Printed Uniform Care: How to Wash a Printed T-Shirt (Tekween Guide)

For printed uniform care, Tekween recommends cold-to-lukewarm water at 20–30°C, turning the garment inside out before washing, and air-drying away from direct sunlight. Avoid bleach and harsh detergents, and don't iron the outside — if needed, iron the inside only on low heat, away from the print.

A person holding an inside-out burgundy T-shirt beside a washing machine, with Arabic and English instructions to turn the garment inside out before washing.

A team uniform gets worn and washed constantly. Staff need clear instructions to check before loading the washer, not a long list to memorize. This guide collects Tekween's instructions for printed pieces into practical steps, from preparing the garment for washing to ironing and storing it.

This guide applies to the T-shirts and printed pieces these instructions were sent with. Don't assume it applies automatically to all workwear, fabrics, or other printing or embroidery methods. If a piece came with different instructions, or needs special cleaning, check the order instructions and care label, and ask Tekween before cleaning.

What temperature should you wash a printed T-shirt at?

Tekween recommends washing pieces covered by this guide in water between 20 and 30°C. Set the temperature before starting the machine, and don't raise it to treat a stain or shorten the wash time. What matters is picking the right number, not relying on the program name alone.

If your washing machine shows options like "cold" and "warm" without numbers, check its manual to see what temperature each one actually uses. For hand-washing, avoid hot water — feeling the water isn't an accurate way to judge its temperature.

GINETEX, the organization responsible for textile care symbols, explains that the number inside the wash-tub symbol indicates the maximum allowed temperature. So a "30" on the label doesn't mean warmer water cleans better — it means not exceeding that limit when it's printed on the garment's label. This maximum-temperature rule is defined in the international standard for textile care symbols, ISO 3758. [Sources: GINETEX care symbol guide; ISO 3758:2023]

What to do before washing

Turn the T-shirt inside out before putting it in the washer. The goal is to reduce direct friction on the printed surface during the wash. If the piece has a zipper, close it before starting, per Tekween's included instructions.

1- Check the care label and any instructions sent with the order.

2- Turn the garment inside out.

3- Close the zipper, if there is one.

4- Set the water to 20–30°C.

5- Avoid bleach and harsh detergents.

Turning garments inside out and avoiding direct ironing over the print also appear in some heat-transfer printing instructions from STAHLS. However, every printing material's instructions differ, and these examples don't confirm which printing method was used on your order. Tekween's instructions and the garment's own label are the reference for this guide. [Source: a STAHLS product tech sheet]

What if there's a stain on the garment?

Don't try to remove a stain by scrubbing the print area hard, using bleach, or raising the wash temperature. The stain type, fabric, and print all affect which treatment is appropriate. If the garment's instructions don't cover stain removal, send Tekween a photo and ask for the right approach instead of testing a product that could damage the fabric or logo.

How to dry the uniform after washing

Per Tekween's instructions, air-dry the garment somewhere well-ventilated, away from direct sunlight. Choose a spot that lets it dry fully before wearing or storing it, and don't fold it while damp.

These instructions aren't approval to use a tumble dryer — air-drying and machine-drying are different methods. If you want to use a dryer, check the care label and order instructions first. Without clear permission, stick to the air-drying described here.

Can you iron a printed T-shirt?

Don't iron the T-shirt from the outside, especially over the printed area. If the garment needs ironing and its label allows it, turn it inside out and use low heat only on the unprinted areas.

Keep in mind the print stays in the same position even once the garment is turned inside out. So avoid running the iron over the area directly behind the print from the inside too — turning the shirt inside out doesn't automatically make heat safe for the logo.

Choose the ironing setting based on the care label, not the fabric name alone. GINETEX notes that the maximum iron temperature should be based on the label, and that some garments don't allow ironing at all. That's why this guide doesn't give one single ironing temperature for every uniform piece.

How to store the piece

Store the uniform in a dry, clean, well-ventilated place once it's fully dry. Arrange pieces so staff can easily find their size and the piece ready to wear, keeping items that need washing separate from clean ones.

If you're responsible for a whole team's uniforms, keep each item's instructions with it. Pieces may look similar in color or design, but that doesn't mean their care instructions are identical.

How to standardize care instructions among staff

Send the care card to staff when handing over the uniform, and keep a copy where laundry is collected or washed. Use short wording with an icon for each step, so staff understand the instructions without reading the full article.

A team manager can check three points at handover: wash temperature, turning the garment inside out, and not ironing the outside. If an outside laundry service handles the washing, send them the instructions beforehand and make clear the guide is specific to the printed pieces it covers.

Don't rely on the icon alone. A crossed-out iron symbol might be read as "no ironing at all," while Tekween's instructions actually allow ironing the inside on low heat when needed. So the written phrase next to the icon needs to stay clear, with a reminder to avoid the print area.

Keep the instructions with the uniform

Washing a printed T-shirt starts with a few easy-to-remember steps: water at 20–30°C, turning the garment inside out before washing, and air-drying in the shade. When ironing, use low heat on the inside only if the label allows it, and avoid the printed area. Keep the care card and share it with anyone who handles washing the team's uniforms.

For questions about caring for a specific piece from your order, contact Tekween through the same channel you used to order, or visit tekween.shop.