Will my screen-printed shirt fade? How do I prevent this from happening? These are two questions that people ask. People are often concerned about screen prints fading and whether or not to print them.

Here we will answer all of these questions. And discuss whether the washing machine can wash out your screen prints and how to prevent that from happening.

Will Screen Printing Ink Wash Out in Washing Machine?

It depends on the ink used during the printing process. Two main types of ink used are water-based ink and plastisol ink. Water-based ink is a mixture of water and an organic dye. The organic pigment is the part that reacts with the fabric and creates your design.

Plastisol ink is a mixture of water, resin, and pigment. The resin and pigment are the parts that will wash out after repeated washes. This is because they can no longer react with the fabric to create your design.

Both inks will not fade well washing if the screen printing process is done correctly. However, Plastisol ink will fade out faster as it is more vulnerable to washing.

Will the washing machine wash it out? Yes, but this is very unlikely.

How Do I Prevent Screen Printing Ink From Fading?

The following are steps you can take to protect your work:

1. Hand wash

Washing by hand is the best way to protect your screen print from fading. This is because there is a significantly lower risk of rubbing or scrubbing, which causes the ink to fade. It is also a gentler process that allows you to care for your shirt in its own right.

2. Cold wash

Cold washing should be your first choice when trying to protect your design. This is because cold water is unable to dissolve the ink. So instead, the ink will not fade. A cold wash can only remove the ink if it’s soaked in vinegar or bleach.

3. Turn inside out

Turning your shirt inside out is the simplest way to protect yourself from fading. This is because you will no longer use ink to create your design. So the ink will not rub off onto other garments in your washer.

4. Don’t iron the print

Refrain from ironing your shirt. Ironing will not only damage the print, but it causes ink fading.

What Causes Screen-Printing Ink to Fade?

The following are the significant factors that cause the ink to fade:

1. Wash Method

Washing with hot water and bleach is one of the reasons for fading. This is because hot water will dissolve the ink. You should not wash your design using bleach or any detergent.

2. Fibrillation

Fibrillation is when the cloth is worn out by rubbing, scrubbing, and friction. This also causes friction, which can rub out the ink in your design. Fibrillation can occur while using a washer.

Worry No More!

With a reputable screen printing company, you can rest easy knowing that your shirt will not fade. A reputable company will have professional standards when printing.