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Aftercare for Garments with Heat Transfer Vinyl
by James Karcha on January 31, 2025
Aftercare for Garments with HTV: How to Ensure Your Prints Stand the Test of Time
Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a beginner, understanding how to care for garments with HTV vinyl is paramount to maintaining the quality and longevity of your designs. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore what HTV is, its benefits, and provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure your prints remain vibrant and pristine wash after wash.
What is Heat Transfer Vinyl?
Heat Transfer Vinyl, also called iron on vinyl, craft vinyl, or simply HTV is a specialty vinyl material designed for transferring designs onto various fabrics using heat and pressure. It's widely used in custom apparel creation, allowing for intricate and personalized designs. HTV vinyl offers several benefits including versatility by being able to be applied to multiple fabric types. HTV is also known for color variety and specialty vinyl films with different textures and looks so you will be sure to find the type to fit your needs.
However, the durability of Heat Transfer Vinyl is dependent on how it is treated. So let's get into what it takes to ensure your vinyl transfers last longer and proper aftercare techniques.
Importance of Aftercare
Proper aftercare is crucial for ensuring the durability and appearance of garments featuring HTV vinyl. Neglecting recommended aftercare practices can result in premature wear, such as peeling, cracking, or fading.
General Care Instructions for Iron On Vinyl
Washing HTV Garments
● Wait Before Washing
○ Allow at least 24 hours after applying HTV to the garment before washing. This ensures the adhesive has fully set and bonded with the fabric.
● Turn Garments Inside Out
○ Always turn garments inside out before placing them in the wash. This reduces direct friction on the HTV design, preserving its integrity by reducing peeling and cracking.
● Use Cold Water
○ Wash garments in cold water. Hot water can weaken the adhesive and cause the vinyl to peel. Cold water helps maintain the bond between the vinyl and the fabric.
● Select the Gentle Cycle
○ Opt for a gentle or delicate cycle on your washing machine to minimize stress on both the fabric and the HTV design.
● Mild Detergent Only
○ Use a mild detergent free from bleach and fabric softeners. Harsh chemicals can degrade the iron on vinyl film and its adhesive, reducing its lifespan. Additionally, harsher chemicals and detergents can fade or completely change the color of your vinyl! Best to just stay away from those.
Drying HTV Garments
- Hang Dry Preferred
○ The best method for drying HTV garments is air drying. Hang or lay the garments flat to dry naturally, away from direct sunlight. This is because the heat of the dryer can weaken the adhesive and bond between the garment and HTV.
- Low Heat Tumble Dry
○ If you must use a dryer, select a low heat setting such as tumble drying and make sure the garments are still inside out. Remove promptly to avoid excessive heat exposure.
Ironing HTV Garments
- Avoid Direct Ironing
○ Never iron directly over the HTV design. If ironing is necessary, turn the garment inside out or alternatively use a PTFE Sheet or similar covering placed over the design to shield it from direct heat.
○ We would also recommend steaming your garments instead of ironing them if possible.
Choosing the Right Detergent
- Mild and Non-Bleach Detergents
○ Opt for mild detergents without bleach or fabric softeners. These are gentle on both the fabric and the HTV design.
- Avoid Fabric Softeners
○ Fabric softeners can leave residues that degrade the adhesive properties of HTV vinyl. We’ve also seen that fabric softeners can change and fade the color of your HTV.
○ An alternative to fabric softener that will be better for your garments and vinyl designs is just a few teaspoons of Distilled White Vinegar. We promise your clothes won’t smell like vinegar either.
Specific Wash Instructions from Atlanta Vinyl
At Atlanta Vinyl, we recommend the following specific wash instructions for our HTV products:
● Machine Wash: Wash inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle.
● Drying: Air dry or tumble dry on low heat.
● Ironing: Avoid ironing directly on the HTV; if necessary, use a PTFE Sheet or protective cover. We recommend to steam your garments.
By adhering to these aftercare practices, your HTV creations from Atlanta Vinyl will remain vibrant and durable
