T-shirts can be not just comfortable, but also stylish. These clothes are worn with pleasure by adults and children. Such things are durable and strong; various inscriptions and rhinestones are glued to them.
Over time, the print becomes boring, it begins to crack and there is a desire to remove the design. It’s just not easy to do this. Modern printing technologies apply prints to fabric so well that it is almost impossible to remove the image without damaging the fabric.
Parchment paper
Thermal adhesive is applied to clothing using a thermal method; it can be removed using the same method.
If you applied it yourself at home, it will be easier to do. Iron-on adhesives attached to fabric in factories are more difficult to remove.
How to remove writing from a T-shirt:
- Place the product on a flat surface, face up.
- Place parchment paper under the drawing and on it too.
- Turn on the iron and set the heating temperature to maximum. Preferably 160-180 degrees. This mark is located between the cotton and wool switch positions.
- Lift the second sheet of parchment paper and lightly dampen the cloth. Use a spray bottle to distribute small droplets of water throughout the design.
- Use a heated iron to heat the design, carefully moving it across the parchment paper.
With this processing, the drawing is re-glued onto paper. The image may not transition immediately; it happens gradually. Don't be afraid to repeat the procedure.
If the label indicates that the product should be ironed at low temperatures, then do so. The hot soleplate of the iron can damage the fabric.
Once you've finished removing the sticker, wipe off any remaining adhesive with alcohol. Then wash the product in a washing machine or by hand.
Practical tips for removing iron-on adhesives
The thing is that this method of applying a print is different from the others, which means that in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises during the process of removing the image, use simple tips. So, what needs to be done to remove the thermal sticker:
- First of all, check the “reaction” of the fabric to your cleaning method. Otherwise, after removing the print, you will have to throw away the item.
- Use paper towels to remove any glue residue. Simply press them against the inside of the image while treating the surface with a special tool. This will allow any remaining glue to soak into the paper towel instead of sticking to the other side of your T-shirt.
It is important to check the fabric's reaction to the chosen cleaning method.
Some of them may damage its structure, and the item will have to be thrown away. To get rid of glue residues, use various means, for example:
- Special chemical compounds designed to remove adhesive from various surfaces.
- If traces of glue are fresh and have not yet dried, you can try to wipe them off by hand.
- Various alcohol-containing compounds are effective in the fight against glue.
- If there are no special means, use table vinegar, first checking how it will affect the fabric.
To get rid of glue residue left on sweatpants or a T-shirt, you can use table vinegar.
Hairdryer
A hairdryer has the same effect on inscriptions as an iron. This is also a heat treatment that can remove iron-on adhesive and vinyl graphics from a T-shirt.
Place a sheet of clean paper or cloth under the drawing and direct a hot stream of air towards the inscription. Hold the hairdryer over the picture for a while until the item becomes hot.
After warming up the base of the sticker, try to remove it from the T-shirt. If necessary, apply hot air to the lettering over and over again until it is all removed.
Removing thermal printing
To remove an image printed using thermal printing, use ethyl alcohol or an alcohol-based antiseptic liquid.
To get rid of logos printed using thermal printing, use ethyl alcohol or an alcohol-based antiseptic liquid.
If you decide to use ethyl alcohol, then you need to moisten a cotton swab and wipe the image until it completely disappears. Movements should be light and superficial; do not rub the liquid in forcefully.
Alcohol-based antiseptics are used according to the same principle. And again, the key to success is light, sliding movements. Only in this case the result will not be long in coming.
If you do everything carefully and leisurely, the result will not take long to arrive.
Machine drying
You can also remove the inscription using a washing machine. Exposure to hot air.
First you need to remove all contaminants. When washing a product in a machine, set the correct cycle and temperature, but it is better if the water is a little hotter.
Then dry the item in an automatic washing machine. Hot water and hot air drying will weaken the glue and the design will come off easily.
Take something sharp, such as a blade, and pry up the inscription. Remove it from the T-shirt carefully so as not to damage the material.
