How to break in printed T-Shirts

[Davidko19]

Originally Posted by Nosu3

beat me to it!

burying clothing is the best aging process, just not too long.


I dont want it to look like ****. I want it to be new just look worn in. FOR INSTANCE:


See how this shirt is BRAND NEW but looks soft, lived in...loved. The print job looks is and well worn in.

Then I see these shirts all the time. The printing is super thick and the t-shirt material is thick and not comfy. I want to artifically make this into ^^^ Get it?

 

[a-rock]

Dunk in some hot water and then throw it in the dryer with a bunch of rocks. Then take outside, hand on clothesline, and beat it with a stick. At this point, your wife should be properly beaten into submission. Ask her to wash your t-shirt with baking soda.

 

[mrtophat]

there might be something to hang drying in the sun. I had to do this for about a year when I lived abroad and the shirts that I brought with me ended up super soft compared to the ones I had left back home. I can't say for sure what it was, but something I did really broke them in nicely.

 

[Stylin-1]

Originally Posted by Davidko19

I dont want it to look like ****. I want it to be new just look worn in. FOR INSTANCE:


See how this shirt is BRAND NEW but looks soft, lived in...loved. The print job looks is and well worn in.

Then I see these shirts all the time. The printing is super thick and the t-shirt material is thick and not comfy. I want to artifically make this into ^^^ Get it?

Why not just buy what you want in the first place?

That bottom t-shirt is like $8. The thick, velvety print is horrible and just cracks with time.

 

[Davidko19]

Originally Posted by Stylin-1

Why not just buy what you want in the first place?

That bottom t-shirt is like $8. The thick, velvety print is horrible and just cracks with time.


Jesus dude, your missing the point -- these are examples, NOT what I have in mind.

The shirt I WANT does not come with the distressed/worn look as an option. Furthermore, the broken in shirts are substantially more off the rack . The only thing the design I like comes in is the starched thick printed silk screen crap so I have to make due.

I really thought someone woulda had a good answer by like post 6 as Im sure Im not the only guy who wants to go to a sports game or something and not look like a total 40 year old dad who JUST bought the shirt....

 

[tahonng]

Try this article. BTW, I heard on a tv show a long time ago that soaking in a really diluted bleach+water solution would make a new shirt look more worn. But I don't know how much bleach to how much water.

 

[Davidko19]

Originally Posted by tahonng

Try this article.

BTW, I heard on a tv show a long time ago that soaking in a really diluted bleach+water solution would make a new shirt look more worn. But I don't know how much bleach to how much water.

HA!!! Thats its BROSKI - you the man!

EXACTLY the article I remember. Im gonna try this and report my findings.... unless then, we should probably sticky this forever

 

[theom-]

Originally Posted by Davidko19

HA!!! Thats its BROSKI - you the man!

EXACTLY the article I remember. Im gonna try this and report my findings.... unless then, we should probably sticky this forever

No.

 

[chethondo]

Originally Posted by centrix

seriously?

Hahaha. That was my initial though as well.

Sorry to laugh.

 

[acidboy]

while wet, whip it against a stone surface

 

[cthip]

from the above article:

To create a vintage T-shirt, start by mixing together the washing soda and salt. "The salt acts as an abrasive, making the shirt look older,"

and:

Set the machine on the highest temperature.

but they seem to have forgotten that hot water dissolves the salt rendering it completely NON-ABRASIVE




idiots.

 

[Davidko19]

Originally Posted by cthip

but they seem to have forgotten that hot water dissolves the salt rendering it completely NON-ABRASIVE


idiots.

DA FUK??? You think YOU know science better than the Bros at Mens Health?!?!?!

Think again.

This will work and when you see my pics your mind will be BLOWN.

(Now I just gotta find washing soda

)

 

[tahonng]

(double post)

 

[tahonng]

Originally Posted by cthip

but they seem to have forgotten that hot water dissolves the salt rendering it completely NON-ABRASIVE

Was thinking something along those lines as well. If it were me, I'd use coarse sea salt and washing soda apply it directly onto the shirt, roll the shirt up, salted side in, put that in the wash. Hopefully, there'll be some abrading action before the salt and soda dissolve in the water.

Maybe the chlorine in the salt + the water forms a really mild form of hyrdochloric acid...?

Anyway, good luck, OP, and please post pics of the shirt/s. I'm curious about the results.