How to Prevent Your T-shirt Graphics from Cracking and Fading

What makes t-shirt printing exciting isn’t just the colour combination but also the graphics printed on them. But when you live in a country like Singapore, where the sun is always scorching and blazing, your t-shirts are constantly at risk.

There’s nothing more upsetting than to find a perfectly designed graphic on your favourite t-shirt cracking after a couple of wears. It’s no surprise then that we’re constantly finding questions from online forums like Reddit and Quora, where people are asking for ways to protect their t-shirts.

Thankfully, there are several t-shirt care guidelines you can follow to lengthen the lifespan of your t-shirts so you don’t have to buy a new one every other week.

#1. Turn Inside Out

I’m not sure why some find it ridiculous to take a couple of seconds to flip their t-shirts before washing, but it is definitely the best practice if you want to extend their lifespan. Just think about it, inside the washing machine, your t-shirts are crashing and scratching against each other. The graphics are highly at risk. Instead, the simple act of flipping it inside out acts like a “shield” during each wash.

#2. Wash With Cold Water

Washing your t-shirts in warm water is one of the most common mistakes people make when washing their t-shirts. A quick 15-minute soak in hot water can strip away the natural oils from the fibres of your t-shirts, resulting in more wrinkling and the deterioration of the graphics. As long as your t-shirts are only lightly soiled, you can wash them with cold water to keep them in good condition.

#3. Use Only the Necessary Amount of Detergent

There’s nothing wrong with using fabric softener to help your t-shirts retain their shape and softness. But don’t use too much because too much detergent may also cause some discolouration on the fabric. Use the minimum amount of detergent so that your t-shirts last longer. If you have sensitive skin, you can also choose to use a t-shirt care product with hypoallergenic ingredients instead of fabric softeners.

#4. Dry Your Tees Away from Direct Sunlight

The heat in Singapore, especially in the sun, will stretch your t-shirt material to its limits and can create your t-shirt sleeves to lose their tautness and elasticity. They become floppy and limp under the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, for many of our houses, especially older units, they’re East- and West-facing. This means we’re getting harsh sunlight shining in from morning till evening.

Leaving your t-shirt lying around the house could expose it to the blazing wear and tear effect from the sun’s rays.

Thankfully, there are solutions you can adopt to reduce these harmful rays and protect not just your tees but also the furniture around your home.

One such solution is from our sister company, Resolvio, where we specialise in different shades of window films to help homes retain their comfort throughout the day. We’ve brought in high-quality solar films from the top technology companies around the world, including 3M window films.

If you need advice or window film solutions to help keep the heat out of your homes, do visit Resolvio and we’ll be glad to provide you with more tips and ideas to protect not just your t-shirts but your home as well.

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