How should you wash graphic tees without cracking the print?

Turn the tee inside-out, wash cold (30°C / 86°F max), use mild liquid detergent, no bleach, no fabric softener. Skip the dryer entirely — hang dry or lay flat. These four steps preserve plastisol screen prints for 50+ washes.

Can you put graphic tees in the dryer?

Not if you want the print to last. Tumble-dry heat softens plastisol ink and causes cracking, especially around high-flex zones like the edges of chest graphics and the underarm. Hang drying or flat drying is the safe alternative.

Can you iron a graphic tee?

Iron on the back side only, low heat, no steam — never directly over the print. Better still, use a handheld steamer held 2–3 inches off the design; the steam alone removes wrinkles without contacting the print.

How long does a graphic tee print actually last?

Plastisol screen-printed tees stay vibrant for 50+ washes with proper care. Water-based and discharge prints look intentional for 30+ washes. DTG prints fade faster — 20–40 washes is realistic. If a print cracks within the first 10 washes, the cause is usually a factory cure issue, the dryer, or hot water.

How Do You Wash and Care for Graphic Tees So Prints Don't Crack or Fad