Screen printing your clothing is an inexpensive and excellent way to showcase your style. Screen-printed clothing has unique qualities, and you must take good care of it to maintain its appeal. Below is a list of how you can wash your screen-printed clothing.

Use Cold Water

The type of water used for cleaning clothing depends on the fabric being washed. Most people nowadays habitually wash their clothes in hot or warm water. There is no reason for using hot water to wash your clothes unless they're hospital or hotel sheets and towels. Cold water gets your clothing clean and is gentler on fabric than hot water. Cold water is ideal for screen-printed apparel as hot water can distill the ink on your clothing.

Check the Fabric

If you aren't aware of the washing instructions, you must follow various tips to preserve the overall quality of your screen-printed clothing. Wool and cotton absorb more water while polyester and nylon absorb less. A fabric that absorbs more water is more likely to shrink, and you must preshrink your screen-printed clothing to minimize the risk of shrinking while washing your clothes. You must sort your fabrics, separating the whites from the darks to avoid destroying your clothes with residual dyes and inks from other clothing. Keep those fabrics with similar textures together, and avoid washing towels and jeans together with your screen-printed apparel.

Avoid Using Strong Detergents or Bleach

Some chemicals are harsh on your clothes and cause the apparel's print to fade. Like hot water, strong detergents and bleach harm the fabric of your clothes. You can use mild detergents or light stain removers on your screen-printed clothing to remove spots on the material. Screen printing utilizes plastisol ink and bleach, which causes friction in fabric with digital printing. Water-based ink and other screen printing inks on your screen-printed garment also react with detergents, causing wear and tear. Avoid strong detergents and bleach when washing your clothing to ensure the fabric lasts for a long time.

Avoid Using Hard Water

Minerals present in hard water cause harm to screen-printed garments. The minerals are deposited in the fibers of the fabric, causing it to become stiff. Hard water also degrades the screen printing dyes, causing the colors to fade, and the same minerals increase the pilling of the fabric, causing wear and tear. Before washing, you can soak your screen-printed clothing in water mixed with a sizeable volume of white vinegar or purchase a water softening system. Purchase your clothing from a reputable brand to ensure it lasts long. According to Statista, 69% of Generation Z and millennials said they prefer purchasing clothing from a brand or a retailer offering customized products. If you do the same, then you'll be able to take advantage of higher-quality clothing.

Avoid Ironing Over the Print

Ironing over the print is highly discouraged since, again, high heat can damage the print. Heat is considered an enemy of screen-printed fabric, but you can proceed with caution if you must iron your clothing. Use the lowest heat setting and turn your clothes inside out. Avoid using the steam setting or ironing on the printed design, and place a piece of clothing between the garment and the iron to protect the screen printing. Direct ironing on the screen printed design will damage the design of your clothing.

Avoid Using a Hot Dryer

Avoid setting your dryer to a high heat level when drying your screen-printed clothing. Instead, remove the garment when it's almost dry and hang it outside on a clothesline to dry naturally. High heat quickens the peeling process of the design, which is why it's not recommended to dry it fully by machine. Avoid using hot dryers on such garments and let them dry in a natural environment for best results.

Avoid Pilling by Washing Inside Out

Pilling doesn't necessarily affect poor-quality garments; any type of clothing can be prone to pilling. The friction from washing and wearing causes pilling. This friction causes the fibers to pull away, which loosens the fabric. When this happens, you'll notice fibers resembling pills or fuzzy balls on the clothing surface. You can utilize a handheld fabric shaver to do away with the pilling, but the best way to prevent it from happening is to wash the screen-printed garments inside out.

The quality of clothing affects how the print reacts with water and soap as well as its lifespan. A high-quality fabric lasts longer, and you must read the instructions carefully before washing your clothing to know how to handle the material best. House of Apparel can help with screen printing your garments if you require our services.