How to Wash Printed T-Shirts Without Completely Stuffing Them Up
You’ve just bought yourself a magnificent new graphic T-shirt.
It’s got a cracking design, fits beautifully, and you’ve already managed to offend two relatives simply by wearing it.
Life is good.
Then comes laundry day.
And suddenly, your beautiful new shirt is being introduced to boiling water, a tumble dryer set to the surface temperature of the sun, and enough industrial-strength detergent to strip paint from a Holden.
Three washes later, the print looks like it survived a bushfire.
Bugger.
Fortunately, looking after your favourite printed T-shirts isn’t particularly difficult.
You just need to stop treating them like workshop rags.
1. Turn Your Printed T-Shirts Inside Out
Before throwing your graphic T-shirts into the washing machine, turn them inside out.
This simple trick helps reduce friction against the printed design during the wash cycle.
Less friction generally means less unnecessary wear on the print.
It’s not exactly rocket science, but it makes a difference.
And if you’re the kind of person who already turns everything inside out because you can’t be bothered sorting your washing, congratulations.
You’ve accidentally developed a useful habit.
2. Cold Water Is Your Friend
High temperatures can be hard on printed garments.
Excessive heat may contribute to cracking, fading, shrinking or deterioration of certain print finishes.
Cold water is generally a sensible choice when washing graphic T-shirts.
Always follow the garment’s care label and any specific instructions supplied with your shirt.
Your shirt doesn’t need to be boiled into submission.
It’s clothing, not a lobster.
3. Don’t Go Mad with the Detergent
A mild laundry detergent is generally suitable for everyday T-shirt washing.
Avoid harsh bleaching agents unless the garment’s care instructions specifically permit them.
Also, don’t assume that pouring half a bottle of detergent into the machine makes your clothes cleaner.
It mostly just makes your detergent manufacturer richer.
4. Skip the Tumble Dryer When Possible
Heat is one of the biggest enemies of many printed garments.
Where practical, hang your shirt to dry naturally, preferably in the shade.
Excessive tumble-dryer heat may affect both the garment and its printed design.
If you must use a dryer, check the garment’s care label first.
And remember: there’s a significant difference between drying a T-shirt and cooking one.
5. Never Iron Directly Over the Print
This one’s important.
Don’t place a hot iron directly onto a printed design.
Depending on the printing process, excessive direct heat may damage the artwork.
If ironing is permitted by the care instructions, turn the garment inside out and use an appropriate temperature, avoiding direct contact with the print.
Unless you’re deliberately trying to create abstract art.
In which case, carry on, Picasso.
6. Give Your Shirts a Little Breathing Room
Avoid cramming your washing machine so full that your clothes have nowhere to move.
Washing similar colours together and using an appropriate gentle cycle can help reduce unnecessary fabric wear.
Once your shirts are dry, fold or hang them neatly.
Leaving them in a damp pile behind the laundry door for three days is generally not recommended.
For clothing or relationships.
Look After Your Shirt and It’ll Look After You
A good graphic T-shirt deserves a little care.
It doesn’t require a complicated maintenance schedule, specialised cleaning equipment or a bloke in overalls charging $189 an hour.
Just sensible washing habits.
Cold water, gentle detergent, minimal heat and a bit of common sense can go a long way towards keeping printed shirts looking their best.
At Lynch Wisbey, we create original Australian graphic T-shirts designed to get noticed.
How long they keep looking their best depends partly on how you look after them.
Explore our collection of funny Australian T-shirts and original printed merchandise.
And remember, a washing machine is for cleaning your clothes.
Not testing their structural integrity.
GET LYNCHED.