Scotch
Use tape to remove unnecessary designs from a T-shirt. This method is effective if the picture is already cracked and looks ugly, if some pieces have already fallen off on their own.
Scotch tape will not save the situation if the inscription is completely new.
This method is not suitable for items made of delicate fabrics.
How to remove a design from a T-shirt?
Cut the required length from the total skein of ribbon. Place the sticky side of the tape on the inscription and press well.
Grab one edge of the tape and tear it off sharply. The first time you may not be able to remove the entire pattern on the T-shirt.
This method can be used an unlimited number of times.
Getting rid of label traces
Removing the design from the fabric is only half the battle. Often traces appear on things in the form of glue residues and parts of the design that cannot be removed.
There are several ways to clean the material from them:
- Dimexide. This product can be purchased at any pharmacy and is inexpensive. It is necessary to wet the disc with the preparation, clean the glue from the edges to the middle to protect the clean area around it.
- Vinegar. Moisten a cotton pad with a 9% table solution and treat the desired area.
- Mechanically. Rub the glue with your hand, forming small pellets of it that can be easily removed.
- Scotch. Glue a strip of tape onto the traces of the picture, smooth it out and pull sharply. Repeat if necessary.
- Alcohol. Soak the area from which you want to remove the glue with any alcohol-containing product, then clean off the residue with an old toothbrush.
Advice!
If you cover the area around the removed design with masking tape, it will prevent the glue from spreading over a large area.
Acetone
Nail polish remover also works well for this problem. If you need to remove a pattern or a trace of glue, use it.
The method is accessible and simple.
How to remove the sticker:
- Saturate the cloth with nail polish remover.
- Apply a clean piece of rag to it, and then carefully pull it down over the treated area. Don't rub your clothes in different directions. Nail polish remover not only removes the adhesive, it dissolves the paint. If you make chaotic movements, you will simply smear the drawing.
You can enjoy the sticker being completely removed. All that remains is to wash the T-shirt to remove any remaining nail polish remover from the clothes.
Post-processing of clothing
After you remove the sticker from the fabric, small greasy marks may remain in its place. You can remove them using regular “Fairy” or its equivalent. A glass cleaning spray will also work well, regardless of the brand.
Some people advise rubbing the surface with sunflower oil, in the same way as removing stickers from furniture and removing traces of glue with oil. But in the case of clothes, such an experience can hardly be called successful. You will then also have to remove traces of oil, which is also quite labor-intensive.
If none of the methods described above helped you, you can decorate the T-shirt by hiding the ugly sticker under a patch pocket or appliqué. But it’s better to go to a dry cleaner - the professionals there know how to deal with any prints and even the consequences of removing them yourself.
Marker paint solvent
Solvents are sold at hardware stores. These special products are in the form of a liquid and can be toxic.
Wear gloves and a mask to protect your respiratory tract.
Best solvents:
- White Spirit;
- Composite;
- Eskaro White Spirit;
- Special Solvent Vivacolor;
- petrol.
Such substances act quickly and will certainly remove the pattern from clothing. Sometimes you will need to use the solvent several times.
Turpentine can be used for similar purposes. This substance easily evaporates; inscriptions are written on it even in workshops.
Medical alcohol
You can remove a thermally printed design using medical alcohol.
First, conduct the experiment on an inconspicuous area; if the reaction of the product with clothing is good, remove the pattern.
How to erase the inscription:
- Spread the product on a flat horizontal surface.
- Take a sponge and soak it in rubbing alcohol.
- Start combining the inscription, moving in one direction. This must be observed so as not to spread the glue throughout the fabric.
If the item begins to become deformed due to such processing, do not rub it. Just apply alcohol with a cotton pad, leave for a couple of minutes and wash with powder.
Some general information
Before deciding how to remove a sticker from a T-shirt, you need to figure out how it was applied to the fabric. The method of dealing with the image will depend on this. Prints come in the following types:
- thermal stickers;
- vinyl film applications;
- thermal printing image;
- drawing on fabric.
