How to Properly Care for Printed Apparel: Keep Your Graphics Fresh Longer

Custom printed t-shirts and hoodies are a wardrobe staple — but if you don’t take care of them the right way, those vibrant designs can quickly fade or crack. Here’s how to make your printed clothing last longer and stay looking brand new.

🧼 1. Wash Inside Out

Why? The friction in the washing machine can wear down the print. Turning your shirt inside out protects the design during the wash cycle.

Pro Tip: Always zip up hoodies and turn them inside out too!

🧴 2. Use Cold Water & Mild Detergent

Hot water breaks down ink and can cause cracking or fading. Use cold water and a gentle detergent to preserve the fabric and the print.

🚫 Avoid bleach or fabric softeners — they can damage the print or cause it to peel.

🌀 3. Skip the Dryer (If You Can)

High heat from dryers is the number one enemy of printed designs. It can shrink the fabric and cause cracking.

Best Practice:

• Hang dry your shirts whenever possible.

• If you must use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting.

🧺 4. Avoid Ironing Directly on the Print

Never place a hot iron directly on your graphic design.

Instead:

• Turn the shirt inside out and iron the reverse side

• Or place a thin cloth over the design before ironing

🚫 5. Don’t Dry Clean

Dry cleaning chemicals can degrade or dissolve the inks used in screen printing or DTG printing.

Keep your printed apparel away from dry cleaners unless it's specified as safe by the brand.

🧽 BONUS: Spot Clean When Possible

If there’s only a small stain, try spot cleaning instead of running a full wash. This helps reduce wear on the entire garment.