Do you own personalised printed garments and want to keep them looking their best for as long as possible? Wondering how to care for embroidered clothing? Find out what to pay attention to as the owner of this kind of garment.
Branded Clothing — Take Care of the Print!
Printed garments are a unique and distinctive element of any wardrobe. They’re worn not only by individuals, but also by employees across many sectors — hospitality, hotels, and medical staff among them. Prints applied to clothing give it a one-of-a-kind look. To keep a print or embroidery looking great, the fabric must be properly maintained. Using the right products and following a few simple cleaning guidelines will prevent the print from deteriorating.
How to Care for Printed Clothing — Universal Tips
Adding a print to a garment makes it more distinctive — not just visually, but in terms of texture too. This usually means there is an additional layer of material on the fabric, which calls for appropriate care methods to ensure neither layer is damaged.
Washing Printed Clothing
When washing a garment, pay attention to the type of fabric it’s made from — this should guide your choice of detergent and wash cycle. Remember that a print is a delicate element that can deteriorate quickly if handled carelessly. When washing printed garments, choose a gentle cycle that won’t damage the design. Avoid high spin speeds too.
Drying Printed Clothing
After each wash, printed fabric needs to be properly dried. Garments with prints should be well wrung out to remove excess water. If a gentle spin hasn’t done enough, you can press the fabric gently a few times to remove any remaining moisture. Never put printed clothing in a tumble dryer — air dry instead. Hang garments in a well-ventilated room or, if possible, outdoors — ideally in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.
Ironing Printed T-Shirts
Ironing is a part of everyday life for most people. To iron printed clothing safely, check the care label on the garment. It’s generally recommended to protect the print when ironing. Place an additional layer of fabric over it — a clean kitchen cloth or another layer of clothing works well.
Using the Right Equipment
The quality of the equipment you use matters too. When investing in printed clothing, treat it with care — use an iron in good condition, and a washing machine with a handwash setting, which is significantly gentler on this type of garment.
Caring for Printed Clothing by Print Type
How long a print lasts depends primarily on how it was applied to the fabric. Different branding methods require slightly different care.
Screen-Printed Clothing
Screen printing uses a mesh screen to transfer ink directly onto a printing substrate — forming the desired pattern or image. The screen is made from a fine-mesh material such as silk, nylon, or polyester, coated with a layer of light-sensitive emulsion.
When washing screen-printed clothing, use water at a maximum of 50°C. Spin speed should also be kept low. When ironing, avoid going over the printed areas wherever possible.
Sublimation-Printed Clothing
Sublimation branding is a printing process that uses special sublimation dyes, which transition directly from solid to gas under high heat — bypassing the liquid phase. The process takes place on specially coated substrates such as polyester or polymer fibres.
Sublimation prints are generally resistant to damage even under intensive washing. Manufacturers typically recommend washing at 40°C.
Digital-Printed Clothing
Digital printing is a technique in which the image or pattern is transferred directly from a digital file onto the printed surface. It is an exceptionally durable and impressive method. As with the other branding methods, washing should be done at a similar temperature — around 40°C is the recommended maximum.
Regardless of the type of print on the garment, always turn it inside out before washing — this significantly reduces the risk of the print being damaged. Before taking any care steps, read the garment’s care label, which will typically include specific washing recommendations. Always use mild detergents that don’t contain harmful chemical agents.
