The Vinegar Verdict?

[everydaymathchick]

I've seen how-to threads about making t-shirts and using the iron on transfers, but I have a question about ONE specific part of the process: the vinegar wash. I've made a shirt or two in the past in college, but I never used vinegar and honestly don't recall how the shirts held up!

Can some of you t-shirt making vets weigh in on this hot topic? I have read to iron on your transfer, let it set, and then wash your beautiful shirts in a cup of white vinegar, and then dry them on low. Even said you could do an extra rinse cycle if you're worried about the smell.

Here's what I'd like to know: (please and thank you a ton!)
1. If you do the vinegar wash, does it really stop the DISigns from bleeding/fading (more so than when you didn't do it)?
2. If you do the vinegar wash, is the smell that bad? Do you have to rinse a second time?
3. If you do the vinegar wash, does the shirt fade much on the first wash?
4. If you routinely don't do the vinegar wash, have you had issues with fading/bleeding colors?
5. I'm sure some of you have done it and haven't done it: which do you prefer? Is it a take it or leave it sort of thing or do you swear by the vinegar wash (like once you heard about it, it solved all your t-shirt problems)?

I'd love to hear back from those of you who have made shirts! The more opinions to sort through, the better! I've got about 10 that I want to make, and I'm reading everything I can to make sure I make the best possible shirts, but the vinegar thing is really holding me up. Well that and the fear of fading/bleeding colors!

Thanks to all you great DISigners!

 

[Avonshire]

Hey--I have never heard of using the vinegar before but I know i have a friend who did not use the vinegar and I am always sad when I see her shirts so faded. Looking forward to answers on this!!!

 

[rumblytumbly]

I've never done the vinegar wash and I've not had trouble with bleeding. Get your shirts out of the wash machine as soon as the cycle is completed so they don't sit there wet.

 

[GrowUp2BaPrincess]

I'm curious what others think about the vinegar wash too. I am leaning toward the idea that I want the shirts to look great when we wear them, so if they fade after our trip...I'll survive. But, I'd be depressed big time if they faded now, before we've had the chance to wear them on our trip.

I'll post when we return whether or not we turned to pink tomatoes after wearing our red shirts without having done the vinegar wash!

 

[thebeachdreamer]

I am also trying to decide between the vinegar or not! Last year at MNSSHP our shirts were white and we got rained on. The orange on my design ran onto the white of my shirt, but it didn't happen to my kids.

But I don't dry my shirts because they will shrink and not fit my big ole self, and I did dry the kids......that might have something to do with it.

I really do not want to do the vinegar wash (I will be making about 50 shirts and I just don't need an extra step to worry about ).

I think I am going to take Kari's advice and skip the vinegar (after all she did design more than half of our shirts, so I trust her )


Sonya

 

[t-beri]

I know nothing of iron on transfers, but as far as the smell of vinegar goes...vinegar is a deodorizer. It only smells until it dries then it not only doesn't smell but can help stop bad smells. It also works as a fabric softener and a LOT of people add it to their rinse cycle instead of yucky fabric softeners which are mostly made out of animal tallow (that's fat!) A lot of people also use it to deodorize their dishwashers or garbage disposals as well as clean up cat pee. Actually there are a thousand and one things that vinegar is good for but these were just deodorizing and or laundry benefits I thought of. FYI

...t.

 

[carol-lamb]

I am skipping the vinegar wash for my stick figure family shirts. I really just want them to look nice during the trip and if they run or fall apart in the wash after we get home, I really don't care that much. I did buy some scotchguard, but I haven't used it yet. I read that it will possibly prevent bleeding if by chance the shirts get wet while in the parks.

 

[everydaymathchick]

*bump*

Thank you for the replies, but surely there are more of you on here who made shirts who can tell us whether or not you've done the vinegar wash and whether or not it helped? Like I said, the more people who weigh in on this, the better able we are to choose whether or not to do it. I know for a fact I'm not the only curious one...

 

[Disneymommy2006]

I have made lots of shirts for our upcoming trip and did not do the vinegar wash and do not plan on adding this step. I have also made a few practice shirts for birthdays (etc) for my boys. These practice shirts have been worn, then washed with no vinegar. They did not run or fade without the vinegar. I washed them inside out and tossed them in the dryer. I used Avery brand transfers for light shirts and HP transfers for dark shirts. I do think I might do the Scotch guard for the Disney shirts because of the possibility of rain while wearing them at the parks- but I am still undecided on this too

 

[everydaymathchick]

Alright ya'll... I made all of my Disney shirts, but I have not washed them yet (vinegar or otherwise). However, I did make a shirt (actually 15 shirts) for a friend's birthday celebration, and I just ironed it tonight. On the first wash -- no vinegar, it bled (Avery light transfer) on the white shirt, but I also had let it sit wet all night. So I immediately washed it again, and the color that had bled washed out again. I dried it on low long enough for it to be mostly dry (no fabric softner), and it looks good! Not as bright as it originally was, but really not that faded either.

Just thought those of you who have been curious and posted about this throughout the boards might like to know this info.

 

[twins4mimi]

thanks for the tips... I don't have a clue what I need to do... when I get ready I will need lots of advice