Show Your Customers How to Care for Custom Printed T-Shirts

If your customers love your screen-printed t-shirts, they’ll love you even more for helping them keep the design as vibrant and crisp as the first day they wear it. It’s a great idea to give your customers proper care instructions for their new custom printed t-shirts. By providing customers with clear and concise care instructions, you can increase customer satisfaction, reduce returns and replacements, and ultimately, strengthen your brand reputation. 

We’ve got you covered, with various factors that affect the longevity of the print, such as washing techniques, detergents, drying methods and stain removal. So let's dive in and learn how to keep your screen-printed shirt looking fresh and new.

Spoiler alert: Screen printing generally lasts longer than direct-to-garment (or DTG) printing. 

Screen printing uses a screen stencil, either by hand or by a machine, to apply one or more ink colors to a t-shirt. You’ll either use plastisol or water-based ink to achieve the look you want. Plastisol is a faster-drying, thicker ink that rests on top of the garment; while you can feel this ink on the shirt, you can print on black shirts and still get a vibrant design. Water-based ink is thinner, resulting in a softer feel; however, this ink takes longer to dry and isn’t ideal and isn’t ideal for darker shirts. You dry, or cure, the shirt with heat around 320° F.

When you DTG print a t-shirt, you use a printer (much like your paper inkjet printer) to transfer a design onto a t-shirt. While you can get finer details than screen printing, DTG prints are less durable. DTG ink is sprayed onto the fabric, and doesn’t attach to the t-shirt fibers in the same way screen printing does. 

When you use high-quality screen-printing inks and a solid application process, you can count on your print lasting the life of the garment. On the other hand, DTG prints might only last several dozen washes. That’s why focusing on higher value screen-printed t-shirts might be the way to go in your t-shirt shop.

If you want to help your customers keep their printed tees looking as fresh as the day you delivered them, we’ve got some smart care tips you can share on your website – and even send to your customers with their brand-new shirts! (By the way, you can follow these same tips to care for DTG and heat transfer t-shirt designs.)

Keep your screen-printed shirts looking fresh and new with these five tips:

1. Flip your t-shirt inside out. Protect your design from pilling and fading by washing your shirt inside out. Plus, doing this adds a layer of protection and keeps your design from rubbing against other clothes.
2. Keep it cool. Hot water might shrink or fade your print, so always wash your new t-shirt in cold water to keep it looking fab.
3. Choose your detergent wisely. Don't use harsh detergents or bleach, or you'll end up with a faded, old-looking shirt. Opt for a mild detergent instead, and treat stains with a stick or liquid product before washing. We usually recommend not overusing fabric softener with your t-shirts; if you want to use a softener to keep your shirt looking fresh, try white vinegar instead.

4. Wash your tee with similar colors and materials. In other words, don’t launder your new white t-shirts with a navy blue hoodie. Otherwise, you’ll pull a gray, nubby t-shirt out of the washer, instead of your bright white tee. Avoid throwing your printed shirt in with towels or clothing with zippers or buttons, since that can also damage the fabric and the print you love.
5. Handle with care. Give your screen-printed tees some love by selecting the gentle or delicate cycle on your machine, or even better, hand wash them for the ultimate preservation for the life of the shirt.

Here are the best ways to show your printed shirts some TLC when they come out of the washer.

1. Opt to air dry. Protect your precious tees from shrinkage and damage by ditching the dryer and hanging them up to air dry. Take it up a notch by letting them bask in the breeze outside, or give them a cool blast with a fan indoors.
2. Use hangers instead. Say goodbye to unsightly dents caused by clothes pegs and hello to a sporty shape with a thick plastic hanger. For best results, give your shirt a full two to four hours to dry completely.

3. Tumble dry your tee inside out. If you must use your dryer, remember to flip your tee inside out before tossing it in. This keeps your design looking sharp and prevents any cracking or fading.

4. Keep it on low. Keep the heat in check and choose the lowest setting on your dryer to keep your tee looking as up to par as the day you printed it. Don't forget to pull it out before the cycle ends for ultimate care.

5. Avoid ironing your print. It’s never a good idea to pass a hot iron over your print, ever. Putting high heat directly on your screen print can damage it. To iron the shirt, we recommend doing so when the fabric is still slightly damp. Cover the print with a pressing cloth to protect it from the heat. 

Oops, stains and sweat happen to your fave printed tee. But don't freak out, here's how to handle spills like ketchup, grass, ink and more without ruining your shirt!

Your first step is to identify the type of stain you’re dealing with:

Oil-based stains: Unfortunately, oil-based stains are the peskiest to remove, unless you treat them immediately. First, gently blot the stain with a paper towel or cloth to remove excess oil. Next, choose the right soap for the stain. Petroleum-based stains, like grease, motor oil, deodorant or makeup, require mild dish soap. For a vegetable oil stain from cooking oil, salad dressing, mayonnaise or butter, grab your laundry detergent. 

Next, put a few drops of your soap on a damp towel and gently rub it into the stain. The suds will help break the oil down. Then, wash your shirt as normal. If you spy the stain after a wash, repeat the stain-removal process before drying the garment.

Protein-based stains: We’re talking stuff like sweat, blood or grass. First, soak the stained area in cold water for 30 minutes or longer before you wash the t-shirt. Hot water can set the stain into your shirt, so always opt for cool water. Then, gently rub a stain remover or enzyme-based detergent into the stain before you launder the garment.

Color-based stains: If you notice a wine, ink or fruit stain on your shirt, start by blotting the area with a clean cloth to remove as much of the stain as possible. Then, apply a stain remover or even rubbing alcohol to the spot and gently rub it in. Finally, rinse the shirt in cold water and wash the shirt according to your normal care instructions.

Set-in stains: If you notice a stain sticking around after you’ve washed it, don’t dry the shirt since it can set the stain in more permanently. Instead, repeat the stain removing process and wash the t-shirt again.

Keep your brand-new, screen-printed shirt looking fresh with three smart, long-term storage tips:

• Fold your shirts. Taking the time to do this helps your garments retain their shape.
• Don’t skimp on hangers. Choose quality plastic ones to keep your shirts from getting wrinkled or misshapen.
• Store your shirts correctly. We recommend keeping your screen-printed tees in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. This keeps your printed tops crisp, moisture-free and unwrinkled.

It’s just a reality: Screen-printed garments require proper care to ensure they stick around. By following our tips, such as washing inside out and avoiding harsh detergents and heat, your customers can keep their screen-printed shirt looking vibrantly new for years to come. Taking care of clothing the right way not only saves buyers money in the long run, but also helps to reduce their environmental footprint by extending the life of their clothes. So, make sure to share your care tips for screen-printed shirts with your customers to keep them looking great and feeling comfortable.

Threadsy is a great online destination for buying bulk t-shirts at wholesale prices. If you’ve been shopping for blank t-shirts from a big box retailer, it’s time to stop. Threadsy offers generous discounts for customers who purchase t-shirts in larger quantities. Our bulk discount program starts at $110, and the savings up to 15% automatically appear in your cart when you bundle your items. You’ll also enjoy free shipping on orders $50 or higher, with always-fast delivery.

Plus, unlike other retailers that tack on fees for everything from orders that don’t meet a certain purchase threshold, to packing your order to processing returns, Threadsy doesn’t do that. There’s no minimum order, returns are free for 30 days, and we’ll never charge you extra money to pack your order. So what are you waiting for? Start shopping and saving on t-shirts to screen print today, whether you’re a hobbyist or a business owner.