Caring for Branded Apparel: Guide Brands Should Give To Their Teams
Last Updated: 3 September 2026
Branded uniforms and staff clothing are an investment, so it’s important to follow the right care instructions once they’re in use. Whether your team works in hospitality, retail, or an office, how you wash branded clothing affects how long the print or embroidery lasts and keeps your team looking consistent. This guide explains washing temperatures and stain removal, giving you a single reference to share with staff or include in onboarding materials.
Why Washing Temperature Matters for Branded Apparel
Cold water is the safer default for most clothing, and it’s not just about protecting the fabric. Cold washing can save up to 10 times more energy than a warm wash, according to the Australian Government’s energy.gov.au. For organisations washing uniforms across a whole team or shift roster, that adds up over a year, on top of the print and colour benefits.
A few practical notes worth passing on to staff
- Switch to a liquid detergent rather than a powder, since it dissolves more easily in cold water and helps prevent residue on dark uniforms.
- Avoid overloading the machine so branded garments have room to move and wash properly.
- An occasional warm wash is fine for heavily soiled items, but it shouldn’t be the default cycle.
Caring for Printed and Embroidered Apparel
Besides water temperature, a few simple habits can help printed or embroidered logos last longer through many washes.
- Turn garments inside out before washing to protect the logo from direct friction against other items.
- Use a gentle wash cycle to reduce agitation, which helps prevent stretching, pilling, and premature fading of the print.
- Avoid bleach and harsh detergents, which can break down both the fabric and the printed design.
- Air dry whenever you can, because using a dryer on high heat often causes shrinkage and can make logos crack.
- If you need to iron, do it inside out on a low heat setting and avoid pressing directly on the logo.
- Store garments hung or neatly folded, away from direct sunlight, to prevent fading and creasing.
If your organisation gives uniforms to larger teams, include these tips in onboarding materials or on a simple care card. This way, staff have the guidance with the garment instead of needing to look it up later.
Common Stains and How to Treat Them
Stains at work are common, especially in hospitality, events, and offices where food, drinks, and pens are used every day. Treating stains quickly before washing makes it much more likely they will come out.
A couple of general principles apply across all of these.
- Treat stains as soon as you can, because once they dry in, they are much harder to remove.
- Always test any stain treatment on a hidden area first, especially if the garment has printing or embroidery.
- Use cold water to rinse fresh stains, because heat can make many stains permanent.
Building Good Care Habits
Alice Borja, one of our account managers, has found that organisations get the best results from their uniform orders when care instructions are shared with staff from the start, rather than leaving it to guesswork. Including a simple laundry care card with new uniforms or adding it to the staff handbook helps reduce early reorders and keeps branding looking sharp for longer. A few things worth building into your process
- Include a basic care card or instructions with new uniforms issued to staff.
- Encourage cold washing as the standard, with warm washes reserved for heavily soiled items only.
- Set expectations early around stain treatment, particularly in food and beverage or client-facing roles.
- Consider how long uniforms last when planning reorders, because well-cared-for garments last much longer between bulk orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should the apparel always be washed in cold water?
Cold water is the best choice for regular washing because it protects colour and print quality and uses much less energy than warm water. One warm wash before first use is fine to remove any manufacturing residue.
Cold water is the best choice for regular washing because it protects colour and print quality and uses much less energy than warm water. One warm wash before first use is fine to remove any manufacturing residue.
Does turning a shirt inside out actually protect the logo?
Yes. Turning shirts inside out reduces friction between the printed or embroidered area and other clothes in the wash, which helps prevent cracking, peeling, and fading over time.
Yes. Turning shirts inside out reduces friction between the printed or embroidered area and other clothes in the wash, which helps prevent cracking, peeling, and fading over time.
What’s the best way to treat a stain before washing?
Treat stains as soon as you can using the right method for that type of stain, then wash in cold water as usual. Don’t rub the stain, as this can push it deeper into the fabric.
Treat stains as soon as you can using the right method for that type of stain, then wash in cold water as usual. Don’t rub the stain, as this can push it deeper into the fabric.
Can clothing go in the dryer?
Air drying is usually safest for most branded clothing. If you need to use a dryer, choose a low-heat setting to reduce the risk of shrinkage and damage to the print.
Air drying is usually safest for most branded clothing. If you need to use a dryer, choose a low-heat setting to reduce the risk of shrinkage and damage to the print.
What we advise for brands who bulk order
Good laundry habits help protect your organisation’s investment in branded clothing. Washing in cold water, handling logos gently, and treating stains quickly all help uniforms look better for longer. This means fewer reorders and more consistent branding for your team. Contact us if you’d like a care guide with your next bulk uniform order.
Sources:
- Australian Government, energy.gov.au, Quick wins to save energy: https://energy.gov.au/simple-actions-save
