Print coming off tops in the wash?! Do I need a different detergent?!

[lds0507]

Hello 😊 recently moved out from the parents and doing my own laundry for first time haha. I've got a couple of printed tops like the pictured one and I've washed them twice since I've moved in.

The first time with 40ml of liquid detergent, full load, and on a 1600 spin. Didn't really think about it. Of course I get them out the wash and the print is coming off! With loads of little bits. Wasn't disastrous however so carried on wearing.

Washed them again today, this time with 20ml of liquid detergent, full load on a 600 spin. Again, not as much, but loads of bits coming off the print even with much gentler spin and half detergent!

When I was with the rents they were washed loads and no print ever came off! I'm using Lidl Liquid Detergent which says 'super concentrated' on the front - could this be why? Surely I don't have to resort to handwashing them?

Did you add fabric conditioner? Or is there fabric conditioner in the detergent? If so, it’s probably that.

How hot was the wash?

Yeah I added a smaller amount than usual. Usually probably use double! I didn't think about it being the fabric conditioner!

Turn them inside out to wash.

A 30c! For 2 hours, full load, 600 spin, with a small amount of comfort. Washed inside out.

Always do 👍🏼

Ask your parents. They seem to have got it right!

1600 or 600rpm spin? You say both. If 1600 that probably won't help. Maybe use a wool wash, that's gentler.

I wash things like that in a mesh laundry bag as well as inside out.
Those transfers don’t last for ever so the t-shirt might just be coming to the end of its usable life. It’s a large area of transfer so will always be easily damaged. You’re not doing anything wrong with detergent.
The only way to make them last a bit longer is to hand wash them very gently.

Oh crikey yes, 1600 is going to kill things like that!

1600 first time, 600 second time. Both times, some print came away. Someone has suggested maybe it's the fabric conditioner - don't think my parents ever used it.

Is the detergent bio or non bio? That can make a difference

Some printed t-shirts are just crap at the moment.

DH has chucked out a couple where the designs began flaking off almost at once, when run through the sort of wash that plenty of other printed-t-shirts (including one I had from the same place but with a different design) had happily survived.

Bio! Would this be more likely to cause damage? Is there any common household things I could use as a substitute to just freshen it up next time rather than buying non bio?!

@lds0507 I have found bio takes off printed things previously, so I use non bio for print like that. I also use non bio for black/dark items as supposedly it's meant to keep things darker for long (I don't know how true this is 😅)

I've always used non bio and never had this happen. DS has loads of printed things.

I used to use fabric conditioner and never had that. The only time I’ve experienced print coming away was DH got a stubborn stain on his printed t shirt and I put it on an intense wash with this special soak setting on Samsung machines to get stains off. I’d say it’s the spin cycle that’s done it

What are the washing instructions on the garment label? Ask your parents how they used to wash your tops.