How to Remove Print from Shirt – 9 Best Hacks

Don’t let faded prints ruin your style. Find out How to Remove Print From Shirt and breathe new life into your old clothes!

Whether the print has aged, lost its appeal, or you simply wish to replace it with a better design, learn How to Remove Print from Shirt below.

Find out How to Remove Security Tags from Clothes here

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Can You Remove Print From a Shirt and T-Shirts?

Yes, you can remove the print from the clothes. It can be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible. Some of the most popular and effective methods are mentioned below that’ll help you get rid of print from shirts.

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How to Remove Print from Shirt?

The below methods are ideal for removing vinyl, rubber, graphic, and screen prints from shirts.

1. Try Iron

Do you have an iron handy? If yes, then you don’t need anything else to take off the print from your shirt.

Supplies

• Iron
• Wet Cloth
• Dry Towel
• A Knife

Directions

1. Lay the shirt on an ironing board, a table, or a floor.
2. To protect the other side of the clothing, put a dry towel inside the shirt behind the printing.
3. Next, dampen a clean cloth with cold water and put it over the printed area. This will prevent the print from sticking to the iron.
4. Heat the iron and press it gently against the damp cloth over the print. Stop ironing as soon as the cloth stops fizzing.
5. Using a knife, carefully scrape off the loosened print and peel it off with your fingers.
6. If the cloth dries out, dampen it again.
7. Repeat the process for the remaining printed areas.

2. Nail Polish Remover

Nail polish remover is a potent liquid that can break down various things, including colors. When it’s applied to a shirt’s printed area, it breaks down the color, causing it to loosen from the fabric.

Supplies

• Acetone-Based Nail Polish Remover
• Cotton Balls

Directions

1. Place an old rag inside the shirt under the print.
2. Next, saturate a cotton ball with nail polish remover.
3. Start rubbing the print gently but firmly with the moistened cotton ball. Always use a fresh one once the one you’re using becomes dirty.
4. Once the print begins to fade or peel, continue the process until it’s fully removed.
5. After the print is removed, wash the shirt and let it dry.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol, is a powerful solvent. A solvent is a substance that can dissolve other substances. When it comes to removing the print from shirts, rubbing alcohol works by breaking down the inks or dyes used in the printing process.

Supplies

• Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
• Cotton Pads
• A Toothbrush
• Warm water

Directions

1. Place the shirt on a flat surface with the printed side facing up.
2. Moisten a cotton pad with a few drops of rubbing alcohol.
3. Gently dab the alcohol-soaked cotton pad on the print. Avoid soaking the entire shirt; focus only on the printed area.
4. Wait for 3-5 minutes to let the alcohol break down the print ink.
5. After that, gently scrub the area with a toothbrush or peel the print with your fingers.
6. Once it’s done, rinse the garment with warm water.
7. If print remains, repeat the process.

4. Sugar

Sugar easily removes print from shirts thanks to its abrasive nature. It’s one of the cheapest hacks on this list.

Supplies

• Sugar
• Water

Directions

1. Ensure the shirt is damp but not soaking wet.
2. Take a handful of granulated sugar and spread it evenly over the print you want to remove on the damp shirt.
3. Gently scrub the print with the sugar using circular motions. Apply light pressure to work the sugar granules into the fabric and loosen the ink.
4. Continue scrubbing the sugar for a few minutes, ensuring that you cover the entire area thoroughly.
5. Wait for about 10 to 15 minutes. This gives the sugar time to interact with the ink and break it down.
6. After that, use a clean cloth or sponge to wipe away the sugar granules from the shirt. Gently scrub the area with a brush to remove any loosened ink particles.
7. If there are still traces of the print, repeat the process.
8. Rinse the shirt under cool running water to remove any remaining sugar residue and ink.

5. Plastisol Remover

If you want to remove screen print from your shirt, buy a plastisol remover. It works by dissolving the plastisol ink used in screen printing.

