If you don't want to overthink your laundry routine, there's a straightforward way to keep collar pills at bay: change how you wash and dry.

• Turn the tee inside out before washing. This protects the collar from rubbing against other clothes.
• Use cold water on a gentle cycle. Hot water weakens fibers and makes them more prone to breaking.
• Air dry whenever possible. The tumbling heat of a dryer is brutal on cotton-poly blends—it dries out the fibers and creates extra friction.
• Skip the fabric softener if you've been using it. It can actually coat the fibers and make them attract lint, which turns into pills faster.

That's it. Three small changes, and you'll see a big difference by mid-winter.