Scorching: Turn Up The Heat Without Ruining Your Blanks

Blank Apparel is undeniably the perfect canvas for printers. Blank apparel (especially at Clothing Shop Online) is affordable, versatile, and there are endless colors and sizes to choose from. However, when it comes to heat-based customizations - heat pressing, ironing, or applying transfers - there’s one thing that printers and designers dread most: scorching. The good news is that scorching is way more common than you think and is 100% solvable and preventable. Let’s dive into scorching and everything you need to know about avoiding the burn while still bringing the heat through your fire customizations!

What Is Scorching on Blank Apparel? (Heat Press Definition & Signs)

Before diving into the causes and preventions of scorching, let’s define what scorching is. Scorching is a heat-induced coloration that appears when fabric fibers react negatively to heat, pressure, or time during pressing. Scorching will often appear as the following: darkened or shiny patches, yellowing or lighter garments, flattened fibers that look “burned,” and uneven marks in the shape of your heat platen. Even though these marks can look permanent, there are many ways to repair these marks.

What Causes Scorching When Heat Pressing Shirts?

There are many ways, unfortunately, that cause scorching. The first and most common cause of scorching is too much heat. Every fabric has a different heat-tolerance threshold, so it’s important to figure out how long to apply heat for. Cotton, specifically, can handle more heat, whereas polyester and tri-blended apparel are much more sensitive to heat.

Another cause of scorching is high pressure. Lots of pressure on a garment can flatten fiber or cause shiny marks. This is especially common with hoodies, fleece, or textured apparel. Even if you have the perfect temperature applied, scorching can still occur if the pressure is too high. Along with pressure and heat, miscalculating the timing of everything can also cause scorching. It’s important to time out how long heat and pressure should be applied. If applied for too long, it can result in dreaded scorching. It’s also incredibly vital to check the moisture in your apparel. Moisture trapped in any garment can create uneven heat distribution, which causes blotchy discoloration. 

Lastly, a very common cause of scorching is using incorrect heat press accessories or not using any heat press accessories at all. It’s important to list out all of the necessary tools and accessories you may need when customizing with heat. Missing a cover sheet, using the wrong mat, or applying vinyl directly to the platen can all contribute to scorching.

How to Prevent Scorching When Decorating Blank Apparel

Now that you have a good understanding of what scorching is and the causes of scorching, let’s discuss the many ways you can prevent scorching when customizing your blank apparel. 

Heat Press Temperature, Time & Pressure Settings That Prevent Scorching

As previously stated, it’s incredibly important to nail down the right temperature, pressure, and timing of your preferred heat-based customization. It’s important to match your temperature, pressure, and time to the fabric, not the transfer type. When in doubt, always start low and slow - meaning lower temperature and slightly longer press time. This technique protects sensitive fabrics while still allowing your transfer to properly bond. 

Heat Press Temperature Guide for Common Fabrics

Below is a quick reference chart to help you choose the right heat, pressure, and timing for your favorite and most popular blank apparel fabrics. Using the correct settings is one of the most effective ways to prevent scorching, shiny marks, and heat press imprints.

Pre-Pressing & Cover Sheets: How to Protect Shirts From Heat Press Marks

Little tricks such as pre-pressing your apparel goes a long way. A quick 2-3 second pre-press on your apparel removes that unwanted moisture and smooths the surface of your apparel item. Pre-pressing also prevents blotchy or uneven marks as well. Another preventative measure to take is using a protective layer. Using Teflon sheets, parchment paper, heat-resistant pressing cover, or lower heat pressing pads are all great options when in the market for a protective layer. These layers create a buffer as well as reduce the chance of shiny spots.

On the topic of pressing, another precaution is pressing inside-out. This is especially recommended on polyester, French terry, and vintage-washed styles. This reduces direct heat contact and keeps the fibers from flattening.

Test Pressing: The #1 Way to Avoid Scorch Marks on Apparel

If you have an extra t-shirt or apparel item, Team Clothing Shop Online (CSO) highly recommends testing out your preferred heat technique on this extra item. This way, you can determine whether or not everything is working (temperature, pressure, etc.) correctly. In the case there is scorching, it’s at least on extra inventory. This overall reduces stress and you having to order more shirts or apparel in the long run.

