When it comes to creating beautiful and eye-catching T-shirt designs, nothing gets the job done quite like screen printing. You have control over the colors, images, and even the type of T-shirt the design is printed on. However, like all clothing, custom T-shirts can start to look worn when not properly cared for. The team at The Monogram Company in La Crosse, WI, shares a few do’s and don’ts to help you keep your T-shirts looking terrific for as long as possible.

Do:

Turn the shirt inside-out when washing.

Believe it or not, washing a shirt right-side out can cause the printed image to fade rapidly. Instead, turn the shirt inside-out to protect the print. This keeps the design from rubbing against other clothes during the wash cycle and significantly reduces the wear and tear on the print itself. The more you protect the design, the longer the shirt will last.

Wash in cold water only.

Warm water may be helpful for removing dirt and grime, but it’s tough on printed T-shirts. This is because warm water causes the fibers to loosen and stretch in the wash. Over time, that stretching can cause the screen printing to lose its grip on the surface of the shirt, leaving faded designs behind. Washing in cold water keeps those fibers tight and helps preserve the design in its truest colors for as long as possible. For even better results, hang the shirts to dry rather than tossing them in the dryer.

Don’t:

Use bleach.

Bleach is fine for plain white fabric, but it can quickly destroy printed designs, even on white T-shirts. Just as bleach breaks up stains, it can break up the dyes used in screen printing to create the designs you know and love. If the shirt has vinyl graphics instead of traditionally printed designs, it can weaken the glue holding the vinyl to the fabric. If you need extra stain-lifting power, spot-treat the stain with your normal laundry detergent or carefully spot-bleach the problem areas and rinse thoroughly before putting it in the wash.

Iron printed and custom T-Shirts.

It should come as no surprise that heat is bad for custom T-shirts and that means you’ll need to avoid ironing the fabric whenever possible. To reduce the risk of wrinkles, hang the shirt to dry immediately after washing. If you absolutely need to get rid of wrinkles, hang the shirt in the bathroom while you shower or use the iron on the lowest setting possible, taking extra care around the printed design.

Keeping your printed T-shirts looking fantastic doesn’t have to be a challenge. All it takes is a bit of extra care and attention and the results of your custom screen printing will look wonderful for many years to come. If you’re looking to create unique designs for an upcoming event, contact the team at The Monogram Company. They’ll create a one-of-a-kind design just for you. Learn more about their services online and call (800) 784-9647 today.