Take a walk down a crowded street, and you’ll probably see people from all walks of life wearing tees with catchy sayings, school emblems, favorite sports teams, or band album artwork or logos slapped onto them. What makes them so universally appealing is that they’re versatile, unique, affordable, comfy, and ever-stylish – a casual staple in any and every wardrobe. Most importantly, they’re personal; they allow us to express ourselves, communicate our message without saying a word, and carry our fondest memories with us. All this by merely slipping on a piece of fabric – impressive, huh? If you have such a unique piece of wearable art in your closet, the betting line is that you’ll want to make it last. That’s why Psylo Graphics decided to give you gen on all you need to know about keeping screen-printed garments looking like new. Read on!
Your guide to keeping screen-printed garments looking like new
Yes, we all love our tees and want to wear them for years to come. There’s nothing we would like more than for that concert tee to remain clear and vibrant. But there’s a problem. Fabrics get stretched, discolored, and roughed up, and prints crack, flake, fade, and wear away. And, before you know it, the same thing starts happening to your memory of that concert. Pity, right? Not to worry, you can avoid that fate and protect your garments’ quality and integrity simply by taking care of them properly.
The washing
Machine washing
For regularly dirty screen-printed garments – i.e., granted that your tee isn’t caked in mud – the following machine-washing technique will do the trick.
- Turn them inside out. The print should be facing in, thus preventing any rougher fabrics you place in the washer from rubbing off the pattern while tumbling.
- Machine wash in cooler water. It will help prevent fading of the colors and fabric. As long as the water temperature is below 90° F, it’s safe.
- Avoid bleach or fabric softeners. Bleach, fabric softeners, and harsh cleaning detergents can change the color of the ink.
- Pre-treat areas. Avoid adding extra detergent. If there’s a stain or two, try using commercial stain remover spray products. They’re safe and work well. Also, use a clean washcloth to buff the stains gently. Don’t have one? Try working the fabric against itself – that will do, too.
- Combine similar colors, textures, and weights. If you want to keep the clothes with screen printing looking fresh, stop throwing them with everything else. Also, heavy items, such as towels, jeans, or things with buttons, shouldn’t be sharing the water with your special items. That will only aggravate the fabric. Finally, combine the same or similar materials to avoid pilling and lint transferring.
- Wash on a gentle cycle. If we must name the number one thing that damages fabric and print, we’d say it’s aggressive wash cycles. Use the washing machine’s gentle cycle or hand-wash the item if possible.
- Use a laundry bag. When in doubt, you can always leverage laundry bags. They’re perfect for those extra-special pieces of clothing you must keep separate from the rest of the wash.
Hand-washing
You can always choose the safe route and keep your custom-printed tees, hats, and other items looking like new by washing them by hand.
Here’s how: After turning the garments inside out, put them in a small tub or sink. Let soak in the mild detergent/cold water mix for at least 10 minutes. Then, agitate for a minute or two, gently rubbing at any stains or soiled areas. Then, rinse thoroughly with cooler water, softly wring out, and hang to let them air dry.
One more thing! Always check if your house has hard water. Hard water is one of the biggest enemies of screen-printed clothing. The minerals can damage prints and fabrics. So, it’s best to either wash your apparel at a laundromat or pre-soak the items in a gallon of water/one cup vinegar mixture.
The drying
The correct drying technique is also the key to keeping screen-printed garments looking like new. When you get the clothes out of the machine, you have two options: air drying and machine drying.
Air drying
If you’re air drying, hang the clothes outside on a hanger or lay them across a flat surface. If you’re using hangers, make sure you use plastic, rounded ones instead of wire hangers, and avoid placing the clothes in direct sunlight. It is the best way to dry your clothes, primarily because of the heat and roughness of the dryer.
Machine drying
Still, if you must use the dryer, be as nice to your garments as possible. Always turn the clothes inside-out to protect the print and fabric, combine similar textures and weights, and use the lowest possible heat setting to avoid heat damage and shrinkage.
Removing wrinkles
Ironing
Ugh, ironing. It’s such a chore – especially when you can’t wait to tee up. Still, it’s better than committing a fashion faux by leaving the house for a big meeting, job interview, or formal event completely covered in wrinkles. Yikes! In the end, you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Right! Here are some instructions.
As always, start by turning your clothing inside-out. Then, drape it onto an ironing board and set the iron to its coolest option. You’ll want to avoid ironing directly, so placing a cloth or towel between the item and the iron is best to reduce the heat. Continue to reposition the item and cloth as you work.
Steaming
Steaming is your second option. Again, turn the item inside-out, hang it on a hanger, and fire up your steamer. Make sure you set the steamer at its lowest temperature and start moving it across the fabric. Do both sides and the sleeves, but see if you can work around the design.
Other options
If you can avoid ironing and steaming your screen-printed clothing, do so. There are plenty of other ways you can get wrinkles out. For instance, you can use a de-wrinkling spray or hang up the item immediately after washing so it dries without creases.
The packing
Learning some proper folding techniques always comes in handy, whether you’re moving, packing your clothing items for a trip, or just storing them in the closet after washing. Neat garment folding extends the life of your pieces, so always handle it with care, and your item is bound to last for years to come.
Use a quality and reliable printing company
If the clothes haven’t been properly printed in the first place, it’s unlikely that the design will remain fresh and vibrant for a very long time. So, always make sure to go with a reputable printing company.
We believe the quality of clothes and printing is the key to keeping screen-printed garments looking like new. So, whatever the reason you’re getting ready to order your custom clothing may be, you can always rely on our team of graphic designers, printers, and entrepreneurs to deliver that quality.