If you decide to choose for yourself clothes or an accessory with a pattern, it is often applied using screen printing. However, often you have to face the need to delete the picture. If you wonder, how to remove print from shirt, pay attention to the advice described in this article.
What is screen printing?
Before proceeding with the study of the issue, of how to remove print from shirt, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the stencil press. For it, thick ink is used, which remains on the surface of the fabric.
If you have special tools and ink at home, you can make such a drawing yourself. Often, screen printing is of another name – “Silkography”. This is because at first, the silk screen printing is applied, to which the drawing with the effect of “negative” is applied.
After starting thick ink on the screen begins, as a result of which a mesh screen is formed on the product. The main purpose of the stencil is to prevent the coloring of clothing. Often, only 1-2 shade is used for screen printing. If you prefer multicolored drawings, then thermal pressing is used for them.
This is a fairly popular method for designing T-shirts, which allows you to perform many products in a short time. It is that a transfer of vinyl under the influence of TEP is printed to the fabric.
Ways to remove screen printing designs
Based on the type of fabric used, different methods for removing screen printed design can be used. When choosing, you should focus on the size of the screen print on the T-shirt, as well as the amount of your free time.
Acetone or nail polish remover
Nail polish remover is a fairly simple and effective method to remove screen printing from clothing. With it, even old ink drawings can be dissolved, which have already cracked. Nail polish remover for removing screen printing is in great demand due to accessibility and efficiency. Moreover, in almost every house you can find a nail polish remover.
You can use pure acetone. However, these solvents are quite toxic, so during operation, it is necessary to observe elementary safety rules.
Previously, you need to study the composition of the T-shirt. If the composition of the T-shirt contains more than half the polyester, you should abandon the use of nail polish remover. If the T-shirt is cotton or made of other strong fabric, even jeans, this option is quite appropriate.
It is important to focus on the “age” of the press. If the drawing has recently been applied, it is better to wash the product in cold water. This contributes to the softening of ink, and they are easier to remove.
To derive the picture, you should moisten a cotton ball in acetone, and get a seal to it. First, apply to a small area to make sure that the nail polish remover does not damage the fabric. If there are no changes in the structure of the fabric, you can safely continue to work.
Wipe the entire surface of the picture with a cotton ball, and wait a few minutes. After attempting to remove the drawing. After washing the T-shirt, remove the unpleasant smell of the product used.
Stain-coir for removing screen printing from the T-shirt
Today, there is a large range of stain co-operators on sale. All of them differ in value and efficiency. It is allowed to use air compressors or inexpensive pistols with water. Aim the gun on the drawing, and make sure that it does not fall on the fabric. Otherwise, it can be damaged.
Such devices work under pressure or due to a chemical solvent. Thanks to this, the ink is destroyed and absorbed into the wrong side. It is better to put an old towel under the bottom, which absorbs all the ink.
The gun is recommended to be filled with high-quality stain remover, which does not spoil the structure of the fabric. After, you need to wash the thing to remove the remaining chemical solvent. The minus of the method is that you have to spend money on a pistol and liquid. Therefore, the method is very expensive.
Plastisol removal
There are special means on the market that help to get rid of it. The ways are very strong, so you need to work in a ventilated room, and with gloves.
It is necessary to moisten the fabric in the solvent and attach it to the picture for half an hour. After, with the help of a soft cloth or brush, you need to wipe the remaining chemicals. It remains to wash the product in a washing machine to remove the rest of the product. The use of rubbing alcohol and white spirit is allowed.
Metal and paper bag
The main purpose of the metal in this method is the melting of the picture. However, in addition, you have to use a paper bag. It should be noted that the use of heat in the drawing can significantly complicate the process of removing the pigment.
However, this method does not have such a minus. To work, you need a paper package. You can find it in a regular store where products are sold. One side of the package is matte, and the other is glossy. The side with a gloss must be put on top of the print, which will be removed.
After that, you should install a small power on the iron, and turn off the steam function. Spend several times on the package so that the stencil sticks to the package, and separates from the fabric. If partially, the ink remains on the T-shirt, you can clean screen printing residue with a nail polish remover or a scraper made of plastic.
Fading during washing
This method is quite time-consuming. However, as you know, over time, even high-quality drawings will fade. Especially if you often wash the product. The medium-sized design will preserve up to 50 washes, especially if you turn things inside out before starting the machine.
The disadvantage of this method is that it can change the initial shade of the T-shirt itself. Therefore, quite quickly the product can become unsuitable for wear.
