Personalised t-shirts, hoodies, and workwear are examples of screen-printed clothes that are perfect for showcasing your unique style or promoting your business. These garments are unique due to their unique designs, trademarks, or personalised branding. However, you must take careful care of them to maintain their fresh, brilliant appearance. If not, your clothing may appear old and worn out because the prints may break, the fabric may weaken, or the designs may fade.
Whether you purchased your screen-printed clothing from online screen printing services, organic cotton clothing UK, or personalised work clothing, this blog provides easy-to-follow maintenance instructions. Together, let’s keep your clothing looking new for a very long time!
1. Understand the Material
Screen-printed clothing varies by its choice of fabric, whether organic cotton or synthetic blends. One of the most essential requirements when caring for an item is its fabric type. Organic cotton clothing UK is, for example, soft to the touch and gives a sense of environmental consciousness with its production.
Yet, it requires much more than synthetic fabric. It always pays to read the care label on your clothing so you know what material you are dealing with. and can have unique care requirements so you can take care of it in such a manner that you will get it back soon.
Why Organic Cotton Clothing Demands Special Handling
Organic cotton does not contain poisonous chemicals; thus, it is always liked by those who care for the environment. However, since organic cotton is not treated, it might deteriorate faster through wearing and tearing in case of rough handling. This becomes crucial when you are dealing with personalised branded clothing made out of organic cotton. Gentle care will prolong the quality of the fabric as well as the prints on the fabric.
2. Turn it inside out to wash
One straightforward and very effective way to extend the life of printed clothing is to put it inside out before you get it wet. That way, they are not rubbed against other clothes in the washing machine, which could be friction-related. Be it a massive logo from your personalised work clothing or a minimalist print on organic cotton, this simple move might just keep the designs undamaged.
Practice for Screen Printed Clothes Washing
- Cold water: Hot water may lead to faded-out or cracked ink after some time. Use only cold or warm water.
- Choose a gentle cycle: Rough washing cycles may twist the fabric and damage the print.
- Use mild detergents: Harsh detergents contain chemicals that can wear away the print and weaken the fabric fibres. Choose mild or eco-friendly detergents, especially for organic cotton clothing UK.
3. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Although fabric softeners and bleach are often used as laundry additives, screen-printed apparel does not get along with them. When bleach is used, even in tiny amounts, both the cloth and the pattern may fade. Conversely, fabric softeners may build a coating over the print, obscuring its details and sharpness. This is especially crucial if you’re working with personalised branded clothing that will be used for marketing, as you want the designs and logos to stay striking and crisp.
Safer Alternatives
- Vinegar: you may soften fabric naturally and without damaging your screen-printed images.
- Baking soda: An excellent way to get rid of smells without destroying your prints is using baking soda.
4. The Drying Techniques Become of the Essence
The drying section will decide if your print will survive after a wash. You’ll probably kill your print from cracking, shrinkage or peeling off with a high-tumble dryer. In case you can, try letting them air dry.
Air Dry vs Tumble Dry
- Air Dry: Hang your screen-printed clothes in a shaded area so they won’t fade, even in bright colours. Never wring the clothes, as this may distort the print.
- Tumble Dry: This will prevent damage. Of course, if you have unique, personalised work clothing, for example, it must look especially businesslike each day.
5. Ironing with Caution
If your printed clothes wrinkle, the ironing method should be much more careful so you don’t harm your print. Never iron directly to the print using an iron from the applied area. Always iron from the inner surface of the clothing. Otherwise, put a clean cloth over the print before placing the garment under the iron.
Suggestions on Ironing Screen Printed Clothes
- It must use the most excellent temperature.
- Do not use steam, as its contents can dissolve the ink and, thus, cause the print to bubble or crack at the edges.
- For overcomplicated prints, such as on personalised branded clothing full of logos, it would be advisable not to iron over those parts at all.
6. Store Properly
Storage is equivalent to washing and drying. Folds of your screen-printed garments are kept flat so as not to leave wrinkles and creases on the print. Hanging clothes in a hanger would seem like the best thing to do, but time stretches the fabric because of the garment’s weight and thereby distorts the print.
Tips on Storage
- Fold clothes neatly and store them in a drawer or on a shelf.
- Don’t pile them too high on each other, as this would put too much pressure on the prints.
- Just allow them to stay in a cool and dry space where moisture will not penetrate through the fabric or the print.
7. Spot Clean When Necessary
Spills happen, but don’t wash the whole thing; instead, try to spot-clean the area with the stain. To do this, use a mild soap or detergent and blot the stain with a soft cloth. Do not rub. You will want to treat the stain gently so you do not damage the print or push it further into the fibre.
Quick Tips for Spot Cleaning
- Do not delay: The more you delay, the more inconvenient it is to remove it while removing it.
- Do not rub: Rubbing makes the screen print fade and spreads the stain.
8. Let It Go
Even if you intend the very best for the garment, screen-printed wear can only be used for a short time. The fabric might have a drawn look, or the images may lose their brightness with time. If the purpose of the garment had been either advertising apparel or everyday apparel, then it’s already time to let it die.
If business owners wear personalised work clothing, then your team will keep its wardrobe fresh and updated, meaning your brand will be presented professionally and sharply. Online screen printing services can be an excellent means of promotional activities or marketing, in which you just must ensure that your target audience receives fresh, quality material.
Conclusion
Most of the time, you will not have any problems taking care of your screen-printed clothes. Just follow these simple steps: wash inside out in cold water, air dry, and iron, and you will be able to keep your screen printing fresh for a long time. Whether you are wearing organic cotton clothing UK or personalised branded clothing to present your company, the proper care will give you the most value from your wardrobe.
Remember, the more careful you are, the longer your clothes and customised designs will last. Anyone spending money frequently on online screen printing services may appreciate knowing how to take proper care of their clothing, saving them from unwanted reorders and keeping their wardrobe and brand looking great year after year.
