Category Archives: Clothing Care and Stain Removal

How to Care for your Clothing and Tips, Ideas, How-to Remove stains from your t-shirts and clothing

Using Bleach on T-Shirts

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Everyone has T-shirts in their wardrobe and some of us have numerous T-shirts. Taking good care of them is important to making sure they look good, so that you will want to continue to wear them. For the most part, T-shirts are easy to care for, because they are simply wash and wear type garments. Simply toss them into the washing machine and dryer, or hang them to dry, and they are ready to wear. Ironing is usually a personal choice when it comes to T-shirts, especially if you use a dryer, because they usually come out wrinkle-free.

However, from time to time your T-shirts start to look grungy or have stains from who knows where. You can either toss them out, use them for cleaning rags or make an attempt at cleaning them up so you can continue enjoying them. Sometimes we get so attached to our T-shirts that we want to keep enjoying them as long as possible. The key to cleaning them up when they get to that sorry state is usually bleach. The first thing to do is check the care label inside the shirt to see what its recommendations on bleach are. If there is nothing warning against it, then go ahead and use bleach in your washer to clean those nasty T-shirts.

Chlorine bleach can be used on white T-shirts that have no warnings against it. It is the most powerful and effective type of bleach available. A little will definitely go a long way in cleaning a T-shirt. In fact to do it properly, you should pour a measured amount of bleach into your washer with your laundry detergent, and then fill the washer with water. Only after the bleach has been diluted should you add your clothing. Run the washer as usual. Just running one cycle with bleach added may be enough to clean your T-shirt properly. If not, try the same process again, but after your T-shirt agitates in the bleach water, turn it off and let it soak. Then let it finish the cycle. Your shirt should be super clean. Be careful not to let a T-shirt sit in bleach for too long and do not pour bleach directly onto it. Doing so may result in the bleach eating up the fabric and you will have defeated the whole purpose.

If you have a colored T-shirt or a white T-shirt that says not to use chlorine bleach on the label, you can opt for color-safe bleach. Use it in the same way you would regular bleach and you clothes will definitely come cleaner than with detergent alone. Do not expect the dramatic results that chlorine bleach can provide however, because it is just not as strong. There is now a special bleach on the market for dark clothes to guard against color fading.

Another thing to keep in mind when using any kind of bleach is to test it first on a hidden part of the garment. Doing so may help you avoid ruining an item of clothing that you like. Sometimes, even if the label does not warn against bleach, it can still harm certain things.

Get a custom-made T-shirt today to replace the ones that time or bleach have worn out on you. With the endless possibilities of things to print on one, you can have fun creating a personalized, totally unique new favorite T-shirt.

Is My T-shirt preshrunk? It Pays to Know

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Most T-shirts today are preshrunk. It just makes sense to have them sold that way. You get the benefit of knowing more accurately how your shirt will fit once you get it home, wash it and want to wear it. It also gives the fabric a much softer feel and anything printed on it will be more accurately positioned if the shirt is preshrunk.

When fabric is preshrunk prior to production it is much more accurate to work with during sewing. T-shirt fabric is preshrunk in huge batches in specially designed washing machines and dryers that are used solely for these purposes. It is done in order to remove excess dyes and chemicals, bring the fabric closer to the actual size it will be once the consumer gets it and make it more pliable for working with.

The best and easiest way to find out if your T-shirt is preshrunk is by reading the tags. Usually tags attached to the shirt for sales purposes will tell you if the item is preshrunk. The inside tag with size and laundry directions may also tell you. Preshrunk T-shirts are a sign of higher quality manufacturing. The maker of the shirt wants to produce a better quality garment and has therefore added a step to the production process that will insure that.

Regardless of whether or not your T-shirt is pre-shrunk, there is usually still room for more shrinkage. This is particularly true with T-shirts that are 100% cotton or a cotton-blend with a high percentage of cotton. Therefore, you should keep the shrinkage factor in mind when you are purchasing even preshrunk T-shirts. Buy them a little larger than you like to wear them and then wash them when you get them home to bring them down to the size that you want them to be. Be careful to purchase the correct size with this in mind because many retailers will not return items that have been washed.

It is so frustrating to buy a shirt that you really like and wear it, only to discover that it is not preshrunk. When you wash it for that first time, it shrinks and you can no longer wear the shirt anymore, or you can but are not as comfortable in it, because it has lost the shape and size you wanted. It is an annoying and costly mistake when you buy a shirt that is not preshrunk and you only get to wear it once. T-shirts that are not preshrunk, especially cotton ones, may as well be called disposable shirts or shrink and wear shirts, so that the consumer is aware of what he or she is getting.

