Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is great for decorating t-shirts and other fabrics. But for a fabric to last, you need to know how to take care of it and follow the right instructions.
Often, you’re unsure of how best to care for your vinyl printed materials. Read on to see how to wash and take care of your HTV-decorated clothes.
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Can you wash printable vinyl?
Printable vinyl has a permanent adhesive, which makes it suitable and safe to wash. To increase the lifespan of vinyl products, it’s best to hand wash them.
Handwashing prevents them from ruining. Vinyl printed ceramics are safe to wash in the dishwasher. If you don’t want to worry about peeling vinyl, you can use blank mugs from Cricut together with their Infusible Ink.
Can HTV be washed in a washing machine?
HTV can be washed in a machine. However, it’s good to remember that it was stuck to the clothes using heat, and using more heat in the washer may damage it.
Set the machine temperatures to cold or warm. Ensure that the temperatures don’t get to 80° Celsius. You’re free to tumble dry as long as the temperatures aren’t elevated.
How do you wash and dry HTV?
To wash HTV decorated garments, ensure you turn them inside out before immersing them in water. Do not use bleach or a fabric softener on the fresh vinyl.
If you have to, use a mild washing detergent to take care of stains and dirt. If you need to iron the cloth, make sure not to iron the vinyl parts directly.
Should I wash my shirt before HTV?
No, you shouldn’t. Apart from taking too much of your time washing before applying, HTV may also cause shrinkage. This will eventually mess up with the designs.
If you’re printing the shirts for commercial purposes, washing them gives a ‘used and not new’ feel. The look and feel are different, and this may put off some clients.
Moreover, some people may be allergic to detergents which may cause itching.
How long should I wait before washing HTV?
You should wait for at least 24 hours before washing HTV-decorated clothes.
This prevents the fabric from peeling, cracking, and getting ruined. Only wash once you’re sure that the vinyl is fully dry.
How do I stop printable HTV from fading?
To guarantee the durability of your iron-on heat transfer vinyl, ensure that you have pressed the iron on the fabric for about 5 minutes. The temperatures should be set to about 190° Fahrenheit.
Turn the fabric inside out when washing. This prevents the print from rubbing against the sides of the washing machine.
Do not let the fabric stay soaked in water. Instead, give it a full quick spin. If you have to iron it, do that while it’s still inside out and avoid ironing directly on the prints.
Ways to Use Care Instructions
Now that you know everything you need to care for vinyl, share the information with your clients and loved ones.
Make this fun by printing the care instructions onto your labels. This will make it easy for your customers to care for their HTV products.