If the print is monochrome (maximum two-color) and the texture of the fabric does not show through, it is most likely vinyl. Multi-colored images with halftones and transitions that completely hide the weaving of fabric fibers - thermal stickers. Removing them is as easy as removing stickers from furniture.
You will have to tinker a little with thermal printing and drawings. They can be distinguished from other types of prints by the relief of the knitwear visible through the image. Well, to distinguish them from each other is simply based on quality. If you find it difficult to independently determine the type of sticker on clothing, try asking the donor where he ordered or bought the T-shirt with the print. Perhaps the manufacturer’s website contains information about the technology for applying stickers. As a last resort, you can always call the T-shirt manufacturer and find out everything from their employees.
How to remove iron-on adhesive from a T-shirt
A print applied to clothing using a thermal method is removed in the same way - using temperature exposure. The easiest option is to heat the picture with an iron. Spread the clothing on a flat surface, cover the sticker on both sides (front and back) with sheets of parchment paper and iron with an iron heated to maximum. After some time, the image will transfer to the parchment, and you will only have to erase the place where it was located from the remaining paint.
Not every fabric can be ironed at high temperatures. If your T-shirt is in this category, heat the sticker with a hair dryer (regular or hair dryer). There is another way - place a T-shirt with a print in the freezer for several hours. In both cases, the surface structure of the sticker will change, and it can be scraped off from the fabric in much the same way as stickers are removed from furniture. Simply grab the corner and pull the sticker, or scrape it off with a plastic scraper. Instead of a scraper, by the way, you can use a regular discount or bank card.
How to deal with a vinyl sticker
You can remove vinyl film from a T-shirt in the same way as thermal decal, that is, by heating. The only difference is that after separating the image, immediately rub the area where it was located with a swab soaked in vinegar. This will remove any particles of glue that held the vinyl to the clothing.
Another method that works well on vinyl and rubber applications is regular tape. Press it firmly onto the surface of the image, smooth it thoroughly with your palm, and then sharply peel it off. The print will come off with the adhesive tape. A few passes and the fabric is cleared of the annoying picture!
How to remove thermal printing from clothes
The easiest way to remove thermal prints is with ethyl alcohol. Vodka will also work in this case, but will be less effective. The ideal remedy is medical alcohol or an alcohol-based antiseptic.
There are two options:
- erase the drawing with cotton wool soaked in alcohol;
- Pour alcohol onto the sticker generously and wash it immediately with any SMS.
The first method is good for thick knitwear that is not afraid of deformation. The sticker should be erased with light swiping movements, without pressing. Don't rub too hard as this will only drive the dye deeper into the fabric! The washing method is suitable for thin items that tend to stretch out quickly. The main thing is to act quickly, not allowing the alcohol to evaporate from the fabric before washing.
How to remove a paint sticker from a T-shirt
To remove printed or marker designs, you will have to use solvents. Depending on the quality and type of paint, it can be either ordinary alcohol, acetone or a brand-name solvent. Start with the mildest - alcohol, and then try more aggressive compounds.
Before removing a sticker from a T-shirt, try to evaluate its quality. If a T-shirt fades when washed, or noticeably loses color, there is a good chance that any solvent will hopelessly ruin it. In addition, you will have to wash off the image in several stages, and it is advisable to complete each of them with a thorough wash. This way you will insure yourself against the appearance of unsightly stains on the fabric around the place where the sticker used to be. Think about it right away - if the T-shirt can’t withstand even a couple of washes, there’s no point in fiddling with it.
Freezer
Removing the inscription with solvents is the best way, but it is far from safe. Some people recommend doing this by freezing.
This technique is safer for both things and the body.
How to delete:
- Place the T-shirt in the freezer for 8 hours, or you can leave it overnight or overnight. Just fold it so that the design is on top. Make sure that the bends are not in the image.
- Take out the T-shirt and erase the design. The image will crack due to the cold and will be easier to remove.
The removed sticker must be sharply torn off from the items. Use a razor blade, knife, or something else to pry up the edge.
