Whether you bought it at a concert, at your favourite shop or made it yourself, there’s nothing worse than the design of your favourite printed T-shirt or hoodie starting to fade or crack. At AWDis, we understand that the foundation for a long-lasting print is a high-quality garment, as is practising responsible methods for washing, drying and storing your clothes.
In this printed clothing care guide, we will cover how to care for your clothes in practical ways that protect your prints and keep your custom garments lasting for years to come.
The Golden Rules: How to Wash Printed Clothes
You might not want to think about it, but the day will come when your printed T-shirt needs to go in the wash. But fear not, because the AWDis golden rules of wash care for printed clothes will keep your prints fresh and bright.
Here are our expert washing instructions for printed T-shirts and hoodies:
- Rule 1 – Turn It Inside Out: Washing printed clothes inside out prevents prints from fading due to friction between the clothes and the washing machine drum.
- Rule 2 – Wash With Cold Water: Hot water can cause inks to break down and garments to shrink, resulting in cracked and faded prints over time. When it comes to washing printed shirts to prevent this, keep the wash at 30°C or colder.
- Rule 3 – Pick Mild Detergents: Chemicals like bleach, fabric softeners, and harsh detergents can compromise inks and adhesives, so avoid using them for printed apparel washes.
- Rule 4 – Run a Gentle Cycle: Washing printed apparel at a slower spin cycle can reduce the abrasion on your clothing, protecting the print from friction.
- Rule 5 – Avoid Washing With Abrasive Materials: Always wash your printed apparel with similar clothing, and avoid items like jeans and towels that can rub away your designs.
Handwashing vs Machine-Washing Printed Apparel: Which is Better?
The instructions outlined above explain how to make prints last longer using a washing machine, but what about hand washing? In fact, this option has a number of advantages, primarily the reduced strain it places on the garment and print. Handwashing generally prevents cracking, peeling and fading while also helping the garment maintain its shape and integrity.
Handwashing, however, is time-consuming, and washing larger loads of custom apparel is more convenient with a washing machine. Whichever methods you choose, we always advise using cold water and a gentle detergent.
The Definitive Guide to Drying Printed Clothing
Washing your printed hoodie is only half the battle; finding a suitable way to dry it is also key to ensuring the designs don’t fade over time. Remember: high heat is the sworn enemy of printed designs – so what options do you have available?
The safest method of drying your printed apparel is air-drying. Hanging or laying your clothing flat allows the moisture to evaporate without running the risk of heat damage or shrinking posed by tumble drying. If tumble drying is necessary, we suggest putting clothes inside out and using the lowest heat setting possible.
How to Iron a Printed T-Shirt or Hoodie Without Wrecking the Print
When printed polo shirts or jumpers make their way into the ironing pile, it’s crucial to remember that heat is the enemy of your prints. Treating these garments differently from the rest of your clothes is therefore essential.
The golden rule when it comes to ironing is to never iron directly onto the print. The iron’s heat can melt its ink, so be sure to flip your garment inside out and iron its reverse side. Keep the iron on a low heat setting. For extra protection, we suggest placing a clean cloth or towel inside your garment, covering the design area for added security.
Storing Your Apparel for Longevity
You’ve washed it, you’ve dried it, and you’ve ironed it – now it’s time to put your printed apparel away. This might seem like the simplest stage of all, but caring for delicate clothes with prints goes beyond washing, drying, and ironing, as there are additional habits to extend the life of a printed garment.
Remember the golden rule about heat: find a cool, dry place to store your clothes. Fold them neatly or hang them to avoid altering the shape of the prints. Take care not to cram your clothes into drawers, as this can cause creases in your prints.
Top tip: When storing your printed hoodies, folding them can prevent the print from stretching, which often occurs when they are hung up.
How to Look After Printed Apparel FAQs
Can You Put Embroidered Clothes in the Dryer?
We don’t recommend putting embroidered clothes in the dryer, as the heat and spin can cause the threads to shrink, potentially fraying and distorting. Instead, we recommend air-drying your clothes, as this will allow the embroidery to dry gently without risking damage.
How Should Custom Denim Be Washed?
Even the highest-quality, customised denim garments, such as those in our So Denim range, require careful washing to prevent fading and shrinkage. We recommend handwashing whenever possible, using lukewarm water or a cold, gentle washing machine cycle.
Does Bleach Ruin Prints on Clothes?
Yes – bleach is known to shrink, crack, or cause prints to yellow. Instead, we recommend using mild detergents to wash printed apparel or a dash of baking soda for whitening.
What Are Some Tips for Washing Printed Garments for the First Time?
Custom apparel care and maintenance begins with the first wash, so start off on the right foot by turning your garment inside out, using cold water, and air-drying it to minimise damage to the print.
What is the Best Detergent for Printed Clothes?
We always recommend selecting a detergent with a neutral pH and no bleach to protect your prints.
Can You Tumble-Dry Printed T-Shirts?
Avoid tumble-drying printed t-shirts, as heat and abrasion can damage their designs. We always recommend air-drying custom apparel.
Protect Your Printed Apparel with AWDis
The days of fearing that your printed apparel will fade are over, thanks to these top tips for washing, drying, and storing your favourite garments. Cold washing, inside-out folding, and air-drying are all simple yet effective steps you can take to protect the investment you’ve made in your custom-printed apparel.
The first step to a long-lasting custom garment is choosing the right canvas, and at AWDis, we can help with that! Explore our ranges to find the perfect, durable blank apparel for your next project.
