Key Takeaways
Whether it's a treasured vintage tee from a memorable concert, an homage to your favorite team, or just a logo or slogan that speaks to you, chances are pretty good you've got at least one graphic tee shirt in your wardrobe. In fact, a recent inventory in our house tallied nearly 100 (!) graphic tees, many of which are in regular rotation. Some are brand-new styles from iconic sportswear brands like LL Bean, JCrew, Gap, Lululemon, and Vineyard Vines. Others are vintage concert tees, mementos from vacation, and leftover favorites from band camp and youth soccer. And that's not even counting the ones we've sent to textile recycling or repurposed into a memory quilt.
If you want to keep both the cotton tee and the screen-printed design in good shape, a few care basics make a big difference. To wash graphic t-shirts without ruining them, turn them inside out, wash them in cool to warm water with a gentle detergent on a delicate cycle, avoid bleach, fabric softener, and high heat, and lay them flat to dry instead of putting them in the dryer.
What follows covers the full care routine for daily-wear graphic tees, including the best detergent to use, machine-washing and hand-washing steps, stain treatment, drying methods, and ways to protect screen prints from heat and wash damage. The Heritage Park team put this together for anyone who wants practical, fabric-safe care for graphic tee shirts, especially cotton and cotton-blend styles worn often at home. (Note: these instructions are for "daily wear" graphic tees, not exercise or fitness gear).
Most tee shirts are cotton or, more likely, a cotton/polyester blend. You'll also find graphic tee shirts made from modal or a cotton/modal blend (modal is a sustainable rayon made from the cellulose fiber of beach trees). Some may have a bit of spandex or elastane to preserve stretch. In general, graphic tees are screen-printed, a process that involves transferring the ink onto the shirt fabric. When choosing a detergent, you need a formula that will clean your shirts while protecting both the fabric and the screened graphics, which can fade, crack, or flake off. A harsh detergent is not an option.
Heritage Park Sensitive Skin All-Purpose Detergent is a gentle, pH-neutral formula made with plant-based ingredients and no harsh chemicals. Although it is a mild detergent, Heritage Park contains a powerful blend of laundry enzymes to naturally dissolve and remove stains. It can be used in any temperature, which is important, because graphic tees should NOT be laundered in hot water.
Get ready to wash your graphic tee shirt with the following supplies.
A gentle detergent like Heritage Park Sensitive Skin All-Purpose Laundry Detergent. A washing machine with a gentle cycle. Mesh laundry bags. A spray bottle for making your own enzyme solution. A tub or bucket for pre-soaking and handwashing. A drying rack.
The care label is the authority on washing your graphic t-shirt, so check it out before moving forward.
Pre-treat or pre-soak any stains as soon as possible. We recommend using an enzyme stain remover or making a 1:1 ratio of Heritage Park Sensitive Skin All Purpose Laundry Detergent and water in a spray bottle to pre-treat stains. You can also soak your tee shirt in a concentrated solution of our detergent and water before washing to treat stains and odors, including in the underarm area.
This will protect your shirt from fading and damage caused by other, bulkier clothes or laundry in the machine. Do not overload the washer, so clothes have enough room to move and wash properly.
Turn your tee shirt inside out to safeguard the screen printing or design. For maximum protection, place your tee inside out inside a mesh laundry bag. This will safeguard the shirt from snagging on tiny burrs of metal in the machine or twisting around the agitator. This simple wash inside step helps protect the print.
Never wash a graphic tee in hot water. For best results, stick to cold water, since heat can damage the screen print.
Pro Tip: Brand-new graphic t-shirts should cure for 24 hours before the first wash to help prevent ink transfer.
These products are unnecessary and can ruin your graphic tee shirt, particularly the screen design. Bleach will fade color and cause whites to yellow; fabric softeners and dryer sheets will leave a waxy build-up both on fabric and on the inside of your machine.
When drying graphic tees, air drying is best because it helps prevent shrinkage and distortion of prints. Direct heat and high heat can make the design crack, peel, or fade. We recommend laying your tee shirts flat to dry on a drying rack or clean towel to maintain print quality and prevent shrinkage. You can also hang the tee to dry if it is well supported, but do not hang it by the shoulders, which can stretch the fabric. If you're drying the garment outside, keep it away from direct sunlight to protect it from heat damage. (If you MUST use a dryer, keep your shirt inside out and use a low heat setting until it is dry; remove promptly after the cycle. Do not overdry).
Heat is bad for a graphic tee! See Step 7 above, and never iron directly on the graphic or expose the print to direct heat.
"People don't think twice about tossing a graphic tee in with a regular load, and that's usually what shortens its life," says Tom Ceconi, President of Heritage Park Laundry Essentials. "Heat and harsh detergents are the real enemies of a screen print. If you turn the shirt inside out, wash it cool, and skip the dryer, that design can last for years — we've seen it firsthand with our own well-worn favorites."
Most graphic tees can be laundered by machine. However, some older or delicate fabrics may do better with hand washing. In this case, fill a tub or basin with cool to lukewarm water; add a small amount of Heritage Park All-Purpose Detergent, and swish to dissolve. Submerge your tee in the soapy water and gently agitate for a minute or two. Allow the shirt to sit for 10 to 15 minutes; gently rub the fabric to remove any residual dirt or stains, paying special attention to the armpit areas. Rinse in cool water, and DO NOT wring out. Instead, gently squeeze out excess water before blotting with a lint-free towel. Air dry, as noted above, which is especially important for cotton tees since heat can make them shrink.
Heritage Park Sensitive Skin All-Purpose is ideal for washing tee shirts and all your household laundry. This pH-neutral, plant-based, concentrated formula is gentle on fabric and sensitive skin. It contains no dyes, sulfates, phosphates, optical brighteners, chlorine bleach, or harsh chemicals. It cleans and cares for fabric with a proprietary blend of enzymes that break down and remove stains, dirt, and odors.
Heritage Park Sensitive Skin All-Purpose Detergent EWG Verified and EPA Safer Choice certified (the only detergent on the market to hold both prestigious designations). It is also lab-certified hypoallergenic and pediatrician- and dermatologist-tested with zero reactions in human subject RIPT testing (the industry standard). Choose from Fragrance-free or gently scented Lavender Mist, Spring Magnolia, or Shore Breeze scents.
At Heritage Park, we are dedicated to caring for fine fabrics. Recognizing that many commercially available "gentle detergents" either damage delicate textiles or fail to remove stains, we were inspired to create a better solution. Our specially formulated detergents strike the perfect balance of powerful yet safe ingredients, effectively removing tough, set-in stains while remaining gentle on luxury linens. We offer two main types of detergent: an All-Purpose Detergent suitable for everyday fabrics, and a Silk & Wool Detergent designed specifically for these delicate materials. We invite you to connect with us at (800) 977-1841 or visit our store in Branford, CT with any product feedback or cleaning questions.
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