Supplies

• Plastisol Remover
• Protective Gear
• Brush

Directions

1. Put the shirt on a flat surface and place a protective layer underneath the shirt to avoid any potential damage.
2. Wear gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes from the remover.
3. Shake the plastisol remover bottle well to ensure the contents are properly mixed.
4. Apply a liberal amount of the plastisol remover directly onto the print area.
5. Let the plastisol remover do its work for 5-10 minutes.
6. Once the waiting period is over, gently scrub the print area with a brush in a circular motion. Be careful not to scrub too vigorously.
7. Continue scrubbing until the print is fully removed.
8. In the end, clean the shirt thoroughly with water to wash away any remaining ink residue and the plastisol remover.

6. Cold Water

This method works if the printed design is relatively new. It’s ideal for correcting mistakes during the shirt printing process at home.

Supplies

• Cold Water
• Basin or Sink
• Soft-bristle Brush

Directions

1. Fill a basin or sink with cold water. Make sure there is enough water to submerge a shirt.
2. Toss the shirt in cold water, ensuring that the print you want to remove is fully immersed.
3. Let the shirt soak in the cold water for about half an hour or so. This will help loosen the print.
4. After soaking, take the shirt out of the water and lay it on a clean surface.
5. Using a soft-bristle brush or sponge, scrub the print. The print should start to peel off.
6. Once the print disappears, dry the shirt properly.

7. Baking Soda

As baking soda is a mild abrasive, it lifts the print from the shirt easily and quickly without any hassle.

Supplies

• Baking Soda
• Water
• Toothbrush

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste. Start with a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and adjust as needed to achieve a thick, spreadable consistency.
2. Spread the prepared paste on the print with a toothbrush.
3. Allow the paste to sit on the print for about 10-15 minutes.
4. After that, take the toothbrush and gently scrub the print in a circular motion.
5. Once you’re done, wash the shirt with water to remove the baking soda paste.

8. Goo Gone

Goo Gone is designed to remove adhesives from a variety of surfaces. That’s why it’s a great product to take off print from clothes. Goo gone breaks down the glue that bonds the print to the shirt.

Supplies

• Goo Gone Remover
• Cotton Ball or Pad

Directions

1. Lay your shirt flat on a clean, dry surface.
2. Apply a small amount of Goo Gone on the print with a cotton ball.
3. Leave the shirt for 2-3 minutes.
4. After that, again spread the goo gone with a cotton ball and scrub until the print comes off.
5. Once you’re done, rinse the entire shirt in warm water to remove the Goo Gone.

9. Hair Dryer

A hairdryer is another effective tool to remove the print from the shirt. It gets the job done by softening the print ink.

Supplies

• Hair dryer
• Clean cloth
• Dish soap
• Warm water
• Cotton swab
• A flat surface

Directions

1. Put the shirt on a flat surface, making sure the area with the print is flat and easily accessible.
2. Heat the printed spot with the hair dryer. Use the high heat setting and hold the dryer 2 inches away from the shirt. Heat the print for about 1 minute.
3. After that, quickly scrape the print with a putty knife. Be careful not to rub too hard, as this may damage the fabric.
4. Repeat the process of heating and use of scrapping tool until the print is fully removed.
5. Once the print is gone, clean the garment as usual.

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How to Remove Print from Shirt: Precautions to Consider

Read the below safety precautions before beginning the above hacks.

• Don’t use rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover on delicate fabrics such as rayon, wool, or silk.
• Test rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover on a small, hidden part of the shirt to ensure they don’t adversely affect the fabric.
• Use caution when operating the iron. Make sure not to burn yourself or the shirt fabric.
• Don’t overheat the shirt with the iron. This could cause the fabric to burn or discolor.
• Be careful when using a knife to scrape off the loosened print. Do it gently to avoid tearing the shirt or hurting yourself.
• Wear gloves while handling nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol to protect your skin.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover.
• Use rubbing alcohol in a well-ventilated area because its fumes can irritate the nose and throat.
• If the fabric color changes or it seems like the fabric is getting damaged, stop the above method immediately.
• Nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol are flammable. Keep them away from open flames or heat sources.
• Ensure children and pets are kept away from your work area. The chemicals used in these methods can be harmful if ingested or if they come into contact with skin and eyes.
• Do not mix rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover together. Mixing chemicals can cause dangerous reactions.
• If using a colored cloth or towel during the process, ensure the color does not bleed onto the shirt and cause further staining.

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