Screen printing can be used to showcase personal tastes and decorate various types of clothing. However, over time, you may feel bored with the pastel screen printing you've ever made. Unfortunately, most patch screen printing is permanent. However, you can still try to get rid of it in one or more of the ways in the steps below.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Chemical Solvents
Step 1. Purchase a chemical solvent intended for erasing writing
Solvents like these are made specifically for this purpose, however, you can also try using household solvents like nail polish remover, medical alcohol, or a glue remover like Goo Gone.
Step 2. Put the clothes in the dryer
Putting the clothes in the dryer on high for a few minutes will cause the glue to heat up and maybe loosen a bit.
Step 3. Turn the clothes over
Position the sticky screen printing inside the clothes. You'll need to determine the back of the stencil on the back of the garment, and place the back up (so that if you can see through the garment, the back of the stencil will be visible).
Step 4. Test a small section of the garment
Before pouring solvent all over the surface, test a small section of the garment in a hidden place to make sure the solvent won't damage it.
Step 5. Saturate the clothes with solvent
Pour a large amount of solvent on the back of the patch screen. The goal is to wet the clothes with solvent so that the glue between the fabric and the screen will loosen.
Step 6. Stretch the fabric
Stretching and wiggling the fabric will help wet the entire fabric with solvent until it penetrates the screen's adhesive layer. After stretching the garment, you may need to add more solvent.
Step 7. Peel off the screen printing paste
If the solvent works, you should be able to peel the stencil off your clothes. You may need to speed up the stripping by rubbing a knife or applying heat with a hairdryer.
Step 8. Clean off any remaining glue
After the screen is peeled off, there may still be some glue left. You can try to clean it with rubbing alcohol or a glue remover like Goo Gone. Be sure to test for any chemicals in hidden areas of clothing before using them.
Step 9. Wash your clothes separately
Wash clothes separately, either by hand or in the washing machine. Washing those clothes with other clothes runs the risk of spreading the solvent to other clothes. Be sure to wash clothes thoroughly with more detergent before putting them on, so that your skin doesn't come into contact with any residual solvent.
Method 2 of 3: Using Heat and Steam
Step 1. Lay the clothes on a flat surface
You can use an ironing board or a toweled table. Make sure the surface you are using is not heat sensitive.
Step 2. Insert the towel into the clothes
Placing a small towel or washcloth inside the garment may help prevent damage to the fabric on the other side. However, if the towel is making it difficult for you to work because the surface is too smooth, try using a very thin piece of cardboard or wooden planks instead.
Step 3. Check the clothing care guide
Heating clothing beyond the temperature recommended in the guide may cause damage to the fabric. Some types of fabric, such as polyester, can even melt if heated to too high a temperature.
Step 4. Use a hairdryer to heat up the template
A hairdryer that is turned on at the highest temperature option near the screen print can heat the adhesive behind it until it melts and the screen print can be removed.
Step 5. Use steam to heat up the template
Alternatively, you can use steam to heat the screen printing. Place a wet towel on top of the screen printing layer, then, place a very hot iron on it. The steam can heat the adhesive behind the screen until it melts and the screen can be removed.
Step 6. Use a sharp knife to peel the screen off
After the screen has loosened from the heat, run a sharp knife along the edge of the screen to pry it out. Once some of the stencil has been removed, you should find it easier to peel it off a little at a time.
Step 7. Continue to heat the surface of the screen and peel it off
You may have to heat a small portion of the screen at a time to peel it off.
Step 8. Be patient
This method takes a long time. Turn on your favorite music and challenge yourself to stick with it to the end.
Step 9. Clean off any remaining glue
After the screen is peeled off, there may still be some glue left. You can try cleaning it with medical alcohol or a glue remover like Goo Gone. Be sure to test for any chemicals in hidden areas of clothing before using them.
Step 10. Wash your clothes as usual
After cleaning the screen printing and the rest, wash your clothes as usual. Be sure to wash your clothes first if you use any chemicals to clean off the screen prints, as the chemicals can irritate and damage the skin.
Method 3 of 3: Using an Iron
Step 1. Place the clothes on the ironing board
Make sure to place the patch screen facing up, and flatten the entire surface. If you don't have an ironing board, lay a towel on a hard surface such as a table, display table, washing machine, or tumble dryer.
Step 2. Insert the towel into the clothes
Placing a small towel or washcloth inside the garment can help prevent the other side of the garment from being damaged. If the towel makes your work difficult because the surface is too smooth, try using a very thin piece of cardboard or wooden planks instead.
Step 3. Check the clothing care guide
Heating clothing beyond the temperature recommended in the manual can damage it. Some types of fabric, such as polyester, can even melt when heated to too high a temperature. This method uses direct heating, and has a higher risk of damaging clothing than other methods.
Step 4. Heat the iron
Turn on the iron on its highest temperature. This means that the temperature of the iron may be higher than the temperature recommended in the clothing care guide. If you are afraid of damaging your clothes, you should use another method. You may also want to start the heating on a medium heat and slowly increase it to the right temperature to peel the screen off without damaging the garment.
Step 5. Place the parchment paper on top of the vinyl writing
If the screen printing is made of vinyl, place the parchment paper on it and iron the paper directly. The vinyl will melt and adhere to the parchment paper, so you can peel it off with the parchment paper. This method can only be used on vinyl screen printing.
Step 6. Place the iron on the corner of the screen printing
The heat from the iron will melt the screen printing. Start from one corner of the screen slowly until it reaches the entire surface.
Step 7. Rub the iron to remove the screen printing
Once one of the corners has been peeled off, rub the iron quickly against the surface of the screen. The screen printing should continue to peel and may also burn when you iron it.
Step 8. Continue until the entire surface of the screen is lifted
Repeat rubbing the iron directly onto the surface of the screen until it is completely lifted. If your clothes look damaged, you may need to lower the iron's temperature a little.
Step 9. Clean off any remaining glue
After the screen printing has been removed, there may still be some glue remaining. You can try cleaning it with medical alcohol or a glue remover like Goo Gone. Be sure to test for any chemicals in hidden corners of clothing before using them.
Step 10. Wash clothes as usual
After removing the screen printing and the rest, wash the clothes as usual. Be sure to wash clothes first if you use any chemicals, as they can irritate or damage the skin.
Tips
- Use several of the methods above at once if you wish. You may need to use more than one method to remove the stencil.
- Be aware that the effectiveness of the screen printing solvent will decrease as the screen time stays on the clothes.
- Your ability to remove screen printing is determined in part by the type of screen printing and the glue used. Keep in mind that most screen printing is permanent.
