You’ve just received the coolest custom t-shirt, but how do you keep it looking great, for years to come?
Custom silk-screened shirts are awesome, but standard laundry days can be brutal on that fresh ink. To keep those designs from cracking, fading, or peeling, you want to minimize friction and heat.
Here is a solid list of tips that will help keep your tees looking great:
The Golden Rules of Screen-Print Care
- Turn it inside out: This is the single most important step. Washing the shirt inside out protects the screen-printed design from rubbing against other clothes, zippers, and buttons in the machine.
- Wash with cold water: High temperatures are the enemy of screen-printed ink. Use cold water (86°F or below) to keep the ink bonded to the fabric and prevent the shirt itself from shrinking.
- Skip the dryer (Air Dry is best): Heat from the dryer will eventually bake, crack, and peel the design. Hang the shirts on a clothesline or lay them flat on a drying rack.
- If you must use a dryer: Use the absolute lowest heat setting or a “tumble dry low” cycle, and pull the shirt out while it’s still slightly damp to finish air drying.
Detergent & Bleach Dos & Don’ts
- Use a mild detergent: Avoid harsh detergents, “intense stain removers,” or anything with built-in bleach alternatives. A standard, gentle detergent is best.
- Never use liquid bleach: Bleach will degrade both the fabric fibers and the ink, causing the design to fade or discolor rapidly.
- Avoid fabric softeners: Softeners can coat the fibers and slowly break down the water-based or plastisol inks used in screen printing.
Ironing & Storage
- Never iron directly on the print: If the shirt is wrinkled and needs an iron, turn it inside out and use a low heat setting. Alternatively, place a baking sheet (parchment paper) or a thin cotton cloth over the design before ironing. Direct contact with a hot iron will instantly melt the ink.
- Fold, don’t hanger-stretch: Store your shirts folded in a drawer. If you do hang them, avoid stretching the neckband or letting the printed area fold awkwardly over a thin hanger.
💡 Quick Tip: Wash inside out • Cold water only • No bleach • Hang dry or tumble low • Do not iron design.