Screen printing may leave t-shirts feeling stiff, rigid, and less enjoyable to wear as a result. Fortunately, softening your screen printed shirt at home is not as challenging as you thought. This article will give you simple methods and care guides from washing, ironing techniques to using home remedies like vinegar, baking soda, and salt to transform a stiff tee into its original softness effortlessly.
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Using White Vinegar to Soften Your Shirt
Vinegar is one of the best home remedies for every home to fix stiff screen printed shirts quickly. This is a natural fabric softener that you can take advantage of by breaking down stiffness in fabrics without damaging the print, then enhancing the feeling of softness and comfort when you wear your favorite tee.
First, you’ll start pouring a cup of white vinegar to cold water and leave your screen printed shirt in the mixture within half an hour. After soaking, you’ll rinse the shirt with cold water and air dry the shirt naturally.
Pros:
- Natural fabric softener
- Safe to soften screen printed shirt without damaging the print
- Always available in every home
Cons:
- Smell strong
- Soaking time can be time-consuming
Using Salt to Soften Your Shirt
You can soften your shirt at home by simply using salt with water and submerge the screen printed shirt in the saltwater for around 30 minutes. Then rinse the shirt with cold water and hang it to air dry. Salt is an excellent natural fabric softener because it can loosen the fibers and make the shirt more softer after multiple uses.
Pros:
- Straightforward method for softening screen printed shirts
- Gentle on fabric and print
- Popular household ingredient
Cons:
- May not work on extreme stiff shirts
Using Baking Soda to Soften Your Shirt
Baking soda can be an excellent method to soften fabrics at home, making it more comfortable to wear when it is mixed with a small amount of water to form a paste. Then you can use the baking soda paste to rub directly on the screen printed area of your shirt and leave the paste on the shirt for about 15 minutes.
Finally, you wash your shirt with cold water as usual.
Pros:
- Natural fabric softener
- Safe for screen printed shirts
- Deodorizing the fabric effectively
Cons:
- Less effective on very stiff shirts
Using Fabric Softeners to Soften Your Shirt
In addition to taking advantage of natural fabric softeners from home remedies, fabric softeners also work best for softening screen printed shirts. They are designed to relax the fibers, reduce stiffness, and enhance comfort when you wear printed shirts over time.
It is important to note that you should turn your screen printed shirt inside out before using the fabric softener to protect the print. By using this method, you can use the washing machine and set a gentle cycle with mild detergent for delicate fabrics.
Please check the usage of the fabric softener to avoid damaging the print. You can air dry the shirt or use a low heat setting in the dryer after washing.
Pros:
- Work best for softening screen printed shirts quickly.
- Easy to use
- Pleasant scent
Cons:
- Incorrect use may leave residues
- Chemicals in fabric softeners may be not suitable for sensitive fabrics.
- May damage the print if not used properly.
Washing Techniques
To keep your favorite tee soft after wearing, you also need to ensure a correct washing technique at home. There are several tips to keep an eye out for washing your screen printed shirt:
- Turn the shirt inside out to protect the print
- Use a detergent specifically designed for the fabric of your shirt.
- Wash shirts in cold water to prevent the print cracking or fading
- Set the gentle wash cycle on your washing machine
- Air dry or lay the shirt flat to prevent wrinkles after washes.
Ironing Tips for Softening Your Screen Printed Shirt
Proper ironing also matters when it comes to maintaining the softness of your favorite shirt over time. Remember to turn the shirt inside out before ironing to avoid direct heat on the print.
It’s essential to check the label care of the shirt to set the iron in a suitable heat for the specific fabric of your shirt. You may place a thin cloth over the print area to offer an extra layer of protection before ironing the shirt.
Note that you should avoid prolonged exposure to heat directly on the print to cause any damage. Then cool down your shirt before you wear or store it.
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The stiffness in screen printed shirts may come from the type of ink and the curing process. Over time, the roughness may diminish as the shirt is worn and washed multiple times.
Yes, fabric softener is one of the most effective methods to smooth and relax the fabric, then reduce stiffness and make the fabric feel softer against the skin. However, you should check instructions carefully to avoid damaging the print if used incorrectly.
Yes. Your screen printed shirt can be damaged if you overuse the fabric softener. This leads to print t-shirt cracking, peel, and fading over time.
Yes. You should use the low heat setting because high heat may cause cracking or peeling the print. So air drying or tumble drying on low heat is better to maintain your screen printed shirt.
Yes. Vinegar works well on softening your clothes, especially screen printed shirts because it can break down detergent residues and make shirts more comfortable. Check how to use vinegar solution to soften your printed shirt in the article above for details.
Soaking your shirts in vinegar solution overnight can remove stubborn odors and residues, then making the fabric softener. However, leaving a shirt in vinegar water too long may weaken the fiber if you do it frequently on shirts.