Mechanical method
The mechanical method of removing stickers and pictures involves scraping them off the fabric. To work you will need a nail file, spatula or blade.
Take a nail file and perform the movements as if you were tidying up your nails.
Scraping by any mechanical means can only remove part of the image, but the glue itself will remain.
The latter can be removed using solvents (acetone, gasoline and professional products).
Determining the type of image to be deleted
To properly remove a print from a sweatshirt, you need to recognize the type of appliqué.
Iron-on adhesive
Polyurethane (polyvinyl chloride) film, the front side of which contains an image, and the back side is covered with heat-resistant adhesive. The pattern is joined to the fabric under high temperature. Types of thermal stickers are presented in the table.
| View | Description |
| Flex | Textile thermal adhesive with a smooth front surface |
| Flock | The applique has a velvety surface |
| Reflective light | The coating reflects any light (useful when crossing the roadway at night) |
| Volumetric | A thick layer of film makes the image three-dimensional |
| Elastic | Pairs well with stretchy materials – guipure, synthetics, silk |
| Light-accumulating | The picture absorbs sunlight, so it can glow at night |
| With a special effect | Metallized, holographic, 3D picture |
| For complex coverage | Used for fabrics coated with a moisture-repellent substance |
Fact! Any thermal adhesive is sensitive to sunlight. Do not break the base or detach it from the sticky layer.
Printing on fabric
Logo, picture, inscription can be printed on fabric. This can be done:
- in a direct way;
- using auxiliary forms.
Subspecies of intermediate forms:
- silk-screen printing - paint is pressed through a stencil onto any surface;
- rotary printing;
- Thermal application - a design is applied to a film and then, under the influence of temperature, to a fabric.
Direct printing allows you to apply a picture or inscription to any material.
Vinyl applications
The pattern on vinyl can be applied in different ways:
- hot iron;
- translation.
Important! The sticker can be applied to the fabric after carefully studying the recommendations. This will extend the life of the decoration and product.
If the item fades
It is better to entrust shedding clothes to specialists. For example, take it to a dry cleaner or atelier.
If you decide to remove the sticker yourself, be prepared for the process to be lengthy.
The entire procedure will have to be divided into several stages, otherwise blurry traces will remain after the sticker is removed.
How to remove an image:
- Take your desired solvent and carefully apply it to a small area.
- Rub off the dye, then put the item in the washing machine or hand wash.
- In this way, treat area by area gradually. Do not apply solvent to the entire surface of the item at once.
It is better to turn faded clothes into a wardrobe item that you can wear at home or make a rag out of it.
Removing images and text will take a lot of time. In addition, it should be remembered that not all materials can withstand the action of aggressive agents.
Screen printing
Screen printing is a method of applying a viscous layer of paint using a stencil. This type of printing is also called silk-screen printing.
Monofilament polyester threads or metal mesh are used as uniform material.
The image adheres very firmly to the material. The drawing does not wear off even over time, but remains as good as new.
Screen printing cannot be removed. Such a thing will have to be turned into a rag, worn around the house or given to those in need.
You can try to remove the screen print using all available methods, but why waste time, effort and money if you know in advance that such images will not be removed.
Overlap
If you can't delete an image, you can cover it with another image. Take the product to a place that does photo printing. There, experts will select something suitable that will refresh the item and cover the previous image.
You can also make a top from a T-shirt with or without dangles. Or you can give it to your daughter, she will sew beautiful outfits for her dolls.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to remove inscriptions and images. You don’t need to throw the item away right away; you can find other uses for it or display a picture yourself.
What fabrics can you easily and accurately remove a sticker, design or inscription from?
You can remove prints from almost all types of fabrics. At the same time, you should pay attention to its appearance when choosing a method. Synthetic materials do not withstand exposure to solvents and high temperatures. Scotch tape can only be used on products made from natural materials that cannot be stretched.
Reference! On T-shirts made of thin fabric, any methods of removing pictures cannot be used. Due to frequent washing and exposure, they can become unusable and lose their appearance.
