A good printed tee can last for years. Most prints that fade or crack early were not badly made. They were washed hot, tumbled dry and ironed. Five small habits make all the difference.
1. Turn it inside out
Washing inside out means the print rubs against the inside of the drum less, which is where most fading comes from.
2. Wash cold
Cold water (30 degrees or below) protects both the print and the cotton. Hot water speeds up fading and is the main cause of shrinkage.
3. Go easy on detergent
Use a mild liquid detergent and skip bleach and fabric softener. Softener can leave a film on water-based inks and make them look dull.
4. Line dry in the shade
The dryer is the toughest thing a printed tee will ever face. Hang it in the shade instead. Strong sun fades dark colours over time, so bring it in once it is dry.
5. Never iron the print
If your tee needs a press, turn it inside out and iron on low, or steam it. Never put a hot iron straight onto the print.
Treat it this way and your tee will still look sharp long after the trend it celebrates has moved on.
