How Long Do DTG Printed T-Shirts Last In The Wash?

Last Updated: Thursday 20th November 2014 By Admin

How long does a DTG digitally printed t-shirts last in the wash before it begins to deteriorate.

The answer depends on a lot of different factors. Here are a few we have discovered during various tests.

The colour of the t-shirt that has the print on it.
The washing machine you use and the settings chosen
The softness and hardness of the water
The frequency of the washing cycles
The types of powders, liquids or chemicals added to the water

In the next few paragraphs, we will discuss these things in more detail and give you a couple of links to get more information to help you get the best out of your printed t-shirt.

White or Light colours printed with NO white under-base.

This is the least durable combination for DTG Digital printing. Coloured water-based ink printed directly onto white or light coloured garments produces a visually great result, but is more susceptible to wear and tear as it is missing the underbase to add extra durability. This is usually the cheapest method. You can request to have a white underbase added for extra durability.

From tests we have run, white t-shirts printed with this method should last at least 20 washes before fading begins. After this time, the t-shirt itself will start to look a little worn, and both the print and the t-shirt will fade together from this point on.

This print method could last as long as the t-shirt, if extra care is taken.

A major part of keeping your t-shirt in good condition will depend on how you wash your garment.

See: How to wash your t-shirt Blog post.

T-shirts printed with DTG should be washed inside out and hung inside out after washing, as the sun will fade your T-shirt. This is critical to the long life of any printed t-shirt.

Black or coloured t-shirts have a white under base

This is where DTG is a little more durable when compared to printing onto white colours.

A White ink layer is needed underneath printed colours, so the colours stand out against the dark backgrounds.

This white ink is thin and very liquid so it can pass though the print heads and needs pre-treatment on the garment to make this ink thick and vibrant again.

In saying this, DTG is still an acceptably durable method, but screen printing is highly recommended in cases of hard-wearing workwear, and items that are intended to be washed on a daily basis.

T-shirts that are printed with white ink or if white ink is used as an under base, will still need care during the washing cycle.

From tests we have run, t-shirts printed with white ink should last up to 30 washes before showing any visible signs of fading. This can be extended with care during the washing by using a gentle wash cycle.

If no care is taken during the washing process, the life cycle can be reduced to as low as 10 washes before fading and deterioration of the print begin.

In Conclusion

In summary, how you wash and care for your t-shirt plays an important role in the length of time you get to spend with your awesomely printed t-shirt.

See: How to wash your t-shirt blog post.

Remember, our warranty will only cover the washing process up to and including the first wash. Garments that are washed multiple times are outside our warranty terms, as we have no control over this process and cannot be held responsible for the many possible problems that could occur during a laundry cycle.

All DTG digital printed t-shirts from T-shirt Printing Australia come with Washing and Care instructions, so that you follow these, you should get the maximum life out of your garment.

Note: Constant washing will ultimately fade and disfigure both the shirt and the print over time. Nothing is 100% durable.

If you need a more predictably durable product that can withstand more laundry cycles (again, nothing is bulletproof), then consider screen printing, or we can use an additional white underbase.

If something does go wrong with your order, please check this guide for any issue you may have.