How to care for printed & embroidered uniforms
Branded uniforms are walking advertising — until the logo cracks, peels or fades. Here's the wash routine that keeps them sharp for years, straight from the print floor.
A good uniform should outlast the job it was bought for. The branding doesn't wear out from being worn — it wears out from how it's washed. Ninety percent of "our print keeps fading" calls come down to five habits. Fix them once and your polos, tees and hi-vis will look staffed-and-proud for years.
The 30-second care card — pin this
- Cold wash, inside out. 30°C max, garments turned so the decoration doesn't rub against other items. Cold alone prevents 80% of print wear.
- No bleach, no fabric softener. Bleach strips print and fluorescent dyes; softener coats embroidery thread and makes prints go tacky.
- Hang dry where you can. Tumble dryers on high are the single fastest way to age a print. If you must, low heat — and take it out slightly damp.
- Never iron the decoration. Iron inside-out if you must, and never directly onto a print or embroidery — heat re-activates the adhesive under vinyl and flattens embroidery.
- Treat stains before the wash. Cold rinse straight away, dab don't scrub, and keep scrubbing away from the print itself.
Different decoration, different rules
| Decoration | How it's applied | How to keep it sharp |
|---|---|---|
| Screen print | Ink pressed into the fabric, cured with heat | Tough and long-lasting. Cold wash inside out; it softens beautifully into the fabric after a few washes. |
| Embroidery | Thread stitched through the garment | The 100+ wash workhorse — the standard for polos and work shirts. Wash inside out to stop hooks and velcro snagging the thread. |
| Vinyl / HTV | Heat-pressed colour film | Brilliant for names, numbers and hi-vis. Loves cold washes, hates dryers — heat lifts the film's edges over time. |
| DTG (direct-to-garment) | Ink sprayed into the cotton | Full-colour detail, soft feel. Needs cold gentle washes — treat it like your favourite band tee. |
The questions we get every week
Heat and chemistry. Hot washes and high-tumble drying flex the ink beyond what it was cured for, and bleach breaks it down directly. Cracked print can't be revived — prevention is everything.
Thread survives 100+ washes, doesn't fade like ink and hides wear. The one weak spot: snagging. Turn garments inside out, and catch a loose loop from the back with a needle — never pull it.
Fluorescent dyes fade with bleach and hot washes — and once the tone drops, the day-night rating goes with it. Cold wash, no softener (it clogs reflective tape), and re-audit tape yearly on safety-critical gear.
Cold rinse immediately — hot water sets most stains into synthetic fabric. For grease, a drop of dish soap worked in gently beats anything harsh. Keep all scrubbing on the fabric, never across the print.
Uniforms should work as hard as the team wearing them. If yours are due a refresh — or you want one logo, reproduced consistently across tees, polos, hi-vis and caps — see apparel & uniforms, grab the workhorses in the shop, or read our vehicle wrap care guide to keep the other half of your brand looking new. One logo, every surface: that's our business logo printing promise.
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