The graphic tees will always be a fashion statement for showing one’s personality, interests, or favorite brands. Yet, ironically, the wonderful colors that make them so attractive are also susceptible to fading, cracking, or peeling if washing is not done properly. To maintain the original brightness of your favorite graphic tees for years to come, an extra little procedure during laundry is needed. If you’ve just picked up one custom-designed tee from a Toronto screen printing shop or already have a whole collection of cherished band tees, these few instructions will keep them looking great.
Step 1: Read the Care Label: This might sound obvious, but it should be your primary consideration. Inside the t-shirt, there is a label that provides detailed instructions from the manufacturer regarding the washing temperature, drying method, and ironing method, among others. Always prioritize these guidelines because they are designed to be in line with the fabric and printing method used. If you ignore those pieces of advice, you could cause irreversible harm to your t-shirt.
Step 2: Turn Inside Out: Turning the graphic tee inside out before setting it down in the machine is one of the simplest things you can do to keep the print from abrasion against other clothes or the drum of the washing machine. This all protects your graphic from being faded, cracked, or peeled, especially if the agitation is very strong.
Step 3: Wash with Cold Water: Hot water is known to damage the fabric and design of a t-shirt. With hot water, colors will most likely fade, and the print will wear down faster. So, set it to the cold water cycle. The cold water keeps the fibers strong while preserving color brightness and also saving energy.
Step 4: Use a Mild Detergent: Avoid compromising your graphic prints by using harsh detergents. Any mild detergent should do-as long as it is safe for colors. Avoid bleach at all costs! Or any detergent with strong whitening agents that will fade or distort the design.
Step 5: Use a Gentle Wash Cycle: Abrasive washing cycles are hard on graphic tees. Machine sets the wash cycles to gentle or delicate for less agitation and friction, thus protecting the printed design further. Using a smaller load size when washing just a few graphic tees is also advisable, as it reduces the rubbing against other clothes.
Step 6: Avoid Over-Drying: The main villain of graphic t-shirts is high heat from drying. High heat will cause the print to crack, peel, and fade; it also leads to fabric shrinking. The best way to dry graphic t-shirts is air dry. Hang them on a clothesline or lay them flat on a clean surface away from direct sun, as they will cause fading, too. If you have to toss yours in the dryer, set it to the lowest heat setting on a delicate cycle. Another tactic is to pull them out just as they are starting to dry and let the last bit finish air drying.
Step 7: Iron Very Carefully (If Necessary): If the graphic tee is wrinkled, do not iron directly on the printed design. When ironing the t-shirt, an alternative is turning the t-shirt inside out using a low-temperature heat setting. Another way is to put a thin cloth over the design or parchment paper for added protection.
Keeping your graphic tees shining with the simple care outlined above will help extend the working life of your graphic tees and allow you to keep enjoying your favorite graphics for years to come. It’s the little things you do during laundry that strengthen the artwork on your tees.
