It happens to the best of us — you get your new shirt and can’t wait to wear it. That is until you try and put on that shirt and the tag won’t come off. Or, you finish getting ready for work, head out the door, and notice that pesky iron-on transfer still stuck to your old t-shirt. Subtle and unnoticeable iron-on transfers are a great way to add a bit of flair to an article of clothing without going over the top. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always go as planned. If you find yourself with an iron-on transfer that just won’t come off, follow these easy steps to remove it effectively and safely.
How To Remove An Iron On Transfer
Check the quality of your iron-on transfer.
You may have accidentally chose a very poor quality transfer that could damage your fabric instantly. So the first thing you should do is check the packaging of the transfer before you start. Iron-on transfers come in a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes. Which makes them very useful for customizing anything you want and in any way you see fit! You can also find transfers especially designed for sportswear and sportswear accessories, T-shirts, caps, and even shoes and bags. When purchasing a transfer, make sure it has the right type of fabric for your particular garment and the colors are vibrant enough to be seen properly once you apply them.
Turn your t-shirt inside out.
This will protect the back of your t-shirt from the damage that the iron-on transfer can cause. Iron-on transfers are synthetic fabrics and tend to wrinkle easily after prolonged use. As a result, they may also lose their quality as a good base for an image. So turning your t-shirt inside out will protect the back of your garment from the stresses of the iron-on transfer. This will prevent any damage to your t-shirt from occurring.
Soak the area with water.
This will help you get rid of the excess paint from the image. When ironing on a transfer, the paint of the image will stick to the garment and make it dirty. So make sure to wet the transfer with a cloth to remove the excess paint and make the fabric turn clean again. This will save your t-shirt from getting dirty and make the iron-on transfer look as good as new again.
Scrape off the excess paint.
This will remove the paint that remains stuck to the garment and the iron-on transfer. Scraping off the bits of paint that remain on the garment will get rid of any stains that the water did not remove. This will leave your t-shirt stain-free and ready for you to iron on your new image!
Mix equal parts of bleach and water.
This will remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt. Using bleach will help you remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt. Adding bleach to water will ensure that the garment is not harmed and you remove the iron-on transfer at the same time.
Squeeze out the excess solution from a cloth and apply it to the transfer.
This will help you remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt. Once the iron-on transfer is soaked in a solution of equal parts water and bleach, it will start to lose its quality and will lose its stickiness and durability. As a result, it will be easier to remove from the shirt. Using a cloth will make the process simpler and will help you clean the rest of the t-shirt from any excess solution that remains.
Let it sit for about 5 minutes until you see fading marks on the fabric.
This will help you remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt. You need to wait until you see fading marks on the fabric of your t-shirt. This will tell you that the iron-on transfer is already weakened and you can easily remove it. Be careful not to leave the iron-on transfer in the solution any longer or it may stain the shirt!
Rinse, wash, and dry your t-shirt normally!
This will help you remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt. Once all the iron-on transfer is removed from the t-shirt, rinse the fabric with clean water to get rid of excess bleach and let it dry in the open air. Doing this will help you remove the iron-on transfer from the t-shirt and will also clean the shirt at the same time!
Why Does an Iron-On Transfer Won’t Come Off?
1. The iron-on transfer was not applied to the garment properly.
Ironing an iron-on transfer properly is crucial in ensuring that the transfer will last for a long time and that it will not come off easily. Make sure that you apply an even amount of pressure over the entire surface of the t-shirt. If you press too hard, it might result in wrinkles and creases on the fabric, which can cause the iron-on transfer to come off easily.
2. The garment was washed after it was applied with an iron-on transfer.
Washing a garment after applying an iron-on transfer can make it fade or even come off completely! This is because washing a garment with a logo or design on it will cause the garments’ fibers to break, which can make them lose their stickiness and durability.
3. The t-shirt has been washed repeatedly and has lost its stickiness.
A t-shirt that has been washed repeatedly can become discolored due to excess washing, which can make it lose its stickiness and durability as well as its quality! As a result, your image may not stay on your t-shirt for long! This is why you need to make sure that you wash your t-shirt properly and don’t overdo it!
4. The iron-on transfer was not applied on the garment properly.
This is probably the easiest way to avoid having your design come off from a garment, regardless of how many times it has been washed. Make sure that you apply an even amount of pressure over the entire surface of the t-shirt. If you press too hard, it might result in wrinkles and creases on the fabric, which can cause the iron-on transfer to come off easily.
5. The iron-on transfer was applied to a garment that is not made of cotton.
Iron-on transfers may come off easily if they are put on garments that are not made of cotton. This is because fabrics other than cotton have different qualities and can be prone to fading and losing their stickiness easily! However, you can still use an iron-on transfer even if your t-shirt is not made from cotton, but make sure to follow the instructions carefully in order to avoid having your design come off from the t-shirt!
6. The garment was stretched when the iron-on transfer was applied.
Iron-on transfers may come off easily if you stretch a t-shirt when you are applying an iron-on transfer on it. Stretching a t-shirt will cause the fabric to lose its quality and durability, which can make it lose its stickiness and become prone to fading and coming off! Make sure that you apply an even amount of pressure over the entire surface of the t-shirt. If you press too hard, it might result in wrinkles and creases on the fabric, which can cause the iron-on transfer to come off easily.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to remove an iron-on transfer, but some methods are more effective than others. When you’re removing an iron-on transfer, always make sure that the garment is clean and dry. Make sure to blast the garment with hot air from a hair dryer or soak it in warm water and soap to ensure that the glue dissolves and loosens from the fabric easily. You don’t want to damage the garment — you just want to make the transfer come off as easily as possible.
FAQ’s
Do iron-on transfers come off completely?
Yes! Iron-on transfers are removable and can be easily taken off from a garment. However, it is important to note that the process of removing an iron-on transfer can damage the fabric of your garment. The image may also fade from your garment, especially if it has been washed several times.
How do you remove an iron on transfer?
You should first make sure that your t-shirt is clean and dry before removing an iron-on transfer. You should also use a soft cloth to gently blast the image with hot air or soak it in warm water and soap to loosen the glue. You can also try using nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to remove an iron on transfer — these products are designed to dissolve glue and will help you take off an iron on transfer more quickly!
