A great graphic tee is all about the print. The problem is that most prints are ruined in the wash, not by wear: cracking, peeling and fading usually come from hot water, harsh scrubbing and strong sun. With a few simple habits, your favourite tees can look sharp for years.
In this guide
1. Before you wash
- Turn the tee inside out. This is the single most important habit. It protects the print from rubbing against other clothes and the sides of the bucket or machine.
- Wash with similar colours. Dark tees with darks, whites and creams together, bright colours like orange and pink on their own for the first few washes.
- Do not wash after every short wear. If a tee is not sweaty or stained, air it out instead. Fewer washes means a longer life for the print.
2. Hand washing
Many of us wash by hand, and it can be the gentlest option if you do it right.
- Use cool or room-temperature water, never hot.
- Dissolve a small amount of mild detergent in the water before adding the tee. Undissolved powder can leave marks.
- Soak for 10–15 minutes, then squeeze the water through the fabric gently.
- Do not scrub the print with a brush or rub it against itself. Wash the underarms and collar, and leave the printed area to the soaking.
- Rinse in clean, cool water until the soap is gone.
- Press the water out by rolling the tee in a towel. Avoid wringing it hard, which stretches the fabric and cracks the print.
3. Machine washing
- Choose a cold or 30°C cycle and a gentle or delicate setting.
- Use a mild liquid detergent and skip bleach, even on white tees with a print.
- Do not overload the drum; tees need room to move.
- Use a low spin speed if your machine allows it.
4. Drying in the Ghanaian sun
Strong sun is the biggest cause of faded colour. It dries clothes quickly, but it also bleaches dark tees and dulls bright prints over time.
- Dry tees inside out, in the shade or a well-aired spot indoors.
- Bring them in as soon as they are dry instead of leaving them out all afternoon.
- Hang tees over the line by the body, not by the shoulders with pegs, to avoid stretched shoulders and peg marks.
- Avoid tumble dryers on high heat. If you must use one, choose the lowest heat setting.
5. Ironing without ruining the print
Never put a hot iron directly on a print. It can melt, smear or stick to the iron.
- Turn the tee inside out and iron on the reverse of the print.
- Use a low to medium heat setting.
- For extra protection, place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the tee.
- Or skip the iron: hang the tee straight after washing and most creases fall out as it dries.
Quick test: if a print feels soft and slightly flexible, treat it gently with heat. If it starts to feel sticky under the iron, stop immediately and let it cool.
6. Stains and sweat marks
- Treat stains as soon as possible with cool water and a little mild soap. Hot water can set stains.
- For sweat marks on light tees, soak the underarm area in cool water with a little detergent for 30 minutes before washing.
- Keep stain removers and bleach away from the print itself.
Questions we are often asked
Why is my print cracking?
Cracking usually comes from heat and stretching: hot water, a hot iron directly on the print, wringing the tee hard or tumble drying on high heat. Washing inside out in cool water and pressing water out with a towel prevents most cracking.
Can I use bleach on a white graphic tee?
Avoid it. Bleach can discolour and weaken the print, even if the white fabric looks cleaner. For white tees, soak in cool water with a little mild detergent and dry in the shade.
How often should I wash a graphic tee?
Wash it when it is sweaty or stained. After a short, cool wear, airing it out overnight is often enough. Fewer washes mean the colours and print last longer.
Why do dark tees fade?
Strong sun and hot water are the main causes. Dry dark tees inside out in the shade, wash them with other darks in cool water, and bring them in as soon as they are dry.
Can I iron the front of the tee?
Only around the print, never on it. The safest way is to turn the tee inside out and iron the reverse on a low setting, with a thin cotton cloth in between.
The short version
- Inside out, cool water, mild detergent.
- No scrubbing or wringing on the print.
- Dry in the shade, inside out.
- Iron on the reverse, on low heat, or not at all.
Every Karis Tresses tee is checked by hand for print, seams and neckline before it ships, and comes with these care instructions on its product page. Browse our graphic tees, and mix any 5 for ₵375 or 10 for ₵650.
