We’ve all been there — you take your freshly washed favorite custom hoodie out of your closet, only to find the big, beautifully designed artwork printed across the chest has a crack the size of the Mariana Trench running through it.

While you can’t un-crack the design on your favorite hoodie, what you can do is educate yourself on how to make custom printed products last as long as possible with the proper precautions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the right way to care for, store, and clean garments and products featuring custom printed designs so you can keep them looking sharp for months and even years to come.

Why Custom Printed Products Require Special Care

If you’ve noticed that customized products can have short shelf lives compared to other products, you’re not alone. The quality of these items can be compromised without the right care because:

• The printing process can affect the condition and longevity of a product
• Printing can introduce new materials that may be more susceptible to wear and tear
• The quality of printing can vary from printer to printer
• Maintaining the integrity of the printed design can be more nuanced than general care for the garment or product itself

Keep in mind that longevity and quality can vary by both product and printing type, and in some ways you’re really caring for two separate pieces: the product being printed on and the printed design itself. There’s no perfect process for keeping both preserved forever (aside from packing the piece into a vacuum-sealed bag in a dark room and never opening it again).

Caring for Custom Printed Apparel

Specific care instructions can vary by printing method and the fabric being printed on, but when in doubt, you can fall back on these general care guidelines to help maintain everything from custom t-shirts to custom hats to custom sweatshirts — and virtually every custom garment in between.

Washing

Custom garments can need a little extra attention when it comes to washing to ensure they don’t lose their luster or bleed onto the rest of your laundry. Here’s how to wash them safely.

• Separate colors: Wash dark and light colors separately to prevent color bleeding.
• Cold water: Use cold water, especially for delicate items or those with intricate designs.
• Gentle cycle: Opt for a gentle or delicate cycle on your washing machine to avoid damaging the fabric or print.
• Detergent: Use a mild detergent suitable for the fabric type. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, which can damage the print.
• Check the care label: Always consult the care label attached to the garment for specific instructions.

Drying

Similar to washing, drying practices can affect your custom garments. Here are some best practices to follow.

• Air dry: For best results, air dry your custom garments. Hang them on a drying rack or lay them flat to prevent stretching or distortion.
• Low heat: If you need to use a dryer, use a low-heat setting to avoid shrinking or damaging the fabric.
• Avoid direct sunlight: Avoid drying your garments in direct sunlight, which can cause fading.

Storage

For the most part you can store your custom apparel like you would any other clothing, but keep these procedures in mind.

• Folding: Fold carefully to prevent wrinkles, paying particular attention to the placement of creases. If possible, fold around custom designs to help keep them from cracking.
• Hanging: Hang heavier garments or ones with large designs that would otherwise be hard to fold around.
• Avoid direct sunlight: Store your garments in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.

Ironing

Ironing can be tricky with custom garments, but you can keep them wrinkle-free with these tips.

• Iron inside out: Iron your garments inside out to protect the print.
• Low heat: Use a low-heat setting on your iron, especially for delicate fabrics or garments with heat-sensitive finishes.
• Avoid steams: Try to avoid using steam on garments with intricate designs or embellishments.

Check the care label: Always check the care label for specific ironing instructions.

Caring for Custom Printed Promotional Products

Similar to custom garments, custom promotional products can have unique care requirements to ensure they look polished and perform optimally for the long haul. These tips should help ensure you get the most out of them while minimizing impacts on their designs.

• Follow care instructions: Always refer to the care label on the product for specific instructions, or contact the manufacturer or printing company for guidance.
• Handle with care: Be gentle when handling products to prevent damage to the print or material.
• Store properly: Store products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity.
• Clean appropriately: Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive tools when spot-cleaning or washing, and keep full cleanings infrequent.
• Protect outdoor items: When not in use, cover or store outdoor products indoors to prolong their lifespan, and try to keep custom designs out of direct sunlight.
• Avoid extreme temperatures: Try not to expose products to extreme temperatures, which can damage the material.
• Check for wear and tear: Check your custom products periodically for signs of wear and tear, like fading, cracking, or peeling.

