How to Wash DTG Printed Shirts So the Print Lasts

Updated October 2026

You found the tee, you love the graphic, and now the first wash is coming. This is where a lot of good prints start to fade, crack or go dull, and nearly always for the same reason: the shirt was washed too hard. The good news is that caring for a DTG printed shirt is simple once you know what the print actually is. This guide covers how DTG works, how to wash by hand or in a machine, how to dry in Nigerian sun without bleaching your colours, and the habits that quietly shorten a print's life. Everything here applies to the pieces in our oversized and boxy T-shirts collection, including the Root Boxy Tee.

What DTG printing actually is

DTG stands for direct-to-garment. Instead of laying a thick layer of ink on top of the fabric, as screen printing or heat-transfer vinyl does, a DTG printer works a bit like an inkjet printer for clothes: it sprays ink straight onto the shirt, and the ink settles into the cotton fibres. That is why a DTG print feels soft and light, and why it can carry fine detail and many colours.

It is also why care matters. Because the ink sits in the fibres rather than on a plastic-like layer, the things that wear out cotton (heat, friction and harsh chemicals) are the same things that wear out the print. Treat the fabric gently and the print stays sharp with it.

Most Aurum pieces are 100% cotton and custom sewn, and our prints are DTG. Cotton takes DTG ink well, and it is also the fabric that rewards gentle washing most.

Before the first wash

• Read the label or product page. Ours carry the same short care note: wash cold, inside out, with similar colours, no tumble dryer, no iron directly on the print.
• Turn the shirt inside out. This one habit does more than anything else. The print faces inward, away from the rubbing of other clothes, zips, buttons and your hands.
• Sort by colour. Wash a white tee with whites and lights, and black and navy with darks, so nothing picks up dye from another garment.
• Do not stretch the print. Pulling hard on the printed area when it is wet can stress the ink. Handle the shirt by the hem and sleeves.

How to hand wash a DTG printed shirt

Hand washing is the kindest option, and it is what we recommend. It is also how a lot of us already wash at home, so you do not need anything special.

• Use cool or room-temperature water. Hot water is hard on cotton and on ink. Tap water from a bucket is perfect.
• Use a mild bar soap. A gentle bar soap such as Key soap works well. Rub the soap into the water or onto the inside of the shirt, not directly into the print.
• Squeeze, do not scrub. Press the shirt gently in the soapy water and let the water do the work. Avoid scrubbing brushes and avoid rubbing the printed area against itself. If there is a stain, work on the spot softly from the inside.
• Rinse well. Leftover soap can leave the fabric stiff. Rinse in clean water until it runs clear.
• Do not wring hard. Twisting the shirt tightly stresses both the seams and the print. Fold it and press the water out, or roll it in a towel.

The main rule is simple: do not wash too rigorously. A sweaty tee after one outing does not need a full beating. A gentle soak and squeeze is enough.

How to machine wash without damaging the print

If you use a washing machine, that is fine too. Set it up like this:

• Inside out, always.
• A gentle or delicate cycle with a low spin.
• Cold water.
• A small amount of mild detergent. Skip bleach entirely, even on white tees, because it can damage the ink.
• A light load. Washing a printed tee alongside heavy jeans gives you more friction than you want.

Take the shirt out soon after the cycle ends. Leaving wet clothes balled up in the drum creases them and can leave them smelling damp.

Drying: the step most people get wrong

Here in Nigeria the sun dries a tee in no time, and it is tempting to hang everything out in the hottest part of the day. Strong direct sun, day after day, fades dark colours and prints. A few small changes help:

• Dry inside out. The print faces away from the sun.
• Use shade when you can. A shaded line, a veranda or an indoor rail all work.
• Hang or lay flat. Hang from the bottom hem or lay the shirt flat so the neck and shoulders do not stretch out of shape.
• Skip the tumble dryer. High heat shrinks cotton and is hard on prints. If you must use one, use the lowest heat setting and take the shirt out while still slightly damp.

Ironing a printed shirt

Never put a hot iron directly on a DTG print. If the shirt needs ironing, turn it inside out and iron on low to medium heat, or put a thin cloth between the iron and the print. Most boxy and oversized tees look fine without ironing if you hang them straight while damp.

Small habits that make a print last longer

• Wash less often when you can. If you wore a tee for a few hours and it is not sweaty, air it out and wear it again.
• Rotate your favourites. Wearing the same tee three times a week means it is washed three times a week.
• Keep perfume and body spray off the print. Spray before you dress, not onto the shirt.
• Store folded, not on thin wire hangers. Heavier cotton can stretch at the shoulders over time on a wire hanger.

What about embroidery?

Embroidery is stitched thread, not ink, so it does not fade or crack in the same way. It does snag. The Sparta Gym Joggers carry an embroidered logo, so wash them inside out too, keep them away from Velcro and hooks in the wash, and do not iron directly on the stitching.

Caring for the ROOT pieces

Everything in the ROOT drop is boxy or full cut, 100% cotton, with a DTG print. Follow the same routine: inside out, cool water, mild soap, gentle hands, shade-dry. Because the cut is roomy, you do not need to stretch the shirt to get it back into shape after washing. Just hang it straight.

Quick routine to save on your phone

• Inside out.
• Cool water, mild bar soap or mild detergent.
• Hand wash or gentle cycle. Do not scrub the print.
• No bleach, no hard wringing.
• Dry inside out, out of harsh direct sun.
• No tumble dryer, no iron on the print.

DTG print care FAQ

How long does a DTG print last?

It depends mostly on how it is washed and dried. A DTG print washed gently, inside out and in cool water, and kept away from high heat, holds up much longer than one that goes through hot washes and a dryer.

Can I use Key soap on a printed tee?

Yes. A mild bar soap like Key soap is a good choice. Work it into the water or the inside of the shirt rather than rubbing it hard into the print.

Why does my print look faded after washing?

Usually hot water, harsh detergent or bleach, heavy scrubbing, or long hours in strong sun. Switch to cool water, mild soap and shade-drying, inside out.

Will a 100% cotton tee shrink?

Cotton can shrink a little with hot water or a dryer. Cool water and air-drying keep the size you bought.