How to Acid Wash a T-shirt (Quick & Easy Guide)
Whenever you acid washes a shirt, a compound like phosphoric acid is used to make a pattern or color effect on the shirt. The acid can eliminate stains and whiten clothes with a short time to soak. Even though the method might look hard, it is actually quite easy to do.
If you do this right, your shirt will look brand new again. The best part is that it doesn’t get rid of the whole thing, as you might think. But it’s important to have a good quality t-shirt, like the tried and true Next Level t-shirts. Just so that all the bleaching doesn’t ruin the quality of your shirt.
These DIY acid wash shirts are a great way to spice up an old, plain t-shirt. You can make a cool tie-dye look with an old shirt and some bleach. Certainly, it’s quite easy to make a bleach wash shirt at home with minimal effort.
You can use a spray bottle to put the bleach where you want it or use a rubber band to dip your shirt into a bleach-and-water solution. No matter which option you choose, make sure to protect your eyes, skin, clothes, and surfaces as you work.
In this article, we’ll show you how to acid wash t-shirts with and without bleach. We’ll discuss what materials you need and how to do the process.
How to Wash a T-Shirt with Acid?
It’s easy to make an acid-washed T-shirt. You can choose where to put the bleach using a spray bottle, or you can use a rubber band and dip your shirt in a bleach solution and water. No matter which option you choose, protect your eyes, skin, clothes, and body during the process.
Ingredients:
No matter what method you use, you will need the following things:
• An old T-shirt (or a new one if you don’t mind trying something new)
• Bleach
• Water
• Bottle to spray
• A bowl or bucket to clean up with after using bleach
• Rubber bands
• Eye protection
• Gloves made of rubber
• A surface you don’t care about or one that is covered with newspaper
1) Method of Laying Flat: Using a Spray Bottle
Step 1: Put some bleach and water in a spray bottle.
Mix together almost equal parts of bleach and water in the spray bottle.
Step 2: Put the T-shirt on a flat surface.
Put your T-shirt in a tub of water that is empty or on a concrete floor so it doesn’t touch anything that bleach could stain. Make sure the T-shirt is smooth and doesn’t have any wrinkles. Doing this will allow you to spray as many T-shirts as possible.
Step 3: Spray the shirt with bleach solution.
Spray the bleach solution where you want it on the T-shirt. You can also spray bleach on specific spots if you want them to fade more quickly than others. One piece of advice is that you shouldn’t try to make a design with your spraying. It will make your acid-washed T-shirt look bold and unique.
Step 4: Let the bleach do its thing.
The bleach will take some time to make the shirt you sprayed lighter in color. The longer you wait, the more spots on your shirt will get lighter. Give the bleach at least 10 minutes to work, and you’ll be able to see the results. You can also spray again after 10 minutes, then wait another 10 minutes before rinsing and washing.
Step 5: Rinse and wash the shirt.
The T-shirt has had enough time to set after spraying, so you should rinse it and wash it. Put the shirt in a tub or bucket of water and squeeze the water out. Don’t use the same water to rinse again because it will be full of bleach. Putting your design back in the same water can ruin it.
2) Tie-Dye Method: Using Rubber Bands
Step 1: Twist or crumple your T-shirt, and then use a rubber band to hold it together.
Use the same method as for the tie-dye. The difference is that you don’t have to deal with complicated rubber bands or twist the shirt in certain ways.
Step 2: Make a solution of bleach and water in a bucket.
To make an acid-washed T-shirt, you will need an equal amount of bleach and water. Then, put this mixture in a bucket and stir it.
Step 3: Put the T-shirt into the mixture.
Put the crumpled T-shirt in the solution and soak it all the way through. All in all, just make sure the T-shirt is completely submerged in the solution.
Step 4: Pull the shirt out of the solution and hang it up.
Take the T-shirt out of the solution and take off the rubber band. Then hang the T-shirt outside or somewhere else where it can drip and dry. Do not hang your shirt over something that bleach could hurt.
Step 5: Sprinkle the shirt with bleach.
Let the shirt dry for about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how well you want the bleach to work. Then, to finish off the look, take a cap or a few spoonfuls of pure bleach and sprinkle it on the front of your shirt. This can be done more than once. Try putting some bleach on it, waiting 10 minutes, and then putting more bleach on it.
Step 6: Rinse the shirt, wash it, and let it dry before putting it on.
After you let the shirt grow, dip it in clean water in a bucket or tub. Wring out the shirt, and then put it through a regular wash cycle in the washing machine. Now all you have to do is let the shirt dry, and Voila! You’re ready to go.
How To Acid Wash A Shirt Without Bleach?
Things you’ll need:
• 1 part liquid pool cleaner (like Comet)
• 3 parts vinegar (like white vinegar)
• 6 parts Water (for the water wash)
Instructions:
1. Take off the shirt’s buttons and cut out any stains. If you’re doing a proper wash or a first-time wash, it’s best to get as much water out of the shirt as possible before washing it. That way, the acid won’t have to work as hard to get stains and dirt out of your clothes.
2. Put about 6 cups of water, one part pool cleaner, and three parts vinegar in a spray bottle (your other option is to use only three parts vinegar).
3. If you need to, add a little bleach. I didn’t add bleach because I didn’t think my shirt’s color would change or get lighter after I washed it.
4. Spray the solution on the shirt, and use a sponge or brush to scrub it. Let it sit for at least five minutes so the chemical can do its job, and then wash it as you normally would with your regular detergent.
5. It will look as good as new! Depending on how often you wear this shirt, you may need to repeat this step every six months or so. However, you can stop using the chemical to clean your shirt once the stain has faded enough that you feel comfortable wearing it again.
What’s Good About Acid-Washing Clothes?
Every day, tons of clothes are washed at homes and in factories. Acid washing t-shirts is a great way to make your clothes last longer and keep them looking new. Almost no chemicals are used in this kind of washing, so the natural fibers come out clean and ready to wear again.
If you acid washes your T-shirts, you can be sure they will look as good as new ones and won’t fade or turn yellow. Acid washing will also get rid of dirt and other things stuck to your clothes.
Using this method, you won’t have to worry about stains or spills staying on the fabric! Basically, acid washing is done by mixing a lot of water and acid together. The acid removes the dust and dirt, leaving the clothes clean and shiny. By washing your clothes in acid, you can give them a brand-new look in less time. However, be sure they will keep looking good for a long time.
It’s a good idea to do it!
There are three good reasons to acid wash your shirts.
1) Diversifying Your Wardrobe
Acid-washed shirts are not rare. But the T-shirt you made yourself and had acid washed? It will be a one-of-a-kind item for sure! So, let’s get rid of your old, boring t-shirts and get some trendy ones. Pair your acid wash t-shirt with modern hats that are on sale only on VeeTrends to make it even better.
2) Repairing Worn-Out T-Shirts In A Fashionable Way
What should you do if you mess up your T-shirt by accident or if you spill bleach on it? Most people would throw away that shirt. But what they don’t know is that there is a way to fix your mistakes and give your T-shirt a new, unique look.
3) Giving The T-Shirts A Look That Is Both Old And Bold
Acid washing was popular in the 1980s, and people started doing it again in the 2000s. It was a way to make clothes look cool by making them look old and worn. When T-shirts are acid washed, they often have a vintage look that makes them stand out.