How to wash a printed tee
Eros BroussonFounder · Austin, Texas
A water-based print is tougher than it looks and softer than a plastic one. It survives almost everything except heat.
The three rules
Cold wash. Inside out. No tumble dryer. That is the whole method, and it takes no extra effort once it is a habit.
Cold water keeps the cotton from shrinking and the ink from moving. Inside out means the print rubs against your shirt rather than the drum. Air drying does the rest.
The thing that ruins it
An iron directly on the print. Heat is the one thing water-based ink will not forgive — it softens, sticks and comes away with the iron. If a piece needs it, iron the fabric around the graphic or turn it inside out and press from the back.
Everything else is survivable. Heat on the print is not.
Why the fabric matters here
At 250 gsm the cotton has enough body to keep its shape through a lot of washes, which is really what makes an old tee look good rather than tired. Treated the way above, the artwork will outlive the shirt.
The short version
- Cold wash, inside out, no tumble dryer.
- Never iron directly on the print — heat is the only real risk.
- Air drying keeps both the cotton and the graphic intact.
- 250 gsm cotton holds its shape through repeated washes.
French, based in Austin, Texas. Writes the posts, draws the designs, prints the runs and answers contact@broissant.co. Usually the same day.
Read the full story →
