Do you ever find yourself frustrated after making a sublimation mistake on a sippy cup? Maybe you forgot to reverse the image or put the paper upside-down, and now you’re stuck with a flawed design.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to throw the cup away! In this article, I’ll show you a simple and easy-to-follow 7-step method to fix sublimation mistakes on sippy cups using just your household convection oven.
With this method, you’ll be able to salvage your cups and reuse them with a new sublimation design. No need to worry about harsh chemicals or expensive equipment – all you need is a sippy cup, a convection oven, and a bit of patience.
So, let’s get started!
Tools and Optional Supplies
Tools:
- Sippy cup (the one that you messed up)
- Convection oven or Sublimation oven
- Sublimation design
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What are sublimation designs?
Sublimation designs are graphic designs that use high heat to transfer the design onto a material.
Once you know how sublimation works it’s easier to figure out how to undo the process and fix your mistakes.
How Do You Remove Sublimation
Let’s say you forgot to reverse the image or put the paper upside-down. Now you’re wondering if you can remove and replace it with another design.
If you make a mistake it’s possible to save and reuse the sippy cup.
You can try the 7-step method below.
Re-bake the Sippy Cup
If you’ve ever made a sublimation mistake, you know that it can be really frustrating.
All hope is not lost. You can save the sippy cup with an oven. Let’s get to baking!
Convection Oven Method
You’ll need a convection oven to rebake your sippy cup.
The reason why you’ll use a convection oven instead of a regular oven is for the even distribution of heat.
You already know that high heat is needed for sublimation printing. So, it’s understandable that you can also use it to remove a design.
Steps to Fix a Sublimation Sippy Cup
1. Set your oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the sippy cup in a convection oven.
3. Set your timer to 60 minutes.
4. Check for signs of fading after 5 – 10 minutes.
5. Leave the sippy cup in and check it every 15 minutes.
6. Remove the sippy cup using protective heat gloves and let it cool
7. Apply a new sublimation transfer to the sippy cup using a convection or sublimation oven.
You may need 15 – 30 extra minutes to fade the existing design from the sippy cup. Put it in for an hour. Don’t forget to check in on it while it’s re-baking.
If it’s faded enough after an hour, place the sippy cup back in the oven for another 15 minutes.
Can You Use Vinegar to Remove Sublimation?
You don’t want to remove the special coating that makes the sippy cup able to be sublimated in the first place.
So, avoid using vinegar or harsh chemicals like rubbing alcohol or acetone.
Do You Need to Pre-Soak?
There’s no need to soak the sippy cup before baking it again. Feel free to skip the pre-soaking step.
Brown Spots
If your sippy cup is made of ceramic, there may be some brown spots on the bottom of the cup or the inside of it. If you don’t mind that, then go ahead and try this method.
Tips Avoid Mistakes with Sublimation Ink
Follow these tips to avoid making mistakes in the first place:
- size the design correctly
- line up the sublimation transfer properly
- double-check the direction of the transfer
Pro Tip – Always wear heat gloves to protect your hands.
Do you have any other tips to fix sublimation mistakes on sippy cups? Let me know.
Have you been using your kitchen oven and you’re ready to upgrade? Check out my post on how to find the best sublimation ovens.
Want to save this for later? Pin it to your favorite DIY board on Pinterest!
Feel free to save this post to your sublimation tips board on Pinterest so that you can come back to it later when you need it.
Conclusion
Don’t you dare toss those sublimation design fails into the trash just yet! I know, I know, you thought they were doomed to collect dust in the back of your cupboard, but now you know the secret to fix them.
Those sippy cups, glass cans, and coffee mugs are not a lost cause after all!
With a little bit of patience and some good old-fashioned elbow grease, you can revive them from their sublimation grave and bring them back to life.
Need more tips to make sublimation projects like a pro? Check out my post on the right amount of time needed to sublimate a tumbler.
