When unpacking a new shirt or hoodie with a direct-to-garment (DTG) print, you might notice a vinegar-like smell or an off-white residue. Don't worry, that's not unusual - it's from a fixation agent applied during the printing process and it's not permanent. Fixation agent (sometimes known as pre-treatment) is used for all DTG prints across the industry. It helps the ink bond with the fabric, and without it, the ink would flake off the garment. The solution is simply to wash the garment! Neither the residue nor the smell is permanent and both should go away after one wash.
Product care instruction:
1. Printed apparel (direct-to-garment)
Our manufacturers uses the latest direct-to-garment (DTG) printing technology to offer a wide variety of printable garments and design color options. They use high-quality inks that won't fade for a long time if taken care of properly. It is suggested to follow the care instructions on this page to learn how to take care of your printed garments properly.
Printed apparel can be machine-washed cold, inside-out on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent and like colors. Cropped hoodies especially must be machine washed warm, and preferably hung dry due to the raw hem. Use non-chlorine bleach only when necessary. You shouldn't use any fabric softeners or dry-clean the items.
DTG-printed apparel can be tumble-dried on a low cycle, but hang-dry works best. When it comes to ironing, use cool iron inside-out. Don't iron the print.
Follow these instructions carefully to avoid fading and cracking of the print, and shrinking the garment that can occur if you wash or dry it on a high setting.
2. Embroidered apparel
After washing, don't leave the clothing to soak or lie in a pile while wet. Don't wring out the embroidered items, but if you want to tumble-dry them, use a cool air setting (excluding denim t's and cropped hoodies). We highly suggest air drying to help the quality last longer.
If you notice any color residue in water, rinse the garment in lukewarm water and then in cold several times, but try not to rub any stained embroidery. Embroidered clothing can also be dry-cleaned.
If the garment needs ironing, do it inside-out, preferably between two pieces of cloth. You shouldn't wet embroidery before ironing or use a steam iron.
a. Gildan Sweatshirts & Hoodies & Bella+Canvas T-shirts
The Gildan sweatshirts and hoodies embroidered apparel can be machine-washed cold, inside-out on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent and like colors. You can use a small amount of chlorine bleach, but non-chlorine is the safer option.
b. Denim Shirts
The Denim shirts are made of combed cotton. Combed cotton is an extremely soft cotton because the cotton fibers are specially treated before they are spun into yarn. Combed cotton will shrink if it is exposed to heat. This means it should never be washed in hot water or dried in a hot dryer. Do not bleach or tumble dry, they must be air dried. Hand washing with delicate detergent is recommended in order to best prevent tearing of the combed cotton.
c. Cropped hoodies
Embroidered cropped hoodies must be machine washed warm, and preferably hung dry due to the raw hem.
d. Embroidered hats
Embroidered hats can be wiped clean with a damp cloth in the spots where it’s needed. If necessary, hats can be hand-washed cold. Don’t use brushes.
Hats can’t be machine-washed, bleached, tumble-dried, ironed, or dry-cleaned. Read the manufacturer label carefully for any other instructions.
3. Stainless Steel Water Bottle & Glass Mugs
Hand-wash only (dishwasher not recommended due to vacuum seal).
4. Ceramic Mugs
Dishwasher + Microwave Safe