Care Tips by Printing Process

Care for custom printed products can also vary by printing technique. While specifics can be different from brand to brand and product to product, here's a high-level run-down of common printing methods and their general care considerations.

Screen Printing

• Process: Ink is pushed through a mesh screen onto the product.
• Care: Generally, custom screen-printing produces items that can be machine washed and dried on low heat. However, you should avoid using bleach or fabric softeners on these products.

Digital Printing

• Process: Ink is digitally printed directly onto the product.
• Care: Digital printing typically produces vibrant, durable results. You should default to any care instructions provided by the manufacturer or printer, but generally, you should be able to machine wash and dry on low heat.

Embroidery

• Process: Thread is stitched into fabric to create designs.
• Care: Custom embroidery is quite durable, and you can typically just follow the care instructions for the base fabric. However, you’ll want to avoid harsh contact like direct rubbing or scrubbing, which can damage stitches or cause them to fray.

Foil Printing

• Process: A metallic foil is pressed onto a material and applied with heat.
• Care: Foil printing is typically durable, but you should avoid abrasive contact with the print to keep it from peeling.

Common Issues for Custom Products

No matter what type of printing method was used for your custom product or apparel, there are some common issues you can expect to look out for. The tips and practices above should help you prevent issues like these.

• Cracking: Custom printed designs are prone to cracking, particularly for processes like foil and screen printing that introduce a new material onto a fabric.
• Fading: Printed designs can fade over time, particularly for garments that are washed often or products that are regularly exposed to heavy amounts of sunlight.
• Peeling: Printed designs can also peel off of a garment or product if not applied properly or if not cared for optimally.
• Fraying: In some cases, printed designs can gradually chip away, with small pieces fraying over time if they aren’t cared for properly.

Factors Affecting the Lifespan of Custom Printed Products

Unfortunately, even the best care can’t keep items in perfect condition forever. In some cases, the longevity of your custom apparel or product can depend on factors like these that are outside of your control.

• Material quality: When the fabric itself isn’t very high quality, the longevity of the printing can suffer.
• Printing method: Some printing methods are more resilient than others — for example, digital printing is less prone to issues like peeling and fraying since the design is printed directly onto the fabric itself.
• Care instructions: Different fabrics have unique care specifications and tendencies of their own, which can in turn affect the printed design.

Keep in mind that not all of these factors will be under your control, since you may not be able to select materials or printing methods for specific custom items.

Ensure Longevity With High-Quality Custom Printed Products

Keep in mind that there’s no sure-fire method for keeping all custom products pristine forever, and you’ll always want to default to specific care instructions on attached labels or within included documents.

At the end of the day, attentive care is important, but it can’t fix an item that was poorly printed from the start. Opting for high-quality custom apparel and products printed with industry-leading techniques from RushOrderTees will help ensure your items look great for as long as possible.

Custom Printed Product FAQs

Want to know more about custom printed products? Here are answers to common questions.

How Often Should I Wash a Custom Printed Item?

You should generally wash a custom printed item every 1-2 wears to maintain its quality and appearance. However, this can vary depending on the fabric, print method, and your personal preferences. When in doubt, always refer to instructions printed on the tag.

How Do I Make a T-Shirt Print Last Longer?

Specific care best practices can vary by material, but generally speaking, you can make a t-shirt print last longer by:

• Washing it inside out in cold water with a gentle detergent
• Avoiding bleach or fabric softeners
• Hanging it to dry or tumble drying it on low heat
• Avoiding ironing, but when necessary, ironing it inside out on a low setting to avoid damaging the print

How Do I Wash Screen Printed Shirts?

While washing instructions may not be the same for all fabrics and you should always refer to care instructions printed on the shirt tags, a good process for most screen printed shirts is to wash them inside out in cold water with a gentle detergent. Afterward, avoid ironing and high-heat drying.

Related Reading:

• How Much Do Custom Hoodies Cost?
• Hat Logo Size and Placement Guide
• Guide to Eco-Friendly Swag for Your Business or Event
• 79 Company Swag Ideas That’ll Impress