How to Care for Custom Printed and Embroidered Apparel
How To Care For Screen Printed Apparel
When you’ve put in the effort to create merchandise that you love and represents you well, taking care of it is just the thing to do. Whether you have screen prints, direct to garment prints (DTG), direct to film prints (DTF) or embroidery the care instructions will be essentially the same. Treating your branded merch with care will ensure it looks great for as long as possible.
Quick Guide – The Essentials
Here’s a quick rundown of the most important things to remember.
The Absolute Do’s (Always Try To…)
- Give a fresh start: Wash before wear on a gentle cycle.
- Turn it inside out: Before washing, drying or ironing. This protects the design!
- Wash cold: wash with cold water only.
- Air dry: Line dry inside out in indirect sunlight.
The Big No-No’s (Things to Always Avoid)
- Harsh chemicals: DO NOT use harsh detergent like bleach or softeners.
- Dry in direct sunlight: DO NOT leave your merch in direct sunlight for hours.
- Tumble dry: DO NOT dry your merch in a tumble dryer.
- Iron prints directly: DO NOT let a hot iron touch the print (DTG, DTF, screen print) or embroidery.
Remember to read the care instructions for the garments you have as it will provide extra information about the washing and drying that is specific to the fabrication.
What Happens When Your Shirt Reaches the End of Its Life?
Your printed shirt has worked hard to represent you and it’s now worn with the creases of yours. What now? It would be a shame for your favourite shirt to end up in landfill, so we recommend donating it, whether that’s to a second-hand clothing store or a garment recycling facility, repurpose it into something else or even dye it to give it new life.
Of course, all garments will age over time as it’s exposed to sun, heat, chemicals, wear and physical activity but with the right care you can extend the lifespan of your print and fabric.
Detailed Care Steps – Do’s and Don’ts
Here’s a more detailed look at each step of caring for your custom apparel.
Washing Your Custom Merchandise
What To Do
Cold Water
Unless your garment is heavily soiled, for most of your washing needs a cold water cycle will be more than enough to clean your laundry. The cold water will help to prevent colour fading from both the print and the fabric.
Inside-Out
Protect your prints during the washing cycle by turning your garments inside out, this tip can be applied to your everyday washing as well as it protects the ‘right side’ of your clothing by reducing pulling and friction, keeping your garments looking newer for longer.
Like Colours and fabrics
For the first few cycles we definitely recommend washing your branded merch with like-colours. Washing with like-fabrics will also help to prevent pilling or other damage.
What NOT To Do
Do not wash your printed garments in hot water as this will cause colour to run and fade not only in the print but in the fabric as well. Leaving your printed garments right side out will also increase the risk of it being damaged in the wash due to friction, pulling or catching. If you choose to wash your printed garments with dissimilar items and colours on the first few washes this might attract unwanted colour fading and bleeding from the different items in your load and your brand new white tee may turn a pale shade of pink instead.
Remember to use gentle detergents only and do not use bleach, softeners or harsh detergents/chemicals as this might cause your print to crack, peel, fade or wear faster as well.
Drying Your Custom Merchandise
What To Do
The ideal way to dry your printed merch is to air dry in indirect sunlight. This method will help to avoid damaging the fabric and print altogether.
What NOT To Do
If you opt to tumble dry your garments the heat from it could cause your print (whether it’s DTG, DTF, Screen Print or embroidery) to crack, peel or shrink which is not ideal.
When it comes to sunlight we have to remember that the Australian sun is quite strong and will cause fabrics under typical conditions to fade instantly, so imagine what it could do to your prints! In other words, don’t leave your prints drying in direct sunlight as you will definitely notice colour fading.
Ironing Your Custom Merchandise
What To Do
If you find yourself needing to iron your prints make sure to turn your garment inside out and adjust the iron to a gentle/low heat setting. Steaming will work in a similar fashion, always apply head on the reverse side of the print so that heat is not touching it directly.
What NOT To Do
Do not iron or apply heat directly on your prints at a high setting as this will likely cause it to melt, crack or peel.
Storing Your Custom Merchandise
What To Do
Folding your garment along the seams of the edge of the print works best for storage as this will prevent creasing in the print itself. If that is not possible we do recommend to hang on padded hangers or roll it up! The methods that help to reduce the pressure on the print will work best in preserving it.
What NOT To Do
Don’t cram your printed merch into drawers and wardrobes as this will cause creasing along your design. Make sure that the garments are clean before you store them to avoid unwanted stains and odors. Using wire hangers or narrow hangers may also cause your garment to stretch in unwanted places.
Enjoy Your Merch Longer!
A little extra effort when it comes to maintaining the quality of your print will go a long way in helping it look fresh and new for years to come. Then, once it gets to the stage where it’s starting to feel worn you can enjoy its second life as a vintage style tee.
There’s a common thought that pops into people’s minds when they start to think about custom printed merch. We find a fair few will mention screen printing straight off the bat though not everyone will know what it is, or how it differs from other print methods.