Custom Apparel Care Guide

Custom Gear has been Australia's leading provider of promotional clothing for many years now. We have been supplying custom tees, hoodies, jackets and polos for over ten years. Part of our after-sales service includes reaching out to our existing clients to collect feedback on the quality of the apparel and print. After collecting feedback from over 500 clients, we found that 80% read the care label before washing the garment for the first time, and 75% followed the care instructions thoroughly. 77% of all participants who read the care instructions reported that the embroidery quality stayed the same and didn't disintegrate from wear and tear. Some of our clients contributed to our research by sharing their tips on taking care of garments for longer-lasting results. Taking care of your custom apparel is easier than you think.

Here are a few tips that can help you increase the life of your custom apparel without costing you a penny.

Wash only when needed

Washing your garments in a washing machine is not the only way to clean your garments. By airing out your garments in sunlight, you can kill the bacteria through the disinfectant properties of UV rays from the sun. All you need is a bright sunny day, and all you need to do is hang out your clothes, and UV rays will take care of the rest. By using sunlight as a disinfectant, you can save water and increase the life of your apparel.

Stain Removal.

Avoid washing clothes to remove a small stain, use a stain remover bar or spray. By doing so, you can remove the stain without having to use the washing machine. The quality of fabric directly correlates to how many times it's been washed. By reducing the number of washes, you will prolong the life of your garments.

Load up.

It would be best if you wait before putting a load into the washing machine. Make sure your load is full and not half or less. This will minimise the stress on the fabric and will reduce damage caused to your clothes during washing.

Care Label

Care labels contain information that helps you maintain the quality of your garments by showing all the Do's and Don'ts, so make sure you read the label before you wash your t-shirts or jacket next time. Care labels are often located inside seem of the garment.

Avoid Dryer

Using a dryer will help you dry your clothes faster, but in return, it will also damage the fabric of your garment. When a garment is exposed to hot air during a cycle rotation, it can damage the fabric. We highly recommend air drying your clothes to maintain the quality of your apparel.

Inside Out

When drying your clothes in the sun, make sure your clothes are inside out. This will help maintain the colour of the fabric. It's a common mistake when people hang out their clothing and forget to put it inside out. Excessive sun can damage the fabric and make the colour fade.

Colour Load

When washing your clothing using a washing machine, it's highly recommended that you wash similar colour clothes together. Avoid washing white colour garments with any other bright colour garments.

Repurpose

It's essential we remain responsible even when the garments are at their end of life. If the garment is completely worn out, repurpose it. By repurposing, you will minimise waste and the carbon footprint associated with disposing of a garment. You can turn your worn-out clothes into rags, towels etc.