How to Fix Scorch Marks on Shirts (Quick Methods That Work)

If you are looking to get rid of or reverse scorching on your apparel, you are in luck. It is possible to fix most scorch marks. The most common way to fix scorch marks is by steaming out temporary marks. Use a steamer or steam iron (without touching the fabric). The moisture helps fibers relax and rise back up. Another tactic is brushing the fiber. Use a soft fabric brush or lint roller to restore the texture of the flattened areas.

Another underrated tactic is simply washing the apparel. Many “scorch” marks are actually just heat imprints that wash away on the first cycle. For light yellowing specifically, try one of the following: hydrogen peroxide spray, white vinegar and water mix, and sunlight exposure for 10-15 minutes. It’s important to test these out on a small area first to see if it’s the right tactic for you and your apparel.

Unfortunately, if dye migration occurs, scorching cannot be removed or fixed. However, lowering your heat settings or choosing lighter colors will help eliminate scorching in the future. 

Best Blank Apparel from Clothing Shop Online to Avoid Scorching

As previously stated, certain fabrics, such as cotton, can hold up better under heat. 100% cotton apparel and cotton/polyester blended apparel are two fabrics to check out when shopping for heat-based customizations. 100% cotton apparel holds heat extremely well and pairs really nicely with DTG printing. Cotton/polyester blended apparel pairs really nicely with DTF printing.

Team CSO has put together a wonderful list of styles that are perfect for heat-based customizations.

100% Cotton Styles for Heat-Based Customizations & Pressing

If you’re looking for the best cotton t-shirts for heat pressing or any other heat-based customization, you’re in luck! CSO offers a wide selection of cotton shirts that vary in color, brand, and size.

If you’re looking to stock up on a fan-favorite amongst printers and customers alike, then check out style #1717 from Comfort Colors. The Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirt is made with 100% ring-spun cotton as well as 100% cotton threads. This relaxed-fit t-shirt is garment-dyed, which gives that instantly soft look and feel. This shirt also has almost no shrinkage at home. This t-shirt comes in an array of colors (66 colors to be exact) and is available in sizes S-4XL. 

Another great option is style #2400. The Ultra Cotton Long-Sleeve T-Shirt from Gildan is also made 100% cotton. This classic fit t-shirt has a nice, ribbed collar and cuffs as well as a taped neck and shoulders for comfort and durability. This long-sleeve is a must-have for the cooler months, comes in 30+ colors, and is available in sizes S-6XL.

Cotton/Polyester Styles for Heat-Based Customization & Heat Transfers

Here at CSO, we have a wide range of cotton/polyester apparel for you to choose from. If you’re looking for a great hoodie for heat transfers or other customizations, you’re in the right spot. A true-fan favorite here at CSO is style #SS4500. The Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt from Independent Trading Co. is cotton/polyester blended hoodie with a jersey lined hood and pouch pocket. This well-stocked hoodie comes in 40+ colors and is available in sizes S-3XL.

A great option for a cotton/polyester blended t-shirt is style #6210. The CVC T-Shirt from Next Level Apparel. This best-selling t-shirt is made up of 60/40 combed ring-spun cotton/polyester. This t-shirt has a set-in CVC 1x1 baby rib collar and a convenient tear away label. This t-shirt also comes in 35+ colors as well as sizes XS-3XL.

Clothing Shop Online: Stock Up on Scorch-Safe Blank Apparel

Here at Clothing Shop Online, we make it incredibly easy to shop and save on your favorite blank apparel for your heat-based customizations. For starters, CSO offers fast and free shipping on all orders $59+, which is perfect when you’re in a time-crunch or simply want to save extra money on shipping. Additionally, CSO offers bulk discounts on any and all orders starting at just $80. In other words, the more you buy, the more you save. You can save up to 15% with our bulk discounts alone. Lastly, CSO always has a fun sale live or in the works, so be sure to check out all of our current deals here. We don’t just talk the talk, when it comes to ease of use and saving, we walk the walk.

Final Tips for Preventing Scorching on Blank Apparel

Scorching doesn’t have to be a part or the end of your heat-based customization journey. With the right techniques and tips mixed in with your favorite blank apparel from CSO, you can press confidently without fear of scorching. Happy printing!