How can you remove screen prints from shirts

by Anthony Clark

The screen printing process uses an emulsion and ink to create the designs on the shirt. These prints are permanent. Specific methods can be used to remove screen printing from clothing. In this blog, you'll learn how to get screen printing off of your shirt with simple steps. You can do it at home without a professional.

No special equipment is required. This does not require any expensive solutions. A few simple household items, such as white vinegar, iron, soap, etc. are needed.

Some points to keep in mind

It is important to keep in mind some points before using a particular method.

  • Various techniques and chemicals are used in printing process. T-shirts prints with rubber, plastics, pigments, discharges, high density, etc are hard to remove. They can cause damage to the shirts.
  • The most important consideration is the base color of cloth. If you apply extra heat or leach, the base color may turn lighter than the back and sleeves of the shirt. For example, if the shirt was white, it may turn to reddish color.
  • Depend on the area or size of print, you can use ant technique.
  • Avoid to removing print from an expensive shirt. It may cause damage. But if you still want to do this, apply some heat press for few minutes. Put a butter paper on the top of the shirt. You can remove the print by this technique.

Remove screen printing from shirts without damage

Remove screen printing from shirts without damage
Remove screen printing from shirts without damage

Screen printing shows your creativity very well. But sometime you want to remove it anymore. They seem to be faded and no longer fashionable. No worry, we will guide you every step to remove them.

Try these tricks to remove print from cloth.

1. Heating with iron

Heating with iron
Heating with iron (source)

Use a medium level heated iron. Cover the design or print with butter paper. Turn the iron to the highest setting.

Iron the butter paper on the surface of shirt for a few seconds. Don't do this for long time. It can burn the cloth.

Remove the butter paper and peel off the print. Now you can remove the print from the shirt.

2. Remove screen print with cloth dryer

If you are afraid of burning your shirt with heating technique, use cloth dryer technique.

Put your cloths in cloth dryer for 20 minutes. When heated, the print becomes soft. It's easy to peel the print now. When you take off the shirt, peel the letters quickly.

Repeat this process for a few times. It's depends on your speed and size of print.

3. Get off the print by using nail polish

Get off the print by using nail polish
Get off the print by using nail polish

You can use nail polish removers to remove screen print from fabric. It is because of acetone in it. Acetone dissolves the ink of print on your cloth. Then you can peel off the print with fingers. Than wash shirt with water or soap.

It is not a permanent solution. The nail polish remover has an odor. This will linger in cloth after use. You don't face such issue in other methods. This is used as basic step by many. Other techniques seem difficult to do. This is an easy process. It takes a few minutes.

You should keep few points in your mind. The steps are simple.

  • Apply remover only on printing area
  • Wait until acetone dissolve all the ink of print
  • Peel off the print with fingers
  • To remove the ink from shirt, wash with water or soap
  • No need to use expensive detergents

4. Remove using baking soda

Make a paste of baking soda in warm water. Scrub the paste at area of screen print on cloth. Use this if you want a little stronger technique than others. It is not hard in use. It will not damage the cloth.

It has easy steps to do;

  • Add two spoon of baking soda in warm water
  • Apply on printed area
  • Use old tooth brush or sponge to remove the remaining
  • Wash the shirt to remove the stains from cloth
  • You can use detergent or soap
  • Soak the cloth in water and add detergent
  • Repeat this until stain is there

5. Iron and plastic bag method

This is not a commonly used method. It has good results. It has easy steps to follow;

  • Place the cloth of print in a plastic bag from inside
  • Put the iron on the upper surface of that bag
  • Heat the iron high
  • Do it for few minutes
  • Wait until the process of steam making start
  • switch off the iron when steam coming out
  • open the plastic bag
  • Take out the cloth and remove the print
  • Repeat it three times if doesn't work in one attempt

6. Use plastisol remover

Use plastisol remover
Use plastisol remover

It is the most difficult method to remove. You need professional help for this. You need to use a company product for this. A product called ScreenTek can help you.

