Best Practices to Take Care of Screen Printed Shirts
Screen-printed shirts stand out due to their intricate patterns and vivid colors, making them the favorite. They come in customized designs to reflect one’s unique personality and style. However, maintaining the uniqueness, vibrancy, and appeal of screen-printed apparel needs extra care while washing, drying, and ironing. As special inks and printing techniques are used, these shirts must be washed and handled with some pro tips so you can wear them for many years without losing the vibrancy and vividness of screen-printed designs. This post will be helpful for those finding a suitable guide on how to wash printed shirts to increase their longevity. Have a look at the screen printed shirts washing best methods and tips!
How to Wash Screen Printed Shirts?
Here are some best practices and tips when it comes to washing screen-printed shirts:
The shirt should be inside out
Turn the screen-printed apparel inside-out before washing. This procedure lowers the possibility of the ink cracking or fading by shielding the printed design from friction and abrasion throughout the washing cycle.
Use Cold Water
Use cold water to wash the screen-printed shirt. Cold water aids in maintaining the ink’s integrity and stops it from bleeding or flowing. However, hot water can cause the ink to deteriorate and lose its brilliance.
Gentle Washing Cycle
On your washing machine, select the gentle cycle. The mild process ensures the garment is handled softly, putting less strain on the fabric and printed patterns.
Use Mild Detergents
Use a gentle detergent without bleach or other harsh chemicals. Too harsh detergents can harm the ink and eventually lead to its degradation. Color-safe and eco-friendly detergents are the best options for shirts with screen printing.
Wash similar Color Shirts Collectively
Wash screen-printed shirts with other similar-colored clothes to minimize color bleeding. Maintaining the brilliance of the pattern can be made easier by separating light-colored shirts from dark-colored ones.
Avoid Fabric Softeners
Avoid fabric softeners since they can form a barrier on the fabric that interferes with the ink’s ability to adhere properly. When washing shirts with screen printing, stay away from fabric softeners.
Hand wash elaborate Designs
If your screen-printed garment has an intricate or delicate design, you should hand-wash it. Handwashing gives you more control over the procedure and reduces the possibility of the design being cracked or faded away.
Rinse Well
Rinse the screen-printed shirt well to remove any detergent residue. Detergent residue may shorten the ink’s shelf life and accelerate its deterioration.
Avoid Abrasion
When wearing or washing screen-printed shirts, the fabric may rub against other articles of clothing, which can cause abrasion. Before washing, flip the shirt inside out to reduce friction on the printed surface.
Do not Over Wash
Over washing might cause the screen-printed design to wear out and fade prematurely. Only wash when essential, as after significant wear or to remove stains.
How to Dry Screen Printed Shirts?
When drying a screen-printed shirt, you must take essential precautions to preserve the vibrancy and durability of the print. The effective methods to keep in mind when drying your screen-printed shirt are listed below:
Dry in Natural Air
Air drying is the perfect method for drying a screen-printed shirt. Keep the screen-printed clothing away from radiators and other direct heat sources, as the screen-printed designs may crack or fade over time if you apply excessive heat from a dryer.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Avoid sun’s direct exposure with screen printed shirts when air drying to prevent the ink from fading. Instead, decide on a shaded or enclosed space to dry the clothing.
Dry in a Clean Environment
To air dry the garment, pick a clean spot free of dust. The design’s look and general quality can be affected by dust and other particles that may settle on it. Make sure the screen-printed clothing is dry before putting it away, as any remaining moisture might promote mold or mildew growth.
How to Remove Wrinkles?
Use a spray bottle or damp towel to lightly moisten the screen-printed shirts without soaking them.
Place the shirt flat on an ironing board or another clean, dry surface. With a gentle hand motion, flatten the wrinkles in the wet areas.
Use a Synthetic Low Heat setting on your iron. Avoid excessive heat to prevent the fabric from burning or the ink from melting.
Avoid direct contact with the iron base and printed design by laying a thin cloth over the printed areas to protect the screen-printed designs.
Lightly iron over the screen-printed parts covered in cloth. Apply gentle, even pressure; do not use harsh strokes. Repeat as necessary to remove any wrinkles.
How to Iron Screen Printed Shirts?
For particular ironing instructions, look at the care label on any item of clothing, including screen-printed shirts. Some shirts might specify a specific temperature range or forbid direct ironing on the print.
Before ironing a screen-printed garment, flip it inside out to protect the printed image. By doing this, you can avoid having the iron touch the ink. You can also place a thin cloth over the printed area while ironing these shirts so the designs do not break or fade if exposed to high heat.
Use even, gentle strokes to lightly iron over the sections of the cloth that have screen printing on them. Avoid too much pressure or leaving the iron in one place for too long.
Avoid using steam when ironing clothing with screen printing since moisture might cause the ink to bleed or distort. Let the shirts cool down before folding or hanging it is advised. This aids in setting the ink and guards against any possible storage damage.
When storing, hang the screen-printed shirt on a non-metallic hanger or lay it flat to preserve the quality of the printed design. Keep the garment from being folded in a way that could cause the printed portions to wrinkle.
