Caring for Your Custom Apparel, Hats, Jackets, and More...

When you invest in custom apparel from SaRi’s Creations, it’s more than just a piece of clothing; it’s a personal or professional expression. Whether it’s a sharp, custom-embroidered hat for your business, a bedazzled jacket for a special event, or a screen-printed tee for your local sports team, caring for these pieces ensures they look amazing for years to come.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share expert tips on how to care for embroidered items, screen-printed garments, HTV designs, direct-to-film (DTF) transfers, and even bedazzled, rhinestone, or sequin garments. Having worked on these types of apparel for over two decades, I’ve learned a lot about how to preserve the life and beauty of custom clothing. Ready to learn more? Great....Let’s dive in!

Dirty laundry piled up next to a washing machine

Caring for Custom Embroidered Apparel

Embroidery is durable and classy, but it’s still important to care for it correctly to prevent fraying or dulling over time. Here’s how you can keep your embroidered garments looking as vibrant and pristine as when they left our shop...

Washing Tips:

Turn Inside Out: One of the simplest tricks is to always turn embroidered garments inside out before washing. This reduces friction on the thread during the wash cycle.
Cold Water & Gentle Cycle: Use cold water and a gentle cycle on your washing machine. Hot water can cause the fabric to shrink and the threads to loosen or bleed.
Mild Detergents Only: Harsh detergents, bleach, or fabric softeners can fade or weaken the thread over time. Stick to mild, non-toxic detergents.
Avoid High Heat: Air-drying is always the safest option, as high heat can damage the embroidery. If you need to use the dryer, use a low heat setting and remove the item while it’s still slightly damp to air-dry the rest of the way.

Pro Tip from SaRi’s Creations:
One of our frequent customers, Joe, runs a local landscaping company. His team wears custom embroidered caps with their logo. Joe told me that the caps still looked fresh after a few months of weekly washes. His trick? A quick hand wash and laying them out flat to air dry instead of using the machine. It’s a small step that makes a big difference for high-wear items like caps.

Caring for Screen-Printed Garments

Screen printing creates vibrant, colorful designs, but improper washing can lead to cracking, fading, or peeling. Here’s how to ensure your screen-printed garments look as sharp as the day you got them...

Washing Tips:

Turn Inside Out: As with embroidery, turning screen-printed items inside out before washing protects the design from wear and tear.
Cold Water & Gentle Cycle: Cold water is key to preventing the ink from cracking or fading, and a gentle cycle reduces friction that could break down the print.
Avoid Harsh Detergents: Strong detergents can break down the ink, so stick with something gentle.
Hang to Dry: Avoid the dryer if you can. Heat is the enemy of screen-printed designs. Air-drying or hang-drying is ideal to keep the ink from cracking. If you must use the dryer, use low heat.

Pro Tip from One of Our Team Members:

She once had a favorite band tee that she adored, but sadly, she used to wash it on the regular hot cycle without thinking twice. After only a few washes, the design started to crack and peel. Since then, she’s advocated for air-drying screen-printed items, keeping her collection of graphic tees looking as good as new!

Caring for Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) Apparel

HTV designs are popular because they’re versatile and customizable, making them ideal for T-shirts and hoodies. While HTV is durable, it’s still a good idea to follow proper care instructions to keep the vinyl looking crisp.

Washing Tips:

Turn Inside Out: Vinyl designs can stick or crack if rubbed against other fabrics, so always wash them inside out.

Cold Water & Delicate Cycle: Cold water and a delicate cycle ensure that the vinyl stays firmly attached to the fabric. Hot water or harsh cycles can cause the vinyl to peel or warp.
Air Dry When Possible: Like screen printing, HTV doesn’t do well with high heat. Air-drying is your best bet. If you’re using a dryer, stick to the lowest heat setting.

Personal Tip from Rita (That’s Me!):
I love making custom HTV shirts, but I used to make a common mistake when caring for them. Early on, I was in a rush and threw a custom vinyl hoodie into the dryer on high heat—oops! The vinyl warped slightly, and I’ve learned my lesson. Now I always hang-dry HTV items, and I even lightly press the design with an iron (using a thin cloth on top) to keep it looking crisp!

"DTF Direct-to-Film" example - TexasGirl design on white tee shirt

Caring for Direct-to-Film (DTF) Transfers

DTF prints are increasingly popular for their vibrant colors and ability to handle fine details. DTF is more delicate than some other techniques, so proper care is a must to keep the design intact.

Washing Tips:

Turn Inside Out: Just like the others, always turn your DTF-printed garments inside out to protect the design.
Cold Water & Gentle Cycle: DTF transfers can peel if exposed to too much agitation, so use a gentle wash cycle with cold water.
Air-Dry is Best: High heat can cause the DTF transfer to peel away from the fabric. Air-drying is the best option, but if you must use the dryer, low heat is a must.

Customer Tip:
One of our clients ordered a batch of DTF-printed shirts for a family reunion. After accidentally washing one of the shirts in hot water, she noticed the design starting to peel. To fix it, she placed a sheet of parchment paper over the print and used an iron to re-adhere the design. It worked like a charm!

Rhinestone bling christmas joy to the world gray shirt

Caring for Bedazzled, Rhinestone, or Sequin Garments

Adding rhinestones, crystals, or sequins to your garments makes them stand out, but these decorative elements can be delicate if not cared for properly. Proper handling can keep them from loosening or losing their sparkle.

Washing Tips:

Hand Wash or Use a Delicate Cycle: Hand-washing is ideal for items with rhinestones, crystals, or sequins. If using a washing machine, place the garment in a mesh laundry bag and set the machine to the delicate cycle.
Air-Dry Only: Avoid putting these garments in the dryer. Heat can loosen the adhesive that holds the rhinestones or sequins in place. Lay flat or hang-dry to preserve the embellishments.
Avoid Rubbing or Scrubbing: Be gentle when washing bedazzled garments. Scrubbing can cause sequins or rhinestones to fall off or lose their luster.

Personal Story from SaRi’s Creations:
A few years ago, we made a gorgeous rhinestone-encrusted jacket for a local dance team. One of the moms told me how she accidentally threw it in the wash with regular laundry and found rhinestones everywhere! Now, she religiously hand-washes all of the team’s costumes, and they’ve lasted through performance after performance, still shining just as bright!

Final Thoughts

Taking care of custom apparel doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does require a bit of extra attention. Whether you’ve ordered embroidered caps, screen-printed T-shirts, HTV hoodies, DTF transfers, or blinged-out jackets, following these care instructions will keep your custom pieces looking fresh for years to come.

At SaRi’s Creations, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality custom apparel that not only looks great but lasts. We take pride in every piece we create, and we want you to enjoy them for as long as possible. If you ever have questions about how to care for your custom items, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help!

Written on behalf of: Rita Von Arb
© SaRi's Creations

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