Taking care of your printed garments and not ruining them next time you do the washing and drying of favorite t shirts & other wares.
Have you ever ruined your favourite printed t-shirt after you first washed it? If you have, you were probably wondering where your washing machine stashed your real t-shirt.
It’s understood clothes lose their shape when we don’t take care of them properly, but did you know your printed t-shirt’s design can also fade if we neglect to care for our favourite t-shirt? It may not happen after the first wash. But eventually, the colours will increasingly disappear from your t-shirt’s design after each wash thereafter.
We are going to give you some guidelines here on how to properly take care of your printed garments to extend the colour life of your garment’s design. These tips will help you get your money’s worth, so you can won’t have to replace the t-shirt every few months because the colour has faded.
1. Turn clothes inside out prior to washing them.
Thanks to the TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, we found out that clothes—even t-shirts—preserve their colour better when they are turned inside out prior to washing them. That way, the colour of your clothes will last a lot longer.
2. Use cold water for your laundry
Unless you have heavily soiled clothes or work at a health agency, there’s no point in washing your clothes hot water. Cold water gets the job done of cleaning your clothes while keeping the ink in your garments from distilling. You can also save on electricity, too, when you use cold water in the washer.
3. Wash like clothes
Ok, so you’re thinking, “Duh, I already know it’s bad to wash coloured clothes with whites.” But, did you also know you need to be aware of what textures go together when washing your clothes?
Make it a habit to wash clothes that are made of the same type of fabric. Never wash denim or any other clothes with zips and buttons with your t-shirts because the rough structure of the buttons and zippers will make your prints to peel.
4. Avoid harsh detergents and bleach
Highly concentrated detergents, fabric softeners and bleaches are a definite no when it comes to preserving the quality of your t-shirt’s colour because these products tend to dissolve adhesive materials. Therefore, opt for the milder detergents.
5. Avoid dryers
Do not put your t-shirts in the dryer. We know dryers are a convenient way to get your clothes dry, but unfortunately, they are very damaging to the material. Dryers not only cause your clothes to shrink, but they also cause your t-shirt designs to crack and peel. Even dry-cleaning services can damage your clothes. So, dry your clothes the traditional way: by hanging them to dry, and use the dryer for sheets and towels only.
6. Avoid direct sunlight when drying clothes
When hanging your clothes to dry, make sure the clothes are not in the direct path of the sun’s rays to prevent your colours from fading. We know you can’t avoid being in the sun while you’re wearing your t-shirt, but at least you’re not in direct sunlight for several hours at a time.
7. Avoid using an iron
Even the heat from the iron can speed up the fading and peeling process of your printed garments. If you have no choice but to use an iron, make sure you turn the garment inside out and iron on a low setting.
FINAL TIP
The quality of the t-shirt’s material and print will also determine how long the print design will last and how it responds to various water temperatures and soaps. So, if you’re looking for a t-shirt that will last a long time, you may want to invest in tees that are made of high-quality material.
Never wash, dry or iron a garment without first checking the garment’s label. I know we usually end up tearing or cutting these out because they irritate us, but they do have a purpose.
Before cutting out the tag, make sure you read the instructions on how to care for the garment so your garment’s print can last a long time.
