Thread: paint on t-shirt fade after washing

After I finish with the design on a shirt I spary a clear top coat both inside and out and then iron both to set paint (or thats what I think Im doing) but at the first washing it begins to fade a lot...HELP

could be a few things, are you handwashing the shirt? is the paint tshirt paint(i know, dumb question but just in case), is the paint a bit old?

don, thanks for your reply...the paint Im using is Badger air-tex and air-opaque...the gloss top coat is Createx airbrush colors...

Sabreghost, thanks for your help, I have not hand washed a shirt (should I be)? and the paint is no more than 3 months old...

Jammer, thanks for the tip...

Originally Posted by Sunday Money

Sabreghost, thanks for your help, I have not hand washed a shirt (should I be)? and the paint is no more than 3 months old...

I read or heard somewhere to treat the artwork like a stain on the shirt. don't do anything you would do to remove a stain if that makes sense

all paint will fade no matter what they are. The best way to heat set is with a Heat Press (very expensive) I find the paint sets in a lot better and lasts longer. Top coating with clear is a good idea and the best I have ever used is Aqua-Flow top binder. Coast has a product that is a spray can called Save T and I have heard good feed back. Sabregost is right about hand washing it will last the longest. I turn my shirts inside out and was them in Cold Delicate cycle then I hang dry them. THE DRYER IS THE WORST ENAMY. I have never had much succese with Createx Top Coat.

How are you washing your shirts or garments?
Do you turn them inside out when you wash them?
Do you avoid putting them in the wash with clothing that has zippers or other things that will abraid/scrub the artwork?
Do you use hot water, warm, or cold?
Do you use bleach or cleaners like Oxiclean?

Turning them inside out helps by giving the artwork a barrier by using the clothing article itself as a protective shield against other clothing articles. But clothing gets agitated in the typical washer, so it can turn itself rightside out during the wash. Zippers, buttons, and other surfaces act like a rasp or sandpaper, scrubbing away your artwork as the clothing is washed or dried.
Cleaners like bleach will obiously do damage to any colored garment, whether it has artwork on it or not, but even some of the "Color Safe" cleaners and cleaners like Oxiclean can do damage or destroy screenprinted or airbrushed artwork. Something in Oxiclean breaks down the binders in the textile paints so that your artwork gets flushed away with the dirt. While that cleaning power may*be great for grass stains and tomato sauce, it can do a lot of damage in a hurry when you actually want the colors to stay.


The heat press or a good thorough ironing will make a huge difference, and using good quality paint and maybe a clear coat too.
There are several out on the market, and most if not all are compatible with other brands of textile paint.

Let your artwork dry thoroughly before you heatpress/iron it. Rushing this process can mess yiou up in a hurry.

Most paint manufacturers reccomend that you let the artwork cure for a week or two after you heatset the artwork. While most people want to pop that shirt or jacket on right away, the reality is that they should wait before throwing the worn and dirty garment in the wash.

If you are doing garments for others, especially if they are for sale, then you should have a printed document that goes with each garment instructing them on the wait time and the proper way to wash their new treasures. It protects you and your reputation, the artwork, and the customer.

I heat-set my artwork with a heat gun or hot iron..(dont have a heat-press)...To wash the shirt what I have dont in the past is wash the shirt inside out in cold water..first few times of washing I dont use detergent...It also is based on how you painted the shirt and type of paint...I have found that I have more success with white T-shirts then black.