How to Care for and Maintain Your Custom-Printed Apparel
Published: September 8, 2025
Key Takeaways
Proper care significantly extends the lifespan of custom-printed apparel.
Mistakes, such as using high heat or harsh detergents, can lead to cracking, fading, and peeling.
Washing techniques vary by garment type but generally include cold water, mild detergents, and air drying.
Turning items inside out before washing preserves the print quality.
Why does proper care matter for custom-printed apparel?
Ever tossed a favourite graphic tee in the wash and watched it slowly lose its charm over time? That faded, cracked, or peeling design is more than just bad luck — it's usually the result of improper care. Custom-printed apparel, such as that made by Toronto Tees, relies on techniques like screen printing, DTG (direct-to-garment), or heat transfers, all of which are sensitive to heat, abrasion, and harsh chemicals.
The Science Behind Fabric & Print Damage
Washing and drying clothes involves more friction, temperature, and chemical exposure than many realize. According to the American Cleaning Institute, excessive heat and aggressive agitation during laundering can weaken both fabric fibres and ink adhesion. Over time, this leads to cracking, flaking, or the dreaded fade.
Even premium apparel like that from Toronto Tees can’t escape the physics of washing machines. The printing ink sits atop or within the fibres, and repeated exposure to high temperatures causes it to degrade faster. That’s why your tee’s design might start to look like a vintage piece — just not in a good way.
Common Print Problems Caused by Poor Washing
Here’s what improper care can do to your custom-printed apparel:
Fading – Ink loses vibrancy due to detergent chemicals and hot water.
Cracking – Widespread in plastisol screen prints exposed to dryer heat.
Peeling – More likely with heat-transfer or vinyl prints that aren’t appropriately cured or are exposed to fabric softeners.
Ink bleeding – Poor sorting (e.g., washing with reds) can cause colours to run.
Stretching & distortion – Aggressive tumble-drying damages the fabric base, misaligning the print.
Proper care, in contrast, maintains the appearance and feel of your shirt for years, preserving both print integrity and fabric quality.
How do commercial laundromats impact the longevity of custom apparel?
Public laundry machines seem like a convenient option — but they may not be the safest bet for custom-printed clothing. Unlike your carefully curated home setup, laundromats often operate under one rule: efficiency over gentleness.
Key Risks with Commercial Machines
Uncontrolled Heat Settings: Many commercial washers and dryers operate at high temperatures to sanitize clothes quickly. High temps break down screen prints fast.
Rough Drum Interiors: Industrial drums can cause more friction, leading to print abrasion.
Overloaded Loads: Shared machines are often packed, increasing the wear on every item inside.
Residual Chemicals: If the machine was previously used with bleach or strong detergent, residue may linger and damage prints.
Tips for Laundromat Use
Use Mesh Wash Bags: Protect your tee from rubbing against zippers, buttons, or the drum.
Choose Cold Wash Settings: Always manually override if the default is warm or hot.
Tumble Dry Low or Skip Drying Altogether: If the dryer runs too hot, take your clothes home to air dry.
Inspect the Drum First: Look for stuck detergent pods, bleach residue, or debris.
Forum Insight
A user on r/frugalmalefashion posted: “Every time I took my graphic tees to the laundromat near my dorm, they came out worse. Now I just wash them by hand at home or bring a mesh bag.”
What expert advice do screen printing professionals recommend?
Who better to weigh in on garment care than the pros who make the prints themselves? We’ve gathered tips directly from industry veterans and TorontoTees specialists.
Curated Tips from Experts
Keep it cold: “Hot water and high heat break down the bond between the ink and the fabric,” says Mark Theriault, lead printer at Toronto Tees. “Cold water washing is your best bet.”
Skip the fabric softener: According to Inksoft’s print lab director, Mike Goodwin, “Fabric softeners add a coating that weakens water-based inks over time.”
Dry inside out: “It’s not just about the wash. Drying your tee inside out reduces cracking from tumbling,” says Dov Charney (Los Angeles Apparel).
Don’t over-wash: “Unless it smells or is stained, don’t overwash your printed shirt,” advises industry veteran Andy MacDougall. “Each wash degrades it just a little more.”
Mind your detergent: Choose low-sudsing, gentle, fragrance-free detergents. Stronger options can consume more ink, especially with DTG (direct-to-garment) prints.
What care tips are specific to vintage or distressed prints?
Vintage and distressed prints are meant to look aged — but they’re also more delicate than standard prints. The ink is often thinner, softer, or applied in a way that mimics wear. That means you need to treat them more like collectibles than casual clothing.
What Makes Them Different?
Intentionally fragile inks: These are often water-based and designed to appear faded from the start.
Light fabric blends: Vintage-style shirts often use thinner tri-blend or ringspun cotton.
No heavy curing: Some distressed designs are not heat-set the same way as regular prints.
Special Care Guidelines
Hand Wash When Possible – Use cold water and gentle detergent.
Always Air Dry – Tumble drying can ruin the distressed effect or over-fade it.
Avoid Soaking for Long Periods – This weakens fibres and can cause ink bleed.
Fold with Tissue – If storing, use acid-free tissue between the print and the fabric.
Do Not Iron – The print may lift or distort when exposed to heat.
When in doubt, treat your vintage-print tee like your rarest vinyl — admire it often, but handle it with care.
What’s the final verdict on making your graphic tees last?
By now, one thing is clear: longevity isn’t just about garment quality — it’s about garment care. Whether your shirt is a custom piece from TorontoTees or a vintage market find, its lifespan largely depends on what happens after it hits your laundry basket.
Core Rules for Making Tees Last
Let’s revisit the essential principles:
Always wash inside out – Protects the print from friction.
Use cold water – Minimizes ink fading and fabric shrinkage.
Choose gentle cycles – Less stress on both fabric and print.
Skip harsh detergents, softeners, and bleach – Stick to mild, liquid formulas.
Air dry when possible, or use low heat for short cycles.
Avoid direct ironing on prints – iron inside out or use a protective layer.
Store garments properly – fold them carefully, avoid exposure to UV light, and keep them dry.
Use protective laundry tools – mesh wash bags, dryer balls, and print-safe sprays help reduce wear and tear.
Best Practices for Print Care
Step
What to Do
Why It Matters
Washing
Cold water, gentle cycle
Reduces stress and ink loss
Detergents
Mild liquid only, no bleach
Preserves colour and print bond
Drying
Air dry or low heat
Prevents cracking, shrinking
Laundry Tools
Use mesh bags, avoid softeners
Less friction, fewer chemical reactions
Storage
Superb, dry, folded flat
Avoids fading and creasing
Special Care (Vintage)
Hand wash, avoid soaking
Prevents ink bleed and deterioration
Sources and Further Reading
TorontoTees: Product Care Guide
Printwear Magazine: https://www.printwearmag.com
Clothing and Textiles Research Journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ctr