Washing with cold water
If the ink has recently been applied, you can remove them by washing it with cold water. This method, as already understood, is optimal if the stencil seal was only applied. This method is often used when screen printing on top of the T-shirt.
If you notice a mistake in your work, rinse a T-shirt in cold water. This can be done both by hand and using a normal washing machine cycle. Warm water is prohibited because it fixes ink. If the cold rinse method is crowned with success, you can rinse the product in warm water and dry it.
Sugar-based scrub
Using a sugar scrub, you can polish the seal on the T-shirt. It is better to use it if the project is fresh. If the drawing is small, but, old, this option is also appropriate.
You can rinse the product in cold water, the field of which sugar is on top of the pattern.
Next, you need to manually wipe the picture. After that, it remains only to wash the product to get rid of the stickiness.
Removing screen print design from a T-shirt
Quite often, people ask the question, how do you remove screen printing from a shirt? It is allowed to use methods, which were discussed a little earlier. However, some more tips should be followed.
As already mentioned, it is first recommended to read the composition of the T-shirt to determine the main material. If there is 50% polyester and more in the composition, it is allowed to remove the screen print designs using the dishwasher.
It is very important to lay a dense sheet of cardboard between the two sides of the T-shirt. This eliminates the seeping of the pigment on the back surface.
Removing screen printing from Jersey
You can apply the usual varnish removal. It allows you to quickly and effectively remove old inscriptions from a T-shirt. For the peeling of pigments to be much better, after impregnation by acetone, rub the print with a soft cloth or brush.
Often, people ask, how do you remove the vinyl print from a shirt? If you want to remove vinyl or rubber prints, the use of a nail polish remover remedy is appropriate.
Remove screen printing from denim
To remove the screen print design from denim fabric, first, the product needs to be rinsed in cold water and then send to hot drying. After, the old drawing is quite easy to separate from the surface.
The application of the methods that came before. If you just want to hide the old drawing, you can make a strip over an unacceptable design.
It is also allowed to apply a new thermo-fixed vinyl pattern, which is applied over the old print.
Remove screen printing from a hoodie
In recent years, hoodies have become quite popular. There are a large number of models that have screen printing. You can remove them using regular varnish removal. However, in the case of working with a sweatshirt, some tips need to be adhered to.
Use dense cardboard. This prevents the seeping of the pigment on the back of the product. After moistening the drawing with a varnish removal, after half an hour of trying to erase it. A wet pattern is easily removed using a soft cloth or brush.
At the end of the work, it remains to wash the sweatshirt with the usual method. This removes the unpleasant smell of acetone.
However, this method is not suitable if the hoodies are made of synthetic fabric. After all, acetone can damage its structure.
Remove screen printing from a polyester T-shirt
Recently, a variety of T-shirts made of polyester are increasingly found. This is due to the availability of material.
If you need to remove the drawing from them, you can arm yourself with a hard brush and a dishwasher. Do not use chemical solvents because they can destroy the fabric.
The use of the thermal method with an iron is not the best idea. After all, polyester can melt with severe heating.
The easiest way to remove prints from polyester is by washing them in warm water. After that, dishwashing detergent is applied to the wet screen print design. Use a hard brush for cleaning.
Removing the logo
Quite often, you can hear the question, how do you remove logos from clothing? The use of a cotton ball with acetone is allowed. You can also apply a plastic scraper. You can also place a clean, white towel over the design logo and apply a hot iron on top of the towel. The heat will loosen the adhesive and make it easier to remove the design logo.Lift the towel and check the logo. If it is still stuck, repeat the process with the towel and iron until the logo loosens completely.
Once the design logo is removed, check the shirt for any adhesive residue. Gently scrape off any residue with a blunt-edged tool or use a spot-remover to get rid of any sticky spots. Finally, wash the shirt to remove any remaining glue or adhesive residue.
However, if you remove the logo, the appearance of the product will be lost. After all, the processed area will be brighter. Be prepared for the fact that a fluid to relieve varnish can spoil the structure of the tissue.
Cleaning the remnants of screen printing
Very often, you can hear the question, can you remove screen printing ink from clothes? If after using the above methods there are still traces from the screen print, you can rinse the product in cold water, or remove the remains with sugar.
You can remove screen printing from the T-shirt quite simply. To do this, several available methods do not require special knowledge or effort during use.
Read also: How to make sublimation prints that are sure to turn heads
Hi, I’m artist and sublimation printing expert. Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, I had passion for photography and painting from my childhood. I started my career as a sublimation print operator for a local printing company in 2012. The role exposed gave me lots of practical knowledge about printing process, from managing color profiles to ensuring print quality on various materials.
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