When you are looking for a custom-made T-shirt, your best choice is a preshrunk shirt. Whatever you choose to have printed on it will turn out better and will be more naturally placed. Your custom-made T-shirt will show its high quality by how good it looks and how long it will last. Make the smart choice and get a custom-made preshrunk T-shirt today.

How to Preserve Your Autographed T-shirt

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Having an autographed t-shirt is special. Whether that t-shirt is signed by a famous person or just by some of your greatest friends you will want to take care of you shirt to have it for a long time. Without taking proper precautions to preserve your autographed t-shirt, you run the risk of having it wear out, fade and destroyed. Taking care of your t-shirt will allow you to enjoy it for years and depending on the autograph allowing you to profit from it later.

If your shirt has been signed in permanent marker you may be able to preserve it easier than if the ink is from a regular pen. One way to protect your autographed shirt is by not washing it obviously! However, that isn’t very fun, so thankfully there are a few other ideas that may help you keep your autograph from fading. One suggestion is to cover the autograph with a clear paint designed for fabrics. This paint may allow the autograph to remain unscathed during washing. One suggestions however, test it on another piece of fabric over the same type of ink and wash several times to ensure it will work for your t-shirt.

Another great option is to simply hand wash the t-shirt with very mild soap such as Woolite or detergent designed for baby clothes. You can also use the gentle cycle if you prefer, but run the risk of the machine damaging the shirt. Do not dry in the dryer though as that might harm the ink. Instead, lay flat to dry or hang on a line in the shade until dry. Craftgaurd is also a product that can be sprayed over the signature to help protect it. This is available at most craft and fabric stores. For best results though washing on the gentle cycle might be warranted.

The best way to ensure the autograph will not fade is to simply not wash it. Hang it in a frame under glass to admire it on your wall. There are also companies that will preserve your clothing in a box that is designed to keep all air and bugs out to keep the clothing in near perfect condition. This option can be quite expensive though and may not work the way you want it to. If you choose to use a preservation company make sure to investigate the company to ensure that they offer the exact services you require.

Not wearing the shirt really is the best way to keep your t-shirt from fading or staining, ruining the effect the autograph provides. Preserving your autographed t-shirt will allow you to enjoy your collectible for years to come. You may even profit from the shirt later on if the autograph becomes worth money. So take your time and choose what method works best for your needs. If you choose to wear your shirt, take your time in washing it with gentle detergents and don’t put it through a dryer. Your shirt is your memory of that particular event in your life and will be a reminder for years to come.

How to Remove Deodorant Stains from the Underarms of Black T-Shirts

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There is nothing quite as noticeable and embarrassing as underarm deodorant stains on a black T-shirt. It always seems to happen when we are in a rush or going somewhere special or with your absolute favorite black T-shirt. To make things worse, it’s not easy to remove such stains and you need to pay particular attention when laundering the item. Below you will find some tips on making sure you get rid of those annoying marks. There are also some emergency tips to get rid of them when you have nothing to change into or have already left home before you realize that you have deodorant streaks.

When washing your black T-shirt, follow these great tips to get rid of deodorant stains.

Option #1
Put ammonia on a cloth or paper towel and apply it to the stain as a treatment to remove the white deodorant stain. Wash as usual. Be careful not to inhale the ammonia.

Option #2
Apply enzyme activated laundry detergent to the stain and let it sit for a while, before laundering the T-shirt in more of the same detergent.

Option #3
Remove the T-shirt as soon as possible to clean it. Pre-treat the area with a commercially made stain treatment or a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and water and gently rub the area. Wash the shirt in the hottest water possible.

Option #4
The environmentally friendly way to remove deodorant stains from black T-shirts is with salt. Wet the area with the stain and pour some table salt on it, rub it into the stain to erase it. Then add a little extra salt to the wash water and wash the shirt as usual. A pricier version, but still environmentally friendly, is to use vodka as a pre-treatment on deodorant stains and rub it in a little. If the stain has been there a while, you may need to let the vodka sit on it for a couple of hours. Wash as usual.

If you need the stain off now because you want to wear the black T-shirt, there is an immediate fix to the problem. Take a black cotton sock and rub the deodorant stain until it comes out. Sounds too easy to be true. Try it and see. Turning the T-shirt inside out and rubbing the deodorant stain with the inside of the fabric will usually remove the stain too. Do not try removing the stain with water and paper towels, because this only leads to disaster. Little white fibers will be stuck to your black shirt from the paper towel and when the water dries the stain will still be there.

