Caring for a Printed Piece

Crooks and Castles care comes down to a few habits that protect the graphic and the fabric. None of them takes extra time, and together they keep a hoodie or tee looking close to how it arrived for much longer. The steps below explain what to do and why each one matters.

Wash It Cool

Cool water keeps the print bonded to the fabric and stops darker colors from bleeding. A warm cycle is the quickest way to age a graphic.

Turn It Inside Out

With the garment turned inside out, the print faces the inside of the drum, so it rubs against itself instead of other clothes. It is one small step that protects the graphic more than anything else.

Skip the Dryer

Heat does more damage than water. A hot dryer can crack a print and shrink the fabric, so dry the piece on a hanger or flat, away from direct heat.

Hang It, Do Not Fold It

Folding a garment across the print leaves a crease in the graphic over time. Hanging it, or folding it so the print stays flat, keeps the design smooth.

Do Not Iron the Print

An iron pressed directly on a graphic can smear or melt it. If the garment needs ironing, turn it inside out and use a low setting.

Wash It With Similar Clothes

Zips, buttons and heavy denim can scratch a print in the drum. Wash printed pieces with soft clothes in similar colors.

What Damages a Print the Most

Three things cause most of the wear we see on printed clothing: high heat in the wash or dryer, rough items in the same load, and harsh products such as bleach. Avoid those three, and a print keeps its color and edges much longer.

Crooks and Castles Care in a Few Steps

  • Turn the garment inside out before it goes into the drum.
  • Choose a cool wash and a gentle cycle with a mild detergent.
  • Keep zips, buttons and heavy fabrics out of the same load so nothing scrapes the print.
  • Take it out as soon as the cycle ends so creases do not set.
  • Dry it on a hanger or flat, away from radiators and direct sun.
  • Store it hanging, or folded so the print lies flat.

Hoodies, Tees and Sweatpants

Hoodies and Sweatshirts

These usually carry the largest graphics and the heaviest fabric, so they hold water for longer after a wash. Give them time to dry fully on a hanger, and close any zip before washing so the teeth cannot catch the print.

Tees and Lighter Tops

Lighter fabric with a large print needs the gentlest handling. A cool, short cycle and a quick dry on a hanger keep the shape of the collar and the print sharp.

Sweatpants and Bottoms

Graphics on bottoms often sit on the leg, where they bend with every step. Washing them inside out and avoiding the dryer keeps the print from cracking at the knee.

If a New Print Feels Stiff

That is normal and it passes. A fresh print can feel firm for the first few wears. After a few cool washes and some regular wear, the print relaxes and moves with the fabric. There is no need to treat it with anything; time and normal washing do the job.