Garment Printing Wash and Care Guide
Protect the quality of your printed and embroidered garments with simple wash and care guidance designed to keep colours vibrant, prints durable and garments looking their best for longer.
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Preserve the quality, finish and longevity
When handling your printed garments it’s important to treat them with extra care and take into account our advice outlined below. Though each printing technique is different and produces a print that might be more or less resistant than others, we always recommend washing the item inside out and on a low temperature.
There’s nothing more exciting than receiving your Garment Printing order, but don’t forget to read these instructions for washing your items – so you can be sure they last well and stand the test of time. Many people don’t realise, but printed t shirts need to be treated slightly differently to regular t-shirts – so it’s key to read the information below to ensure you’re looking after your printed items well. This is to ensure you can enjoy your item for a long time, and that it offers the most value to you.
You can take a look at our full Wash & Care instructions below. As always, if you have any questions or queries, just drop us a message or phone call, we’re always happy to help.
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Follow our wash and care guidance to maintain print quality, fabric integrity and long-lasting results.
Step 1: Wash and dry your items inside out
This is a simple but effective step in your washing routine that can help make your printed and personalised clothing last longer. By turning the items inside out you’re protecting the print and stopping other items from interfering with the design, or damaging it.
Step 3: Do not tumble dry
Air drying is always preferred when your cleaning and drying your personalised printed garments. The best way to dry these items is to air-dry them on a clothing drying rack, or outside on a washing line. These methods of drying give the best results and also protect the printing. Tumble dryers will cause shrinkage or damage to your products.
Step 2: Wash your garment on a low temperature (40′ or less) & Don’t add extra spins
Washing on a low temperature is the most risk-free way to wash any printed item using your washing machine. (40 degrees of less.) High temperatures can damage items, so keeping your machine on a low-heat or cold wash can ensure the print and material are protected during the cycle.
It’s tempting to add extra spins to your washing machine’s cycle but we advise against it when washing printed garments.
Step 4: Always iron inside out
Prints can get caught on irons, and will often be damaged by direct heat – so always iron your garments inside out to protect them! We also recommend putting your iron down to a lower heat the first time you iron the item, so you don’t accidentally apply too much heat to the area.
If you take the items to a cleaning service, you should be able to request a low heat and inside out wash cycle – so ensure you put a note with the items so they know how to treat the items too.
We hope you enjoy your new printed garments, with the proper care and washing they should last a long time and serve you well! Giving you plenty of time to enjoy wearing them out and showing them off!
We hope you enjoy your new printed garments, with the proper care and washing they should last a long time and serve you well! Giving you plenty of time to enjoy wearing them out and showing them off!
Frequently Asked Questions About Garment Care & Print Longevity
Find quick answers to our most common questions about Garment Care & Print Longevity.
Printed and embroidered garments require a little extra care to preserve the print quality, finish and durability. Unlike plain garments, custom prints are applied using specific techniques that benefit from gentle washing and handling to ensure long-lasting results.
We recommend washing all printed garments inside out, on a low temperature (30°C or lower). This helps protect the print from friction, heat and direct contact with other items in the wash.
Not quite. While they can be washed in a standard washing machine, printed T-shirts and garments should always be treated more gently than non-printed clothing to avoid cracking, fading or premature wear of the print.
Yes. Different printing techniques (such as screen printing, DTG, DTF or embroidery) have different levels of durability and resistance. However, following our general wash and care guidelines will help maintain the quality of all print types.
We strongly advise avoiding tumble drying where possible. Heat can damage prints and reduce their lifespan. Air drying is always the safest option for printed and embroidered clothing.
Ironing should be avoided directly on printed areas. If ironing is necessary, turn the garment inside out and use a low heat setting, or place a protective cloth between the iron and the print.
Simple habits make a big difference:
- Wash inside out
- Use low temperatures
- Avoid harsh detergents
- Skip tumble drying
- Do not iron directly on prints
Following these steps helps ensure your garment looks great for as long as possible.
You can view our full Wash & Care Instructions page for detailed guidance tailored to different printing techniques and garment types.
If you’re unsure how to care for your printed garments, just get in touch. Our team is always happy to offer advice by phone or email to help you protect your order and get the most value from it.
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