How to keep the print on your T-shirt looking good
Every one of our T-shirts and tote bags is printed in our own studio in Tallinn on an Epson SureColor F1000, which lays the ink straight onto the fabric. A well-made print will happily take years of everyday wear. Almost everything that wears a print down over time comes from heat and friction in the wash — not from how often the shirt is worn.
The good news is that looking after it takes nothing complicated. Four habits are enough.
1. Wash inside out and cool
Turn the shirt inside out before it goes into the machine. That way the print does not rub against the drum or the zips and buttons of other clothes. Wash at 30 °C — it is enough for everyday dirt and keeps both the colours and the shape of the cotton. Choose a gentler programme if you can, and do not pack the drum full.
2. Skip the tumble dryer
A tumble dryer is a print’s worst enemy: high heat combined with constant friction quickly turns the surface dull and can make it crack. Hang the shirt up or lay it flat to dry. It takes a little longer, but the print and the fabric will thank you.
3. Iron only inside out
If the shirt needs ironing, turn it inside out and use a medium setting. Do not iron directly on the print: a hot iron can damage it and leave a shiny mark. If ironing inside out is not practical, put a clean cotton cloth over the print.
4. No bleach, no fabric softener
- Bleach damages both the cotton fibre and the print ink.
- Fabric softener leaves a film on the fabric that makes the print look duller.
- Stain remover belongs on the fabric only, never on the print.
- Dry cleaning is not needed for a printed tee — a normal cool wash is best.
The same goes for a tote bag
A tote bag is made of sturdy cotton and takes more punishment, but its print needs the same care: wash inside out at 30 °C, dry in the air and iron inside out.
With these habits the print stays bright through a great many washes. Looking for a new favourite? Have a look around our shop.