Posted on May 9th, 2022

We all love our T-shirts and want to make them last. We want that concert tee to stay clear and vibrant. The problem is that prints can crack, flake, and wear away, or slowly fade with time like the memories of that concert. Meanwhile, the fabric gets roughed up, stretched, and discolored.

It’s all very sad. Here’s the good news: you can totally avoid that fate by following some simple steps.

Stop throwing custom printed T-shirts in the wash with everything else– give them the special treatment they deserve! Whether they are screen printed, digitally printed, vinyl, or heat transferred, the same rules apply. Follow these steps and keep your favorite tees like new for years to come.

Washing Screen Printed T-Shirts

The absolute best way to safely wash your custom printed tees is by hand. Turn them inside-out, mix cold water and a mild detergent in a small tub, let soak for 10 minutes or more, then gently agitate for a few minutes, rinse, and let them air dry.

Using a washer and dryer is not going to destroy your shirts– as long as you take proper precautions. Below are step-by-step instructions for the washing machine, dryer, de-wrinkling, and ironing, plus some general care tips to help you keep your tees looking new for a long time.

Machine Washing: Step-by-Step

Turn printed shirts inside-out before washing. This will prevent other garments from rubbing against the print, as well as the dreaded “pilling” of T-shirt fabric.
Pre-treat areas with a stain remover spray. Do not add extra detergent. Commercial spray products are generally safe and work well. We recommend OxyClean.
Gently buff stains with a clean washcloth. Do not use brushes or anything abrasive. Working the fabric against itself can work if you don’t have a washcloth.
Separate similar colors, weight, and textures. Avoid overfilling the washer or adding heavy materials such as jeans and towels, which can aggravate the fabric.
Use mild detergent with cold water on a gentle cycle. Warm water, harsh detergents, and aggressive wash cycles are the number one things that damage tees.

Hand Washing: Step-by-Step

Fill a tub or a sink with cool water and add a mild detergent.
Turn printed shirts inside-out before hand washing.
Pre-treat areas with a stain remover spray.
Gently buff stains with a clean washcloth, or work the fabric against itself.
Let the tees soak in the soapy water for 10 minutes or more.
Rinse thoroughly with cool water and gently wring out.
Hang on a rounded hanger to air dry.

Conclusion

The main thing to remember is always to use cold water, and air dry if possible. If you must use warm water or a dryer, keep it to a minimum. Beyond that, avoid any aggressive friction on the fabric or harsh detergents (try Woolite or similar instead).

Once your screen-printed T-shirts are looking good, learn how to properly wash hats and upgrade your entire appearance.

Source: ROT

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