Kiki

Are there any known methods to make the printed motifs on t-shirts from spreadshirt etc. more durable?

Two of my favorite t-shirts have a lot of the print starting to flake off after a few washes, and before I buy any more of those shirts, I'd like to know if there's any way to prevent that.

(edit: I already wash printed things inside out and don't use a dryer. I'm looking for something like... idk, clear paint/glue/? that I can put on the print to make it more robust.)

#DIY #TextilePrinting

Oct 27, 2024 at 2:04pmWeb
Show threadGina HäußgeOct 27, 2024

@flauschzelle Do you tumble dry your shirts?

I have good experiences with washing them on the "Pflegeleicht" setting & inside out, and letting them air dry and never see a dryer from the inside, but if you are already doing that I'm a bit out of ideas.

But if you are in fact tumble drying them, that would be something to stop doing immediately.

Show threadKikiOct 27, 2024

@foosel
I usually wash t-shirts on 60°C, spin at 600 rpm (which is the lowest setting that my washing machine offers), and turn any printed stuff inside out for washing. And I don't even own a tumble dryer.

So sadly, the only thing I could still reduce is the temperature (then they might not get as clean though).

I was hoping for something like "use this substance as a clear coat to paint over the print while it's still new, that will make it more robust"...

Show threadmxkOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @foosel 60°C certainly is pretty hot. I never wash shirts with more than 40°C and at least if I remember, turned inside and most of my shirts still have their print after sometimes more than 15 years (except the Tor onion roots shirt, but if you own one, you know that all efforts were futile for that print 😂)
Show threadGina HäußgeOct 27, 2024

@mxk @flauschzelle Yeah, that sounds like it is the reason then.

I also never wash shirts - or honestly anything but bed linen, towels, underwear - with more than 40degC either (and 1000rpm, Pflegeleicht). And still, everything gets clean.

So I'd suggest here to reduce the temperature, 60 is definitely too much for printed stuff from my experience (hence also the warning about using dryers).

Show threadJannisOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @foosel Definitely the temperature. I usually use 30° (since it says so on the labels of most things anyway), 1200rpm and mild detergents (»sensitive«), no softeners or stuff. I’ve seen many folks using high temperatures whose prints would break or fade. Mine are still looking good on shirts that are 10-15 years old. (I do tumble dry occasionally, but very seldom, usually I line dry)
Show threadJannisOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @foosel Also, the detergents contain enough cleaning chemicals that you shouldn‘t need to worry about hygiene, even at low temperatures.
Show threadKikiOct 27, 2024
@Xjs
@foosel
Hmm, I heard that "modern detergents don't need high temperatures any more" a bunch of times... maybe I need to try a different detergent 🤔
I (vaguely) remember that I started washing t-shirts on 60°C (a few years ago) because when I only washed them on 30°C, they started smelling sweaty again much sooner after putting them on. Something about bacteria not getting killed if the water isn't hot enough...(?)
Show threadGina HäußgeOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @Xjs Can't say I've ever seen that in two decades of washing my stuff like that, so maybe it's the detergent indeed 🤷‍♀️
Show threadGina HäußgeOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @Xjs For the record, these days I use Coral. No specific reason other than that I like the smell.
Show threadKikiOct 27, 2024
@foosel
@Xjs
I was about to ask for recommendations, but in general I'd like my laundry detergent to have as little smell as possible... so no perfumed ones please.
Show threadSandzwergOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle @foosel @Xjs I had some issues with some T-shirts where I was not able to get rid of the sweat smell (I usually wash T-shirts at 40°C) but there I now use hygiene wash https://www.dm.de/denkmit-hygiene-spueler-waeschedesinfektion-ohne-farb-und-duftstoffe-20-wl-p4066447518030.html and that works. I think I even tried washing at 60°C before without success. I think either @Laird_Dave or @scy recommended the hygiene wash
dm-drogerie markt - dauerhaft günstig online kaufen

Show threadSchrank  🐘Oct 27, 2024

@flauschzelle The main problem I know of with the print is the quality of the material. Technically most of it (depending on tech) is put on the shirt with heat, so you could try to take a baking paper and iron over it.

But I would recommend to find shirts elsewhere :-/ Because the textile isn't very good as well.

(all the info is from experience a couple of years ago, so please take it with some salt)

Show threadKikiOct 27, 2024
@Schrank
Yeah, I would prefer finding shirts elsewhere. But if (for example) a band I like only sells merch with my favorite motif of theirs through a spreadshirt shop, then I can either buy there or not have anything with that motif :/
Show threadSchrank  🐘Oct 27, 2024

@flauschzelle I thought so 🥴
Then all the other tipps are great. Especially about temp. My wife said, that detergent nowadays doesn’t need (high) temperature at all, they work even with 20° quite good.

🤞🤞 it helps

Show threadkimuOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle turning them inside out in the wash helps protect the printing a bit (also avoiding the dryer, but I see that’s not the issue for you). Tbh though I’ve stopped buying t-shirts from most of the big online printers bc they don’t last well.
Show threadasypsilonOct 27, 2024
@flauschzelle try ironing them inside out where the print is when you first get them (or asap when you already have them) - also Always wash the Shirts inside out. That will make them last a bit longer but some wear and tear is not avoidable...
Show threadneon_mateOct 27, 2024
@rochen @flauschzelle Ironing from time to time with a sheet of baking paper in between can also help, when the first cracks start showing in a motiv.