How to care for your printed Car Clothing
Investing in car clothing can be pricier compared to purchasing blank T-shirts from Primark. However, taking proper care of your garments is a wise decision as it guarantees prolonged usage of your T-shirts and hoodies while maintaining the impeccable appearance of your print. To achieve this, there are a few fundamental guidelines that every car clothing owner should adhere to.
Always wash Inside Out
As someone who has sold a significant number of T-shirts and Hoodies, I understand that even with state-of-the-art machinery, it is crucial to minimize friction on your car print while in the washing machine.
Although a seller may claim that your garments are 100% washproof, it is advisable to take extra precautions to prevent any damage to your brand-new t-shirt. One effective way to extend the lifespan of your clothing is to turn it inside out before washing. In the early stages of my t-shirt manufacturing, I conducted various wash tests on HTV t-shirts.
While HTV is highly durable, after 30 washes, the print quality declined compared to the same design that had been washed inside out every time.
Iron on the Reverse
Although it may seem self-evident, I feel it's worth discussing for informational purposes. With all t-shirt printing methods, except Dye Sublimation, the design is placed on the surface of the garment, resulting in a slightly raised print compared to the rest of the t-shirt.
As a result, the print can catch on the base of your iron, especially if it's not impeccably clean.
To prevent accidental burns or tears, it is advisable to iron the reverse side of the t-shirt while still removing creases from the car print.
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Never use steam when ironing on the reverse of a printed T-shirt or Hoody. Steam will damage your car prints.
Keep out of direct sunlight
Although it may sound peculiar, I think it's essential to mention, particularly after some costly blunders I made with a client's order. While most prints have UV protection, some may fade when exposed to direct sunlight.
This is a rare occurrence, it's advisable to turn your car t-shirts inside out before hanging them outside to avoid any discolouration when pegged out.
Do not Tumble Dry
Under no circumstances should any printed clothing be tumble dried, including dye-sublimated tops. Tumble dryers can reach extremely high temperatures and cause the glue that holds the design on the car t-shirt to break down. Furthermore, tumble drying can damage screen-printed tops, causing pieces to fall off.
As someone who has been working with HTV products for nearly two decades, I can confirm that tumble dryers, despite being convenient, can ruin your t-shirt's print. HTV products will become wrinkly, while screen prints will crack and peel. Similarly, transfer paper and DTF will start to fade and crack.
Wash at a Lower Temperature (below 40c)
While it may be convenient to toss all of your dirty washing into a 40°C wash cycle, it's essential to note that printed clothing, while extremely durable, will start to wear and fade when washed at 40°C and higher temperatures.
The only exception to this rule is dye-sublimated tops, which have been cured at 200°C, allowing them to be washed at 40°C and above. This is necessary as the majority of sublimated tops are white.
Avoid Spraying Aftershave / Perfume on the Print
We all like to smell nice, but products like Perfume and Aftershave can damage the prints used to make your Car T-shirts and Hoodies. Â When applying your favourite scent, spray away from the print to prevent damage due to the alcohol content.
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