Printed apparel can hold sentimental value—like a T-shirt you picked up at a concert of your favorite band or a sweater with your own logo on it.
In this article, we give you some quick tips on how to take care of your favorite piece of apparel so both the garment and the print last longer.
1. Wash your apparel at 30 °C
A lot of people wash their cotton apparel at 40 degrees.
Although washing at 40 degrees can be effective for stains and heavy dirt, it’s always recommended to wash your apparel at 30 degrees.
The difference between both temperatures is that 40 degrees helps the detergent work more efficiently.
But a stronger detergent also means the cotton and the print of your apparel will wear down faster.
For everyday use, without stains or heavy sweating, washing at 30 degrees is more than enough to get rid of bacteria, dust, and odor.
Extra bonus: washing at 30 degrees saves up to 40% more energy.
2. Never in the dryer
Dryers are the fastest way to ruin a good T-shirt.
The heat of the dryer not only shrinks the fabric (even if it’s pre-shrunk), but also weakens and damages the fibers, leading to pilling.
Never put your tees or sweats in the dryer—always hang them out to dry.
3. Turn your printed garments inside out when washing
Turning your garment inside out in the washing machine prevents your print from rubbing against other garments or zippers, and also shields it from direct contact with detergent.
This reduces scratches and cracks in the print.
Since the outside is protected, the inside of your garment will absorb the friction against other garments—leaving the outside shiny and bright.
4. Don’t iron directly on the print
Prints tend to be sensitive to heat and pressure.
Extended heat directly on the print can cause it to become shiny and wear down faster.
So how should you iron your printed tees?
- Turn them inside out
- Use a protective layer such as baking paper or a cotton cloth
- Avoid steam
- Iron at a low temperature—or carefully around the print
More questions on how on how to take care of your garments?
Reach out at info@unroll.studio.