How to prevent cracking pictures on shirts!

How to prevent cracking pictures on shirts!

My Background:
Well I don’t see how I really need much background here, but I have used this method many times (especially for t-shirts I buy at concerts). The basic method is that you soak a T-shirt in a water and vinegar solution, wash it, dry it, and your T-shirt will not fade or crack!

With that being said, what you need is:- A T-shirt with writing on it, such as many concert T-shirts. (It’s like a plastic type of print on the shirt)
- 1 cup of vinegar
- A container big enough to fit a T-shirt without scrunching it up to much
- Water
- Washing Machine which uses COLD water
- Hanger

Step 1
To being you will get your container! This must be big enough to fit a T-shirt without scrunching it up or making it into a ball. Obviously you don't want a cat in it like the picture below, but this shows you how big the container should be!



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/1534457731_6663ae8ddf.jpg?v=0 <-- Direct link to picture

Step 2
Once you have that, fill it with 1 cup of vinegar



http://www.chemistryland.com/CHM107Lab/Lab1/VinegarLemon.jpg <-- Direct link to picture

Step 3
Then fill the container with water, enough for you to submerge the t-shirt completely. You should have a water-vinegar solution now!



Picture was made in MS paint by me, there is no link.

Step 4
Place the T-shirt into the water-vinegar solution. Leave it to soak for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 5
Now remove the T-shirt, wringing it out if necessary to prevent dripping. Put the T-shirt into the washing machine.



http://www.appliancist.com/hoover-visionhd-9-washing-machine.jpg <-- Direct link to picture

Step 6
Make sure that the Washer is set to COLD water AND GENTLE. You don&#8217;t want to rough up the T-shirt!



http://www.singaporebrides.com/forumboard/messages/3/486052.jpg <-- Direct link to picture

Step 7
Remove the T-shirt and DO NOT put it into a dryer. The heat in the dryer is what causes the plastic like pictures/writing to CRACK!!

Instead put it up on a hanger =)



http://www.dizpins.com/archives/images/2007augustpics/wdw_shirt_hm.jpg <-- Direct link to picture

Step 8
Leave to dry

Direct link to picture was lost, I'm trying to find it again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

And your finished!! Your T-shirt hasn&#8217;t faded in color and the print hasn&#8217;t cracked!!
Enjoy your nice and still new looking T-shirt!

I know this guide isn't as detailed as my other guides, but I thought it might be useful none the less!

 

Ha, awesome i'm going to try this

Thanks.

 

Thanks I went to a Nightwish concert some odd years back, I think in 04, and I didn't want my T-shirt to crack and I was REALLY worried about it. My friends mom told me th idea and sure enough, it worked. So I was happy

Hope it helps and check out my other guide if you want They're much more detailed.

 

I like it!

I don't buy many shirts with writing on them anymore like I used to, but it would of helped a long time ago!



Btw, the cat in the container made me laugh hysterically. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

 

Lol yes that cat is funny. When I was searching google for pics, I came across that one and said "That's the one". So I put it in the guide. Thought atleast one person would get a kick out of it :laugh:

 

do u have to do this everytime u wash it or just the first time?

 

Very good question, i was also wondering the same.

 

nice , by the way , my nike t-shirts never cracks even if i use my master centrafuge mode !

 

It is not needed EVERY time you wash the shirt, however it doesn't hurt to do it like every 6 - 8 washes. In the mean time, when tou wash it, invert the shirt, so the picture is on the inside, and instead of putting it in the dryer, just hang it up to dry. The heat from the dryer is what cracks the shirts. I hope that answers your question.

 

ima try this

 

Let me know how it goes. It has always worked for me!

Just remember to put it into the vinegar water solution for about 15 to 20 minutes before washing it in COLD water.

Those are 2 important parts haha!

 

Very good guide.

 

Thank you very much. This in my opinion isn't my best guide, but I certainly think its useful to MANY people! Thanks for the feedback!!

 

thanks but ill try it on a old shirt first

 

Lol that's fine, It will be fine though. What the vinegar does is it preserves the color in the shirt. That way nothing fades at all when you wash it. Then when you wash it in cold water and HANG dry it, there is not drastice heat to crack the plastic like picture (to be completely honest I have noidea what they call the material that makes the pictures) but hopefully that information will ease your mind. If you need any other help feel free to ask!

 

omgg thanks man =]
alot of my underoath and silverstein shirts are gettn wrecked.
this will help alottt =]

 

I hope so, I use it for my Nightwish and Slipknot T-shirts personally Thanks for the feedback.

 

yay!! finally. most of my t-shirts are cracked. especially my bullet for my valentine ones. does this last a certain amount of time. or will i have to do this process in like another couple of months?

 

I do it every 8 washes or so and I ALWAYS hang dry them. Another good thing to do is invert the T-shirt that way the picture doesn't rub up against anything

It isn't necessary to do it that often but it helps, just be careful with the shirts and don't expose them to extreme heat (such as in a dryer).

 

I will try this soon I wear a lot of Tees with designs on them and they always end up cracking