How to care for garments with Iron-on decals.
Now that you have your customised garments decorated with HTV, what comes next? How do you care for your personalised clothing?
Taking care of your heat transfer vinyl decorated creation is a must, let’s talk about some easy things to keep in mind to make sure your garments are well taken care of and last a lifetime!
- Don't wash for at least 24 hours after pressing: HTV needs time to cure since it's adhesive is activated by heat. In order for the adhesive to stick, it needs time to harden and cool without interruption. If you take your garment and immediately wash and dry it, there’s a good chance the vinyl could peel or crack. It is advisable to wait 24-48 hours to wear the shirt as sweat can loosen the adhesive if it is not completely set.
- Don't dry clean: The dry cleaning process has a lot of chemicals and high temperatures that will damage your heat transfer vinyl.
- Wash and dry inside out: This step is recommended for not only the initial wash, but also every wash / dry cycle after that. When washing and drying clothes, they rub against each other and can cause irritation or abrasion of the HTV. If you wash the garments inside out, there is an extra layer of protection between your vinyl and the other clothing in the laundry.
- Choose cold or luke warm water for washing: When washing clothing decorated with HTV, you should never use temperatures that exceed 178 F. If the temperature of the water is too high, it can weaken the adhesive of the vinyl, causing it to peel or crack with time. We recommend washing in cold or luke warm water.
- Use mild detergent: Any detergent that has special additives to "whiten", "fight stains", or "brighten colors" is going to be too harsh for your HTV. We suggest NEVER using bleach or fabric softeners on your decorated garments, to ensure your transfer lasts.
- Don’t iron directly on it: Avoid ironing the garment when possible as it can cause the vinyl or adhesive to melt or burn. If you must iron the shirt, make sure you are using low heat and you have a cloth or towel between the iron and transfer.
If you follow those 6 simple suggestions, your heat transfer vinyl should last the lifetime of your garment!