How to wash a DTG print without cracking it

A DTG print is pigment sitting in and on the fibres, not a plastic layer bonded on top. That is why it feels soft. It is also why heat, abrasion and the wrong detergent destroy it faster than they destroy the garment.

Wash cold, and turn it inside out

Cold water slows pigment loss. Turning the shirt inside out puts the abrasion of the drum against the shirt type, not the print. Both matter more than any detergent brand.

Skip the fabric softener

Softener coats fibres with a waxy film. On a printed area, that film sits over the pigment and dulls it, and over time it traps lint into the print's surface. If a shirt feels stiff after the first wash, a second cold wash without softener will usually fix it.

Do not tumble dry

Heat is the main enemy. A hot dryer shrinks cotton and cracks cured ink at the same time. Hang dry, or use the lowest heat setting if you must.

Iron from the inside

If you iron, do it inside out, on a low setting, and never directly on the print. A hot iron plate bonds the pigment to itself and leaves a permanent gloss mark.

What normal wear looks like

Expect slight softening of the print edges after the first few washes. That is the ink settling into the cloth, not a defect. Cracking, flaking or a white halo is a sign the wash routine was too hot, not that the print was bad.

• Cold wash, 30°C or below
• Inside out, mild detergent, no softener
• Hang dry, away from direct sun
• Iron inside out, low heat, never on the print

Printed to order in Malaysia. Dispatch target is three working days.

Common questions

Can I tumble dry a DTG print?

No. Heat cracks cured ink and shrinks cotton. Hang dry, or use the lowest heat setting if you must.

Will the print crack after a few washes?

A slight softening of the edges is normal. Cracking or flaking means the wash was too hot.