece, chenille and anything else that sheds lint.
- Wash cold on the delicate cycle. Cold water is gentler on cotton, and a slower cycle means less tumbling and less rubbing.
- Skip chlorine bleach. If you need extra brightening, use a non-chlorine bleach only.
- Dry on low and remove promptly. Pull pieces out as soon as the cycle ends, or while still slightly damp, and smooth them flat.
- Iron on low only if needed. Most knits smooth out on their own when folded warm from the dryer.
What does the Suprema® tee care label say?
Our signature Suprema® 3/4 sleeve V-neck tee and short sleeve Suprema® V-neck both carry the same instructions, word for word:
Machine wash cold. Delicate cycle. Wash colors separately and inside out. Use only non-chlorine bleach. Tumble dry. Iron on low.
Care instructions, Catherines Suprema® tee product listings
The Suprema® Pant listing simply says machine wash. Both are 95% cotton and 5% spandex, so the tee routine is a sensible, gentle default for the pant too. Always check the label sewn into your own garment first.
Catherines describes Suprema® as a stretch-cotton knit designed to hold its shape and color wash after wash. How you launder it plays a real part in how well it does.
Why do knit pants pill?
Pills form when friction loosens short fibers on the surface of the fabric and they tangle into tiny balls. Anywhere fabric rubs, it can happen, in the wash or while you wear it.
On pants, the usual spots are:
- The inner thighs, where the legs brush together as you walk
- The seat, from sitting on rougher upholstery or car seats
- The hip, where a handbag or seat belt rubs
In the washer, heavy or textured items do the most damage. Keep knits out of loads with jeans, zippers, hook-and-loop closures and towels, and don't overfill the drum, which forces clothes to grind against each other.
How do I keep cotton knits from shrinking?
Keep heat low at every step. Cotton tightens most in hot water and a hot dryer, and high heat is also hard on the spandex that gives stretch knits their recovery.
- Wash cold, every time.
- Dry on low, or the lowest heat setting your dryer offers.
- Take pieces out while barely damp and lay them flat or hang them to finish.
- Never dry knits on high to speed up a load.
Shrinking comes up hundreds of times in our shopper reviews, often about length. If hem length matters to you, start with the right inseam instead of relying on the dryer. The Suprema® Pant comes in Regular (30"), Petite (27"), Petite Short (25.5") and Tall (33") inseams, and the Suprema® Capri with pockets comes in Regular (21"), Petite (19") and Petite Short (17") in sizes 0X-6X.
Do Suprema® pants attract pet fur and lint?
Some shoppers say they do. One review describes the fabric as feeling coarser and thicker than they remember, and says it grabs lint and pet hair. A soft knit surface can hold onto loose fibers, so it helps to stop lint before it lands.
- Wash knits only with other smooth, low-lint fabrics.
- Empty the dryer lint screen before every load.
- Give each piece a good shake before it goes into the dryer.
- Keep a lint roller by the door for a quick pass before you leave.
- Fold pants and store them away from where pets nap.
The same steps help with the Suprema® Legging, which has a smoother, closer fit and can show lint quickly in darker colors.
How to remove pills that have already formed
Shave or comb them off gently; don't pull them, which loosens more fibers and starts new pills.
- Lay the garment flat on a firm surface and smooth it out.
- Test a fabric shaver or sweater comb on a hidden spot, like the inside of a hem.
- Work in light, short strokes in one direction, holding the fabric taut.
- Finish with a lint roller to lift the loose fuzz.
Then switch to the inside-out, cold, delicate routine above to slow new pilling.
Care notes by piece
Each Suprema® piece takes wear in a different place, so a little extra attention goes a long way.
Building out your rotation? Browse more Catherines knit and casual pants or everyday tees, and check each label before the first wash.
| Piece | Listing Care | Where Wear Shows | Extra Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suprema® Pant | Machine wash | Inner thighs, seat | Wash inside out, away from denim |
| Suprema® Capri with pockets | Machine wash | Inner thighs, pocket edges | Empty pockets before washing |
| Suprema® Legging | Machine wash | Inner thighs, knees | Wash only with smooth knits |
| Suprema® 3/4 sleeve V-neck tee | Cold, delicate, inside out, non-chlorine bleach, tumble dry, iron low | Sleeves, sides where a bag rubs | Wash with like colors |
| Suprema® short sleeve V-neck tee | Cold, delicate, inside out, non-chlorine bleach, tumble dry, iron low | Sides where a bag rubs | Dry low and remove promptly |
Frequently asked questions
Does Suprema® fabric pill after a few wears?
Some shoppers do report pilling and a change in feel, usually where fabric rubs most, such as the inner thigh. Washing inside out on a delicate cycle, away from rough items like denim and towels, cuts down the friction that causes it.
How do I stop leggings from collecting lint?
Wash leggings inside out with other smooth knits, never with towels or fleece, and clean the dryer lint screen before every load. A quick pass with a lint roller before you head out handles anything that clings during the day.
Can knit pants go in the dryer?
Yes. The Suprema® tee label says tumble dry, and a low setting is the gentlest choice for cotton knits. Remove them promptly so they don't sit in the heat; air drying is gentler still if length matters to you.
Should I use fabric softener on cotton knits?
It isn't on the Suprema® tee care label, so it isn't required. If you use one, follow your garment's sewn-in label first; when in doubt, cold water and low heat do the most to protect soft knits.