Key Takeaways

Block printed fabrics need to be washed eventually, and using a gentle process is best to maintain your prints.
Make sure you set your fabric correctly before getting your fabrics wet to prevent your designs from being washed away (noooo!)
Hand washing is better than machine washing whenever possible.
Always use cold water and gentle detergent to wash printed fabrics.
Lay flat to dry, never wring or rub your fabrics to prevent the ink from coming off. After washing, you can iron or steam to release any wrinkles.
Keep fabric out of direct sunlight and UV rays to prevent fading.

Today we’re going to talk about an important step of the block printing process that you should never overlook. This guide is specific to block printing projects that will have an end use where they will need to be eventually washed or spot cleaned.

I’m talking about pillow covers, aprons, curtains, or any fabric you sew into clothes or accessories. That cute, printed tote bag will need cleaning at some point my dear :).

I know it might seem nerve-wracking to want to put water anywhere near your beautiful prints (that probably took a lot of hard work!), but I’m about to share plenty of little tricks and tips that will help you keep your block prints as fresh and vibrant as possible. So let’s jump in and talk about what to do, and what to avoid when caring for your block print fabrics.

BEFORE ANYTHING: Heat Set Your Fabric!

For the purposes of this post, I’m going to assume you have followed my block printing process of using screen printing inks on natural fabrics. If you’re not sure what fabric to use for block printing, make sure and check out this post next. (And if you’re looking for advice on fabric care for prints created with dyes, continue on your Google adventure).

The very first thing you’ll need to check before you even think about throwing block print fabric in the wash is to check the label on your paint.

Double and triple check that you purchased and printed with ink that is not only meant for fabric, but that can be heat set to make it permanent. If you haven’t already, follow the instructions on the label to correctly heat set your block print fabric after you print it.

This usually just requires you to flip the fabric over (print side down) and hit it with an iron for a short time, fairly simple. Once you are sure your fabric is set, you can feel safe that your hard work will not get washed down the drain as soon as the water hits the fabric.

Why You Need To Care For Your Fabrics

While I will be sharing my best tips and tricks for cleaning fabrics here, you should also understand that the block prints you created are essentially a stamp. Yes, the inks you used are made for fabric, and yes, you’re setting them to some extent; however, the fact remains that this method of printing is bound to fade at least slightly over time.

This is because your ink is printed on top of the fabric as opposed to being piece-dyed or yarn-dyed. The ink is sitting on top of the fibers instead of fully submerging the fibers with color.

Now you might be thinking, wtf Dani, why would you teach me a printing process using this type of ink instead of dyes? And I would tell you…this method is just my preference…especially for teaching others this process.

This way of printing is easily accessible, it’s easy to handle, and you can still have lasting gorgeous fabric prints in just a few hours.

Would you prefer to break your hand carving a wood block for weeks on end just so you can use dyes (and then still have to be careful washing it later)? Didn’t think so, rubber it is!

The tradeoff is that you need to be a little more careful in the fabric care department. Now let’s talk about the best ways to maintain the vibrancy and details of your block prints.

Wash Your Block Printed Fabric

First of all, when you wash your printed fabrics, you’ll want to be very gentle. The more gentle you are, the less the ink will be disturbed, and the higher chance your design will stay looking good.

Let’s say you block printed a pillow cover and now it needs to be cleaned. Instead of throwing it in the washer, I’d recommend that you hand wash it separately using a gentle detergent meant for delicates. You’ll want to avoid bleach or any harsh soaps that might disturb the fabric ink.

If you must throw it in the washer, I would first turn it inside out to protect the prints, use a gentle detergent, and use a cold water setting on a short cycle. Using cold water will help preserve the inks and help it last longer.

After cleaning, rinse your fabric with cold water and allow the excess water to drain off.

How To Dry Block Print Fabric

After letting the excess water drip off, lay your fabric flat on a dry towel and roll it up, fruit roll-up style to remove more water. After a while, un-roll it from the towel and lay it flat to dry completely. Avoid any wringing or twisting of the fabric, this can ruin your prints.

You may be tempted to throw it into the dryer, but you should know that the heat and friction could cause the ink to break down faster. This may result in you losing the small details of your prints…always a bummer.

One last tip here, avoid drying your printed fabric in direct sunlight. Inks can easily fade when subjected to UV light.

Iron or steam your fabric

Now that your fabric is dry, you’ll want it looking its best. You can iron it or steam it to work out unsightly wrinkles and creases. Before ironing, flip it over to the reverse side to protect your designs.

You can also put a thin layer of muslin or cotton directly between the iron and the front side of your fabric to protect it. This is an option if you have fabric that is already sewn and is awkward to iron inside out.

As far as temperature, that will depend on the type of fabric you printed on. If you printed on linen for example, you can crank your iron up pretty high to the linen setting, but you’ll need to adjust the temperature for most other fabrics.

Maintaining Your Block Prints Over Time

Now that you understand basic care for your printed fabrics, how can you keep them looking great over an extended period of time? The key is to remember to treat them as gently as possible. Only wash your fabrics when necessary, and if possible, just spot clean as needed.

If you have some block printed pillow covers you adore, consider printing another set in a different (or same) pattern or color so you can switch them out during the year. That way, they won’t wear or fade so quickly.

Speaking of fading, if you have pieces that may be exposed to direct sunlight on a daily basis because of the way the windows are in your space, you may want to consider relocating them. UV rays can fade the bright colors of your block prints over time. This is similar to having artwork on a wall that catches direct rays every day…over time, the colors will change.

Block Print Your Own Patterns

After all the hard work you put into designing, carving, and printing your own customized fabrics, you will want to make sure your patterns stand the test of time. Taking gentle care of your fabric is the best way to ensure that you can achieve this. Spot clean your fabrics if they don’t need a full wash, use gentle soap, and cool temperatures when they do, and never wring or rub your fabric. This will help maintain your design as long as possible.

I hope you found this helpful! If you’re looking for some fun block printing project ideas, check out this post next to gather some inspiration! You can also learn my step by step block printing process here to get started on your own block print projects.

How to Care for Your Block Print Fabrics