So now that you have the inside edge on getting rid of those nasty white streaks that deodorant can leave on your favorite black T-shirt, you are ready to start wearing it every chance you get. Get yourself some new custom-made black T-shirts too, because they are always in style. Then wear them confidently knowing that your deodorant is not ruining your look.

How to Get Beer Stains Out of T-Shirts

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Got beer stains on your favorite T-shirt? What’s a beer lover to do? There are many different recommended ways however some of my personal favorites involve not removing it at all. You can make a note in fabric paint about where you were/what you were doing when you got your beer stain. Wash it as usual without treating the beer stain and then use the tee as your official beer-drinking shirt. You can even mark future beer stains similarly until your T-shirt becomes a souvenir of many a party. If you are serious about removing beer stains though, two popular methods are outlined below.

Technique #1

If you really do want to remove beer stains from your T-shirt, here is one method of how to do so. As soon as possible after the spill occurs, remove the shirt. Rinse it thoroughly with cold water from the inside of the shirt, to remove as much of the stain as possible. Then make a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and cold water and apply it to the beer stain for a minimum of 5 minutes, then rinse. If the stain is still visible, make a mixture of 1 part vinegar with 2 parts of water and apply that to it carefully. Rinse it out immediately because if not, the vinegar will bleach the shirt. Wash as usual, according to the instructions on the tag of the T-shirt.

Technique #2

Another highly recommended method also involves vinegar. Rinse the shirt in cold water as soon as possible after the stain occurs and keep the shirt wet until the stain is gone or you may inadvertently let it set in. Mix together a stain treatment that consists of 2 cups of cold water, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. The key is choosing the right dishwashing detergent; make sure it is clear or white in color, has no bleach, perfumes, or moisturizers. Lightly apply the mixture to the stain with a white or light-colored cloth. Do not rub it in, as the rubbing action may damage the fabric. Wash as usual. This mixture is a great pre-treatment for most food and beverage stains.

In reality, beer is a relatively easy stain to remove. However, it can be more difficult if it is one of the darker beers, because there is more pigment to remove. Here are some additional beer stain removal tips to keep in mind. You should definitely not use hot water when attempting to remove a beer stain as it will instead cause the stain to set in. Using bar soap also makes it more difficult to remove beer stains, so stick with liquid detergents. Be patient but act quickly and use one of the two techniques described above and in no time, your favorite T-shirt will be beer stain free.

Better yet, get yourself a custom-made T-shirt and have it printed with something fun like “My official beer drinking shirt,” “Ask me where I got these beer stains,” or “Like my clean shirt? Ask me how to remove beer stains.”

Wash and Wear or Not to Wash and Wear T-Shirts? – That is the Question

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Do you need to wash your T-shirt before you wear it for the very first time? That is very much a debatable question. Ask a group of people and you will get some who say yes and others who say no and many who will say does it even matter. In reality, washing your new T-shirt before you wear it for the first time is a good idea for several reasons.

Often there is excess dye in T-shirts and other clothing items. By washing them before wearing them for the first time, you will remove the most of the extra dye and will not have the problem of the dye rubbing onto other clothes and your skin. Just be careful to wash the shirt by itself for the first wash, especially if it is a vivid or unusual color. If you want to set the color and make sure it does not run or lose its vividness, many people suggest adding a cup of vinegar to the water during the first wash.

Most T-shirts now come preshrunk, however there is still some room for additional shrinkage, which needs to be taken into account when you purchase a tee. Washing it before you wear it ensures that the T-shirt is at the right size you want it to be, since often we buy them a little large. This is particularly true if the T-shirt is 100% cotton. Another tip to keep in mind is in order to keep your T-shirt looking its best, reduce visible wear and protect anything that is printed on it, T-shirts should be turned inside out for washing and drying.

Another reason to wash T-shirts or any clothing before wearing it is because it has been manipulated in a variety of places from manufacturing to packaging to the retail store. It may have come into contact with all types of germs or unhygienic conditions. If you have allergies like one to dust mites, it is even more important to wash your T-shirts before wearing them. There may even be chemicals on the shirt that may cause sensitivities. Pay particular attention to washing clothes before wearing them if you tend to have skin conditions like eczema, any contact allergies and skin sensitivities.

Many people suggest that you should wash a T-shirt, or any item of clothes before you wear it simply because you don’t know who tried it on before you. (This may also be a good reason not to try on clothes at all before buying, but we all do that.) By buying custom-made T-shirts from a company that produces them just for you and sends them directly to your home, you don’t have to worry about that. They haven’t been hanging around in a store and no one has tried them on before you.

Get yourself a custom-made T-shirt today, made exactly how you want it to be. Just don’t forget to wash it before you wear it!