How to Clean and Care for a Custom Sweatshirt
By Wokeface | Published: 2026-10-26
Category: How-to Guides
Keep your custom printed sweatshirt looking fresh and soft with these simple care steps. Learn how to wash, dry, and maintain screen-printed designs for long-lasting wear.
Quick Answer
Turn your custom sweatshirt inside out, wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle, and tumble dry on low or air dry to protect the print and keep the fleece soft.
Why Custom Sweatshirts Need Different Care
A screen-printed design sits on top of the fabric, so heat and friction are its main enemies. The 50/50 cotton-polyester blend in many custom sweatshirts shrinks more easily than pure cotton if washed hot, and the polyester fibers can trap odors if not rinsed properly.
The pre-shrunk, pill-resistant fleece liner in the Star Babes Sweatshirt is designed to hold up better, but even that benefits from gentle handling. The tradeoff is that very hot water or high heat drying can still cause the print to crack or peel over time, especially on darker garments where contrast shows wear faster.
Step-by-Step Care for a Custom Sweatshirt
- Turn Inside Out: Before washing, turn the sweatshirt inside out so the printed side is protected from direct friction against other clothes or the machine drum. Common mistake: washing right-side out can cause the print to rub against zippers or buttons on other garments, leading to premature cracking.
- Wash Cold on Gentle Cycle: Use cold water and a gentle or delicate cycle. Choose a mild liquid detergent—powder detergents can leave residue on the print. Avoid fabric softener, which coats polyester fibers and reduces moisture wicking. Checkpoint: if you use bleach or stain removers, apply them to the fabric side only, never directly on the print.
- Tumble Dry Low or Air Dry: Dry on low heat or hang the sweatshirt to air dry. High heat can shrink the cotton and cause the screen-printed design to crack or peel. Remove from the dryer while slightly damp to reduce wrinkles and keep the fleece soft. Checkpoint: if you must use a dryer on medium heat, remove the sweatshirt as soon as it is dry—overdrying worsens shrinkage and print wear.
- Store Folded, Not Hung: Fold the sweatshirt and store it in a drawer or on a shelf. Hanging can stretch out the shoulders and neckband over time, especially with the weight of a thick fleece liner. Common mistake: hanging a heavy sweatshirt on a thin hanger can create shoulder bumps that are hard to fix.
Product You Can Use
- Star Babes Sweatshirt: 8 oz 50/50 cotton/polyester pre-shrunk fleece liner, screen printed in Portland, Oregon The pre-shrunk fabric reduces size loss after washing, and the pill-resistant liner keeps the inside soft without pilling, so you can follow these care steps with confidence.
Star Babes Sweatshirt
