The Bendy Sports Guide to Caring for Your Custom Sublimated Apparel
You’ve invested in custom apparel that uses full-dye sublimation—the most durable and vibrant printing technology in sports. Unlike screen printing that puts ink on top of a garment, sublimation fuses the ink directly into the fabric fibers.
This means your design will never crack, peel, or fade.
However, the high-performance synthetic fabrics used in sublimation are sensitive to a few specific things. Following these simple care instructions is the secret to protecting the fabric’s integrity and keeping your sublimated designs looking brilliant, season after season.
The golden rules are all about protecting those bonds and the fibers themselves.
The Golden Rules of Washing & Drying Sublimated Gear
Washing Your Sublimated Apparel
Wash Cold. Always:
Sublimation uses heat to turn ink into gas. While washing won’t get hot enough to reverse the process, hot water can cause the polyester fibers to swell slightly, which can lead to gradual color fading over many washes. Cold water locks in the color.
Turn Garments Inside Out:
While the design itself can’t be scratched off, turning the garment inside out protects the smooth surface of the performance fabric from abrasion, pilling, and snags caused by zippers or buttons from other items in the wash.
Use a Mild Detergent & Wash with Like Colors:
Harsh detergents aren’t necessary. A gentle detergent will clean the garment perfectly without affecting the sublimated dyes. Washing with like colors is a best practice to prevent any possibility of dye from other, non-sublimated clothes bleeding onto your custom gear.
Drying Your Sublimated Apparel
Tumble Dry on Low or No Heat. No Exceptions:
High heat is the single biggest enemy of sublimated apparel. Excessive heat can reactivate the dye on a microscopic level, causing colors to migrate or “bleed.” It can also damage the synthetic fabric itself, causing it to shrink or lose its shape.
Hang Dry When Possible (The Pro-Tip):
This is the safest method and guarantees the longevity of your apparel. The performance fabrics are designed to be quick-drying, so you’ll be surprised how fast they’re ready to wear again.
How to Treat Stains on Sublimated Fabric
Stains happen. The key is to treat them without using harsh chemicals that could harm the sublimated design.
- Rinse Immediately: Use cold water to flush out as much of the stain as possible.
- Pre-Treat Gently: Apply a small amount of a non-bleach, color-safe stain remover or a dab of mild liquid detergent directly to the spot.
- Dab, Don’t Scrub: Use a soft cloth to gently dab the area. Aggressive scrubbing won’t remove the stain faster, but it can damage the surface of the performance fabric.
- Wash as Normal: Wash the garment in cold water. Always check that the stain is completely gone before putting it in a dryer, as heat can set the stain permanently into the fabric fibers.
The 3 Things That Will Ruin Sublimated Apparel
These are the three things that can permanently damage your custom gear.
- Chlorine Bleach: Bleach will destroy the chemical bonds of the sublimation dye, resulting in permanent white spots or discoloration. Never use chlorine bleach on sublimated garments.
- Fabric Softeners & Dryer Sheets: These products leave a waxy residue that clogs the micro-pores of high-performance fabrics. This will ruin the DRI-GEAR® moisture-wicking technology, trapping sweat instead of wicking it away.
- Ironing & High Heat: Never iron a sublimated garment. The direct, high heat from an iron is far hotter than a dryer and can easily melt the synthetic polyester fibers, smearing the design and creating a permanent glossy mark on the fabric.
Quick-Reference Care Checklist for Sublimated Gear
Here is a simple checklist you can save or share with your team.
Following these simple steps is the best way to ensure your entire team’s sublimated gear stays in championship condition. If you ever have any questions, our Bendy Sports team is always here to help.
