How to Wash an Embroidered Hoodie or T-Shirt (and Keep It Looking New)

Embroidery is one of the toughest ways to decorate clothing. There's no print to crack or peel; the design is made of thread sewn into the fabric. But a little care goes a long way, especially for a piece you want to keep for years, like a hoodie with your child's drawing on it.

Here's a simple care routine, plus answers to the questions people ask most: the dryer, the iron, and stains.

First: read the care label

Every garment has its own fabric and its own label. A 100% cotton T-shirt and a cotton-polyester fleece hoodie behave differently. The advice below is general good practice for embroidered clothing; if the label says something more specific, follow the label.

Washing: the routine

1. Turn it inside out

This is the single most useful habit. Turning the garment inside out protects the embroidery from rubbing against other clothes, zippers and the drum of the machine, which reduces fuzzing and snagging.

2. Wash cold or cool

Cold or cool water is kind to both the thread and the garment. It helps prevent shrinking (especially in cotton) and keeps fabric colors from fading quickly.

3. Use a gentle cycle

A gentle or delicate cycle means less agitation. If you're washing a heavy hoodie, a normal cycle with a lower spin is fine too.

4. Wash with similar items

Wash with similar colors and similar weights. Avoid washing an embroidered piece with things that have hooks, zippers or Velcro, which can snag thread.

5. Mild detergent, no bleach

Use a mild detergent. Skip chlorine bleach, which can damage both thread and fabric color. Go easy on fabric softener, which can build up over time.

6. Hand wash if you want to be extra careful

For a piece with real sentimental value, hand washing in cool water with a little mild detergent is the gentlest option. Don't wring it; press the water out gently.

Drying

Air drying is best

Lay the garment flat or hang it to dry. This is easiest on the fabric and the embroidery, and it avoids shrinkage. Reshape it gently while it's damp so the embroidered area lies flat.

Can embroidered clothes go in the dryer?

Often, yes, on a low heat setting, if the care label allows it. High heat is what causes problems: it can shrink cotton fabric around the embroidery, which may make the design pucker. If you use the dryer, choose low heat and remove the garment while it's still slightly damp, then let it finish drying flat.

Ironing embroidery

Embroidery sits slightly raised, and you want to keep it that way.

• Never iron directly on the embroidery. It can flatten the stitches and, with high heat, damage synthetic thread.
• Iron from the inside, with the garment inside out.
• Put a towel underneath the embroidered area, face down. The soft surface lets the stitches sink in rather than getting flattened.
• Use a pressing cloth if you must iron the front.
• Steam works well for hoodies and T-shirts and avoids pressing altogether.

Most hoodies and casual T-shirts don't need ironing at all.

Stains

Kids, food, markers: it happens.

• Act quickly. Blot, don't rub.
• Rinse from the back with cold water, pushing the stain out the way it came in.
• Use a gentle stain remover, tested on an inside seam first.
• Avoid scrubbing the embroidery with a brush, which can fuzz the thread.
• Don't put a stained garment in a hot dryer, which can set the stain.

Storing embroidered clothing

• Fold rather than hang heavy hoodies, to avoid stretching the shoulders.
• Fold so the crease doesn't run through the middle of the embroidery, if possible.
• Store somewhere clean and dry. For long-term storage of a keepsake, a breathable cotton bag is better than plastic.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Washing right side out with jeans and zippers
• Hot water and high-heat drying
• Ironing straight onto the stitches
• Chlorine bleach
• Hanging a wet heavy hoodie, which stretches it

A note on the garments we use

At ANORA, our embroidered T-shirts are made of 100% ring-spun, garment-dyed cotton, pre-shrunk, with a soft, lived-in feel. Our hoodies are a midweight cotton-polyester fleece with a soft brushed interior. Both are made for everyday wear, and the routine above suits both. Always check the care label on your specific garment.

Worth the care

The embroidered pieces we make carry children's drawings, which makes them a bit different from an ordinary hoodie or T-shirt: they're meant to be worn often and kept for a long time. Our film Mom on a Cloud is about a mom who wears hers through long days. In In Charge of the Sky, a mom wears hers at breakfast and at bedtime. And in The Fridge Museum, a child's drawing moves from the fridge door to something grandpa wears.

If you'd like to make one, you can upload a drawing here and preview it on a hoodie or a T-shirt.

Frequently asked questions

How do you wash an embroidered hoodie?

Turn it inside out, wash in cold or cool water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent and no bleach, then air dry or tumble dry on low. Follow the garment's care label.

Will embroidery shrink in the wash?

The thread itself is usually stable, but the fabric around it can shrink with hot water or high heat, which may cause puckering. Cool washing and low or no heat drying help prevent this.

Can I iron over embroidery?

Avoid ironing directly on it. Iron inside out with a towel under the design, or use steam.

How do I fix puckered embroidery after washing?

Gently stretch and smooth the fabric around the design while it's damp, then let it dry flat. Pressing from the back over a towel can also help.