Nothing beats the bright color of a brand new t-shirt. But have you noticed that over time that stunningly vibrant color tends to get a tad on the dull side due to fading? There has to be a reason why this happens, and hopefully, there are ways to avoid this. There are also some colors that seem to fade faster than others.
It’s frustrating if you buy your t-shirts because of the color and how that matches with the rest of your wardrobe. Well, here’s a look at why t-shirt colors fade.
Img source: shopify.com
Before we get too deep into this subject, let’s look at some of the contributing factors that can cause a t-shirt color to change over time:
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1 – The Fabric
It may not appear to be all that obvious at first, but the type of fabric has a great deal to do with color retention. Some fabrics will hold the color dye better than others. Cotton is a common fabric used in the manufacturing of t-shirts, and oddly enough, cotton tends to fade faster.
2 – The Laundry
The way in which you wash your t-shirts may actually be one of the reasons why they are fading. If you like to toss your cotton t-shirts into the dryer, keep in mind that cotton will break down when heated and tumbled around with other types of clothing.
3 – The Clothesline
If you prefer to hang your t-shirts to dry, don’t hang them outside. That’s because the UV rays from the sun will harm them. The sun has a natural bleaching effect on most anything that sits outside. This is why outdoor furniture and paint also fades and breaks down over time.
4 – The Dye
The process used to dye t-shirts will have an impact on how fast or slow the color will alter over time. Cotton t-shirts are usually dyed in hot processes that last longer, and as a result, the colors will also last longer than other dye processes with different fabrics.
5 – Quality
This probably goes without saying, but a t-shirt that is cheaply made and costs far less than the market standard is likely to fade far quicker than a better quality product. Production methods of cheaper t-shirts may not be as strictly monitored as those coming from more professional production sites.
Img source: impericon.com
How To Prevent T-Shirt Colors From Fading
Here are a few simple tips to assist you in preventing t-shirt colors from fading earlier than they should:
– Before washing a t-shirt, turn it inside out
– Wash your t-shirts in cool or warm water only
– Do not dry your t-shirts in the dryer
– Add a cup of vinegar to the water with mild detergent the first time you wash a new t-shirt
– Use detergents that are designed specifically for dark colors
Find Your Perfect T-Shirt At YayPrint
If you are in the market for new custom t-shirts, we can help. All you have to do is download our handy mobile app at www.yayprint.com. With it, you will gain access to a complete library of t-shirt ideas and online design tools to help you to create exactly what you are looking for. You can even upload any design idea you’ve been working on and tweak it or just use it.
Plus, the online store never closes at YayPrint. This means that you can design, order and ship t-shirts any time of the day or night to anywhere in the world. It couldn’t be any easier to put together your next t-shirt order than with the online tools we provide you with. Check it out today and see what others are designing and creating with it now!
