A graphic tee usually dies in the laundry, not from wear. The cotton is fine. The print is what cracks, fades or goes dull, and nearly all of that damage comes from three things: heat, friction and strong chemicals. Control those and a printed tee can look good for years.
Kiyo Arts tees are 100% ring-spun cotton with the artwork printed on the front. The care label says machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Here is the reasoning behind that, and how to get the most life out of the print.
The routine, in six steps
- Turn it inside out. This is the single most useful habit. The print then rubs against the smooth inside of the shirt instead of against zips, buttons and other clothes.
- Wash cold. Cold water is gentler on both the ink and the cotton, and it keeps black tees black.
- Use a gentle cycle with a moderate spin.
- Use a mild detergent, and less of it than the bottle suggests.
- Dry on low, or hang it up. Heat is the print's main enemy.
- Don't iron over the print. If you must iron, do it inside out.
That is the whole method. The rest of this post explains why each step matters and covers the awkward cases.
Why inside out works
In a washing machine, clothes tumble against each other and against the drum for half an hour or more. A print on the outside takes all of that abrasion directly. Turned inside out, it is protected by the fabric of the shirt. It also keeps lint and pilling off the face of the design. It takes two seconds and makes more difference than any special detergent.
Why cold water
Hot water does three unhelpful things. It loosens dye, which is why dark tees fade to grey. It shrinks cotton. And it softens printed ink, which makes it more likely to crack and peel over time. Modern detergents clean well in cold water, so for an ordinary worn tee there is nothing to gain from a hot wash.
What to wash it with
- Similar colours. Darks with darks, whites with whites. A white tee washed with new jeans comes out blue-grey.
- Similar fabrics. Avoid washing tees with towels, which shed lint, or with heavy items such as jeans and hoodies with zips, which batter lighter fabric.
- A moderately full load. An overpacked drum means more rubbing and less rinsing.
Detergent, softener and bleach
- Detergent: a mild liquid one. Too much leaves residue that dulls colours and stiffens fabric.
- Fabric softener: skip it for printed tees. It coats the fibres, and over time that coating can weaken how the print sits on the fabric and dull the colours.
- Bleach: never on a printed tee. It strips colour from the print and yellows white cotton with repeated use.
- Stain removers: fine on the cotton, but keep them off the printed area, and avoid any that contain bleach.
Drying: where most of the damage happens
A hot tumble dryer does more harm to a graphic tee than the wash does. High heat shrinks the cotton and bakes the print, and the tumbling adds friction.
- Best: hang it to dry, or lay it flat, out of direct sun. Strong sunlight fades colour over time, so dry dark tees in the shade or indoors.
- Fine: tumble dry on low, inside out, and take it out as soon as it is dry. Leaving it to cook after the cycle ends is what causes shrinkage.
- Avoid: high heat, and long cycles.
If you hang tees, hang them from the hem with pegs, or fold them over a rail. Hanging a wet tee from the shoulders on a thin hanger stretches the neckline.
Ironing
Direct heat from an iron can melt or smear a print and may leave it stuck to the iron. If the tee needs pressing:
- Turn it inside out.
- Use a low to medium setting.
- Don't linger over the printed area.
- For extra safety, put a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the shirt.
Often you can skip the iron. Take the tee out of the dryer while it is still slightly warm, give it a shake, and fold or hang it straight away.
Dealing with stains
Treat stains before washing, and before any heat. A dryer will set a stain for good.
- Food and drink: rinse from the back with cold water, then work in a drop of liquid detergent or dish soap with your fingers. Leave for ten minutes and wash as normal.
- Grease: dish soap, worked in gently.
- Sweat marks and deodorant: a paste of baking soda and water on the cotton, left for half an hour before washing.
- On the print itself: dab, don't scrub. Scrubbing lifts the ink.
How often to wash
Every wash wears a garment a little. A tee worn for a few hours under a jacket may not need washing after one wear. Airing it on a hanger overnight is often enough. Washing only when it needs it is the simplest way to extend its life.
Storing tees
Fold graphic tees or roll them, with the print on the inside of the fold where you can, so the design isn't creased along one line every time. Thin wire hangers stretch the shoulders. If you prefer to hang, use wide or padded hangers.
What about the first wash?
Wash a new tee once before you judge the fit. Cotton can settle slightly in its first wash. Wash it cold and dry it on low, and it will stay very close to the size you bought. A hot wash and a hot dry are what turn a large into a medium.
Signs you are being too rough
- Fine cracks across the print: too much heat, in the wash or the dryer.
- A faded, chalky look: too much detergent, hot water, or washing right-side out.
- A dull black tee: hot washes, or drying in direct sun.
- A wavy, stretched collar: hanging wet from the shoulders, or pulling the tee off by the neck.
The short version
Inside out, cold wash, low heat, no bleach, no softener, no iron on the print. That is all it takes. For ideas on wearing them, see how to style an art graphic tee, and browse every design in the tees collection.