Ladii Luxe

HTV Care and Washing Instructions 

Yay! You have your new, customized garments decorated with HTV but what comes next? How do you care for your personalized clothing? Taking care of your heat transfer vinyl decorated creation is a must, let’s talk about some easy things to keep in mind to make sure your garments are well taken care of and last a lifetime! 
 

Do not wash for at least 24 hours after pressing 

HTV needs time to cure. When you press your HTV, the adhesive is activated by heat. For the adhesive to stick, it needs time to harden and cool without interruption. If you take your garment and immediately wash and dry it, there is a good chance the vinyl could peel or crack.  

Do not dry clean 

You should never dry clean garments decorated with HTV. The dry-cleaning process has a lot of chemicals and hot temperatures that will damage your heat transfer vinyl. 

Wash and dry inside out 

This step is recommended for not only the initial wash, but also every wash / dry cycle after that. When washing and drying clothes, they rub against each other and can cause irritation or abrasion of the HTV. If you wash the garments inside out, there is an extra layer of protection between your vinyl and the other clothing in the laundry. 

Choose cold or warm water for washing 

When washing clothing decorated with HTV, you should never use temperatures that exceed 178 F. If the temperature of the water is too high, it can weaken the adhesive of the vinyl, causing it to peel or crack with time. We recommend washing in cold or warm water. 

Use mild detergent 

Any detergent that has special additives to "whiten", "fight stains", or "brighten colors" is going to be too harsh for your HTV. Also, “green” detergent is typically too corrosive for heat transfer vinyl. 

Dry on low or hang dry 

Hang dry is the best way to dry HTV decorated garments, but it is okay to tumble dry or use low heat. Just like with the washing process, you want to use minimal heat to protect your heat transfer vinyl. If you choose to hang dry your clothing, it will also help minimize wrinkles seen in the HTV after washing. 

Do not iron directly on it 

Just like with washing and drying, ironing can be extremely hot temperatures, so you want to avoid ironing the garment when possible. Ironing can cause the vinyl or adhesive to melt or burn. If you must iron the shirt, make sure you are using low heat and you have a cloth or towel between the iron and transfer. 

No bleach or fabric softeners 

Just like with detergent, fabric softeners and bleach can be very damaging to your HTV. We suggest NEVER using bleach or fabric softeners on your decorated garments, to ensure your transfer lasts.