· Press My Crew, Chicago Ridge
Why a printed shirt needs a little care
We print our shirts with DTF. That stands for direct-to-film. We print your design onto a thin film, then press it onto the shirt with heat. The print sits on top of the cotton.
Two things wear a print out: heat and rubbing. The four steps below keep both away from it. They are the same care steps on our returns and reprints page.
Step 1: Turn it inside out
Flip the shirt inside out before it goes in the washer. Now the print rubs against the inside of the shirt, not against jeans, zippers and towels.
Wash it with other soft clothes when you can. Keep it away from heavy work clothes with grit or metal on them.
Step 2: Wash it in cold water
Pick the cold setting. Use your normal amount of soap. Don’t pour soap right onto the print, and don’t scrub the print with a brush.
Got grease or paint on a work shirt? Ask us before you use a strong stain remover on it.
Step 3: Hang it up or dry it on low
A hot dryer is hard on a print. Hang the shirt up to dry, or use the low heat setting. Take it out once it is dry. Extra time in the dryer does not help. Let it dry all the way before you put it away.
Step 4: No bleach, and no iron on the print
Bleach can fade the print and the shirt. A hot iron can melt the print or make it stick to the iron. If the shirt is wrinkled, iron only the parts with no print. Keep the iron off the design, even from the inside.
How many washes will the print last?
No honest printer can give you one number for every shirt. It depends on the shirt, how big the print is, and how it is washed and dried. A small logo on the chest wears differently from a big solid print on the back.
Follow the four steps, and the print has its best chance to last.
What if the print starts to peel?
Don’t pick at it. Don’t try to fix it with a home iron, either. Do this instead:
- Take a close photo of the spot, and one of the whole shirt.
- Write down how the shirt was washed and dried.
- Reply to any email we sent about your order, with the photos attached.
If a print is faulty when your shirts arrive, tell us within 10 business days of delivery. We reprint or credit it at our cost. Our returns and reprints policy has the details. It does not cover normal wear, or damage from washing and drying outside these steps.
Share this with your crew
If your team washes their own shirts at home, send them this page when you hand the shirts out. It takes two minutes to read, and it helps every shirt look good for longer.
Quick questions
- Can I put my shirt in the dryer?
- Yes, on low heat. Hanging it to dry is even gentler.
- Can I wash the shirt right side out?
- Inside out is better. It keeps the face of the print from rubbing against other clothes.
- What if my shirt came from another printer?
- Follow that printer’s care steps. Different prints can need different care.
More from the blog
- Custom T-shirts for a small team
- How much do custom T-shirts cost?
- How to pick soft custom work shirts
- Can you bring your own shirts for printing?
- When should you order shirts for an event?
- What size should a logo be on a T-shirt?
- How to get your logo file ready for a sharp T-shirt print
- Why do printed T-shirts feel different?
- Before you approve your proof: a 5-step checklist