Do you hate when your graphic tee’s design starts to crack and peel? We do too. The whole point of a graphic t-shirt is its design. Without the print, the shirt would be a plain top, and that’s no fun.
Graphic tee prints are thin layers of transfer paper that sit on top of the shirt’s fabric. Since they aren’t embedded into the actual fabric’s structure, they can be sensitive to certain factors. Discover the best ways to keep your graphic tees looking fresh and what causes the designs to deteriorate over time.
Avoid Dryers and Irons
Heat causes your prints to dry out, making them more susceptible to cracking and peeling. It also loosens any adhesives keeping the print in place. Although dryers provide a quick-drying solution, their intense heat damages the shirt’s graphic design. Similarly, irons overheat the print. Instead of popping it in for a spin in the machine or straightening it out with an iron, hang your shirt to dry. Let the air and the sun dry your tee naturally, and allow gravity to keep your shirt wrinkle free.
Rinse With Cold Water
Like dryers and irons, the water you use to rinse your shirt can also expose your print to damaging heat. Cold water doesn’t affect the graphic design as much as heat. Plus, it preserves color better, preventing dyes in the shirt from bleeding or fading. Set your washing machine to cold to keep your graphic tee in its prime state.
Wash the Shirt Inside Out
Washing machines are anything but gentle unless you specifically select the delicate setting. However, even with the lowest spin cycle, the motions of the washer still apply lots of force, tossing and turning your shirt. Too much wear and tear on your graphic tee causes the print to fade, crack, or peel.
To minimize the harsh wear of your washer and prevent the force from eroding your design away, turn your tee inside out. Putting the print on the inside shields the design from the direct force of the water and washer. To further ensure you don’t damage your shirt in the wash, you should opt for handwashing instead of using a machine.
Don’t Fold the Design
Constantly folding the printed design on your shirt increases the chances of cracking. Creasing the design multiple times weakens the print’s elasticity, eventually causing it to snap. Hanging your graphic shirts in your closet or folding parts of the shirt that don’t have the print prevents the design from developing cracks.
Graphic tees make great wardrobe additions. They allow you to showcase your personality, dress up or down, and style a themed look on certain occasions. After finding the perfect shirt in our graphic tee shop here at Tees2urdoor, you want to ensure it sticks around for a while. This allows you to enjoy all the tee offers for longer. You’ll be able to keep your wardrobe stocked with stylish pieces to rock. Follow these four best ways to keep your graphic tees looking fresh and enjoy your favorite shirts longer.