Care & Feeding for Decorated Garments

The Everyday Basics

Turn inside out. Wash cold. Use mild detergent. Air-dry or use low heat. Keep the iron off the design.

Check both the garment's care label and the decorator's instructions. The original clothing label may describe the fabric before a design was added. Choose care that is suitable for both the material and the decoration; ask the seller or decorator if the instructions conflict.

How Long Do Minty Tees DTF Prints Last?

The DTF prints we use at Minty Tees last approximately 40 to 50 machine washes with proper care. Gentle washing and drying help preserve both the print and the garment.

Other printing methods and garments have their own lifespans. The same gentle care habits help them last longer, too.

Washing Printed Garments

• Turn the garment inside out to reduce rubbing against the design.
• Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle with similar colors.
• Use mild detergent without overdoing it. Follow the detergent's recommended amount for the load size and how soiled the clothing is. Extra detergent is not extra protection.
• Skip bleach and fabric softener. Avoid harsh cleaning products on the print.
• Avoid dry cleaning printed garments unless the decorator specifically confirms it is suitable.

Before the First Wash

For a newly applied DTF print, allow at least 24 hours after printing before washing. Follow any longer waiting period specified by the decorator. Ask Minty Tees if you're unsure when your item was printed.

A Note About Fresh DTG Prints

Some newly printed DTG garments have a faint pretreatment mark, a press outline, or a slightly stiff or tacky feel around the design. Pretreatment helps the ink print clearly, and these temporary traces normally wash away in the first wash. If a mark remains afterward, contact the seller or decorator with a photo before trying stronger cleaners.

Drying & Ironing

Air-drying is the gentlest option. If the garment and decoration allow tumble-drying, keep the item inside out and use low heat. Take it out when dry rather than leaving it to bake in the dryer. Avoid high heat and overdrying.

Never iron directly on a printed design. If the fabric needs ironing and its label permits it, turn the garment inside out, use a cool iron, and keep the iron away from the decorated area.

Heat-Transfer Vinyl

The same washing basics apply to vinyl-decorated shirts and hoodies. Drying temperature matters especially: high dryer heat can warp vinyl or cause it to lift and peel. Air-dry or use low heat when permitted.

Storage: Bring It In From the Car

Don't store printed garments in a hot car or trunk for several days. Having a shirt in the car during one workday is different from leaving it in the trunk for a week. Bring it indoors when you get home instead of making the car its storage spot.

A car parked in the sun can get very hot inside. Prolonged or repeated heat exposure can shorten a print's life; on transfer prints such as DTF and vinyl, it can weaken the bond between the design and the fabric. Store garments somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight.

This is good storage advice for DTG, DTF, screen printing, vinyl, and other printed garments from any seller. Embroidery is stitched into the fabric, so the print-bond concern does not apply to stitched embroidery. Follow the garment's own care instructions for its fabric and any other decorations.

What About Embroidery?

Embroidery uses stitched thread, so print-specific instructions do not all apply. Cold water and mild detergent are useful starting points for washable embroidered clothing, but follow the garment maker's and embroiderer's instructions for washing, drying, and ironing. Hats, patches, appliqué, and other specialty decorations can have their own care requirements.

Hats, Bags & Other Items

Hats

Follow the hat's care label. Where spot-cleaning is allowed, use a soft, lightly damp cloth and a little mild detergent. Be gentle around the decoration, avoid scrubbing, and let the hat air-dry in its natural shape. Do not assume a hat is machine-washable.

Tote Bags, Fabric Canvas & Table Drapes

Check the material's label before washing. For machine-washable items, use the gentle print-care basics above and choose the gentler drying method allowed by the label. Do not assume every canvas item or bag can go in the washer.

Wood Blocks, Display Canvas & Other Rigid Items

Start by dusting gently with a soft, dry cloth. Do not soak or machine-wash these items. Cleaning depends on the material and finish, so ask the maker or decorator before using liquid cleaners or solvents on a custom piece.