Oh No! Faded designs.

[wdw-ocd]

Dd has been wearing the wonderful shirts we made with the help of the talented Disigners. I took them out of the laundry and the designs are all faded!
I'm not Martha Stewart, but washing these shirts can't be that difficult can it? I put them inside out, cold water, low setting on the dryer. What did I do wrong?

 

[Telynn]

Unfortunately, nothing....the inks have a tendency to fade. (At least that's been my experience.)

 

[wdw-ocd]

Even after only one wash?

Does anyone have any tips on keeping the color? Are certain brands of transfer paper better? Letting the ink set overnight before ironing on? Anything? Sigh.

 

[Telynn]

I haven't tried Scotch Guarding them--that may work.

 

[DisneyMom92]

Setting with vinegar wash should reduce fading. That's the purpose.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Setting with vinegar wash should reduce fading. That's the purpose.

Guess that solves my should I or shouldn't I dilemna! Will be doing the vinegar wash. As you said, it can't hurt and it may help!

 

[DBL101]

I wonder if the brand of ink makes a difference. All of the major printer companies have their own ink formulas. If you've had a problem with your shirts fading (or running) post here with the brand of printer you used.

 

[noahdove]

I don't put mine in the dryer...I pray that mine don't run if we should get in the rain....I have shirts that I have worn for 3 years and they are just starting to fade...sorry that it happened.

 

[wdw-ocd]

I wonder if the brand of ink makes a difference. All of the major printer companies have their own ink formulas. If you've had a problem with your shirts fading (or running) post here with the brand of printer you used.

The ink goes with our brand new HP Officejet Pro L7580 printer.

 

[wdw-ocd]

Setting with vinegar wash should reduce fading. That's the purpose.

Don't laugh at the newbie but what's a vinegar wash? Do you add a certain amount of vinegar into the wash cycle with the detergent? TIA!

 

[DisneyMom92]

The ink goes with our brand new HP Officejet Pro L7580 printer.

I use an HP Ink Jet printer, also have used Lexmark, Dell and Brother printers.

Don't laugh at the newbie but what's a vinegar wash? Do you add a certain amount of vinegar into the wash cycle with the detergent? TIA!

A vinegar wash is 1 cup white vinegar added to wash water, no detergent, nothing else but the vinegar and water. Then it goes into the the dryer on at least low heat, could be a medium heat, but not a hot or no heat dryer. If you are washing very few shirts, add a towel or two to keep the shirts from bunching in the dryer.

Questions? see this thread:

Ultimate T-Shirt Authority
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1772213

 

[heartbeeps]

The ink goes with our brand new HP Officejet Pro L7580 printer.

I have ink for an HP Officejet 6310; worked fine for me after 1st vinegar wash. Also, I used HP dark transfers. Will post pix on another thread in next day or so - at the ironing board now!

 

[Zandy595]

I wash my shirts in cold water, inside out and don't put them in the dryer. They've held up very well.

ETA: I used Avery dark t-shirt transfers.

 

[Telynn]

Thank you all for this information. I use HP Photosmart D7260 with HP original inks. I used light transfer paper I purchased from BJs, did the vinegar wash and warm dryer...still had the problem. It may be the quality of the transfer paper. With the next set, I'll try another brand of paper.

 

[heartbeeps]

I have ink for an HP Officejet 6310; worked fine for me after 1st vinegar wash. Also, I used HP dark transfers. Will post pix on another thread in next day or so - at the ironing board now!

I put them in the dryer - on low - no problem.

 

[DisneyMom92]

Thank you all for this information. I use HP Photosmart D7260 with HP original inks. I used light transfer paper I purchased from BJs, did the vinegar wash and warm dryer...still had the problem. It may be the quality of the transfer paper. With the next set, I'll try another brand of paper.

You might also consider trying more vinegar. The 1 cup measurment may be for a smaller washer than you have.

 

[heartbeeps]

You might also consider trying more vinegar. The 1 cup measurment may be for a smaller washer than you have.

I only could squeeze in 3/4c. white vinegar in my front-load washer's liquid dispenser container and I don't feel like mine faded (at least not after the first wash). I wonder if it's the transfer paper!?

 

[DisneyMom92]

I only could squeeze in 3/4c. white vinegar in my front-load washer's liquid dispenser container and I don't feel like mine faded (at least not after the first wash). I wonder if it's the transfer paper!?

Hmmm, I don't know. I don't do the vinegar wash and really don't treat my t's any differently than purchased ones and mine don't fade for a long time. It could be the shirts or the paper or the ironing process or ..... well, any number of things. Years ago, when I did my first shirts, so many things went wrong. But now, very rarely does something go wrong, unless I am in a hurry or am distracted .

 

[LisaNJ25]

I had one run on me last year a the parks after Splash Mountain I am going to try the vinegar wash for the next ones.