Here are some steps for getting started:

  • Collect your material in one spot before start
  • Collect ScreenTek, water, white vinegar for this
  • It works as an enzymatic reaction. This process can take 24 hours to show results
  • Add water in spray bottle. Add ScreenTek concentrate according to direction.
  • Mix this with white vinegar in another bottle
  • Apply this on the area of screen print and remove the print after sometime

7. Cold and warm water rinse method

  • Remove excessive ink from cloth. Put the fabric in cold water for few seconds. This will create enough suction. The remaining ink will remove easily.
  • Use detergent and hot water to remove print. Mix two spoon of detergent in hot water. Soak the fabric in this mixture. Soak until you see bubbling action.
  • Warm water rinse method is also used. It can also use it to remove dyes without causing damage.

Some valuable tips for remove printing

In this section, we will point out some tricks. This will make the method simpler for you.

  • Washing the shirt persistently fades the image. Washing the shirt greater often. Do it mainly with hands. Focus extra on the printed location that has diminished image.
  • Do now not iron the shirt directly. This will solely set the photograph firmly on shirt.
  • Acetone helps eliminate cussed display screen printings.
  • The recognizing fluid of excessive strain weapons can help. It will get rid of the sticky prints.
  • When you warmth set the picture on shirt with the aid of ironing. You make it permanent. Theirs is little you can do to cast off it. Washing regularly may also help.

Precautions for removing prints from shirts

There are few precautions to hold in mind. It is for the protection of fabric. Here are a few precautions.

  • Spotting fluid is a risky chemical. It wants to be managing with care. Keep out of attain of young people and kids.
  • If you figure out to use chemical compounds for removing. Make positive that the working location in properly ventilated. You ought to even do it outdoors. Acetone is bit safer. But you nonetheless want ventilation.
  • Put on some gloves whilst doing any process. Your pores and skin can soak up chemicals. It can reason harm to your skin.
  • Doesn't warmth or iron the display screen print directly. That will set the ink into the fabric. It will make print even more difficult to remove.
  • If you desire to use chemical compounds on shirts. Consider the related hazards. Weight them towards the solid of new shirt. If shopping for new clean shirt is cheaper. It's higher to get new one.
  • You can the shirt to specialists to do away with the ink. It would possibly no longer come cheap. But it will get display screen print off.
  • If you tried everything. None of them worked. Replace the shirt with new one.

Alternative way to remove screen print from shirt

  • Use bathtub towel for this. Place it on a flat surface. Place the shirt in a way the print must on face side. You should cowl the printed location with butter paper. Heat the iron excessive and vicinity it on butter paper. Do it till the print begin melting. The ink transferred to butter paper. You can use plastic knife to do away with the ink from shirt.
  • Another technique is to vicinity a towel on association surface. Spread the fabric on it. Make certain it need to be on the incorrect side. The underside of printed region faces up. Dip cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol. Wait for round 20 seconds. You can use a plastic knife to lose the ink. Peel off the ink. Stop when there is no signal of ink. If stain of ink remains, use greater isopropyl and do it again.

Conclusion

Now you understand how to get rid of display screen prints. Now you can take care of print take away by means of yourself. We have taken it upon ourselves to convey you these methods. Use any of the above technique. You will recognize that it is a convenient task. Just comply with all the steps properly. Remember all the security measures. Consider all the delivered pointers for most benefits.

About Anthony Clark

Anthony Clark always had a passion for digital drawing and printing ever since he was young. He would wander around his parents' house in Phoenix, Arizona drawing various things with his older digital tablet. Be it just a memory collection or a portrayal of anything: objects, parents, school, events, etc. He received his BA in Graphic Design at San Jose State University - the heart of Silicon Valley. Now Mr. Clark is excited to present his experience coupled with some colorful dips to help shape the future of printing.

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