Updated By TeckWrap Craft On June 12, 2025
How To Bleach A Shirt For Sublimation: A Guide For Beginners
Sublimation is an excellent way to transfer vibrant designs to white or very light-colored polyester garments. But what if you want to sublimate on a dark shirt? For that, you will have to lighten its color to almost white using chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide. Without this, you will not get a visible sublimation print. Here’s a guide that will help you understand how to bleach sublimation shirts.
What Is Shirt Bleaching?
Shirt bleaching is a quick chemical treatment used to lighten the color of the fabric by applying common household chlorine bleach to it. If done correctly, it does not damage the fibers, so later on, you can sublimate on the shirt easily. It is necessary to remove the color of a dark shirt before transferring your sublimation design to it, otherwise it will not show. You will only bleach the specific area where you want to place your pattern.
What Is Sublimation?
Sublimation is an excellent process for designing white or very light-colored polyester or poly-cotton fabrics with more than 60% polyester content. The design is printed onto special sublimation paper using dye-sublimation inks and a dedicated sublimation printer. When heat is applied to it, the ink turns into a gaseous state without becoming liquid and bonds with the fibers of the fabric at a molecular level. This results in vibrant, long-lasting prints that do not fade easily. Sublimation printing is widely used for items like sportswear, mugs, and promotional products, especially when full-color, high-resolution images are required.
Which Fabric Is The Best To Bleach For Sublimation?
100% polyester shirts are the best for sublimation. Why polyester? The polymers of this fabric open up when heated, readily accepting the dye-sublimation ink and presenting a vibrant print. The good thing about polyester is that it does not wrinkle easily, and your design will be durable and of high quality when sublimated onto it.
The downside is that it’s not very comfortable to wear because it traps heat and is not breathable; therefore, poly-blend fabric is used when designing garments using the sublimation method. The 65% polyester and 35% cotton shirts are an excellent option. You can get Bella+Canvas Ecomax Tees and Gildan G640 Softstyle T-shirts for this combination. Their dark color can be easily bleached as well. Now that you have the shirt, let’s see how to bleach it for sublimation.
Bleaching And Sublimation Supplies
The very first step is to get all the tools ready. You will start by bleaching your poly-blend shirt. Here’s what you should have for this:
- A Dark Colored Poly-Cotton Blend T-Shirt: As mentioned above, this should have 65% polyester and 35% cotton. The polyester content should be high for perfect sublimation.
- Bleach: Chlorine bleach is used to whiten fabrics. You cannot apply bleach directly onto the garment. It is best to dilute it with water. The safe ratio is 1:1 water and bleach.
- Spray Bottle: You will need this for putting the bleach and water mixture.
- Paint Brush: Bleach can also be applied using this. It should be 3/4 inches and flat.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: This is required to stop the bleaching process.
- Bucket: You will need it to soak the shirt after bleaching it.
- Gloves: These are very important for protecting your hands when bleaching
After the shirt is bleached, dry, and ready, you will need the following supplies for sublimation:
- Sublimation Printer: It is best to get the one specifically made for sublimation printing.
- Sublimation Ink: You’ll need the special dye sublimation ink that is compatible with sublimation printers. The ink’s quality directly impacts the final print result.
- Sublimation Paper: Get a high-quality sublimation paper, such as the one available at TeckWrap Craft. These premium-grade sheets have a 98% transfer rate.
- Heat Press: A heat press ensures high-quality prints and a full-color design. You can set the exact heat and pressure settings on it.
- Sublimation Tape: This is used to secure the print on the shirt so that it stays in place when heat is applied.
- Butcher Paper: This is placed on top of the sublimation sheet before heat is applied to the design.
- Old Cardboard Box: Cut it to the size of your shirt. It prevents bleach from affecting the back of the shirt.
Ways To Bleach A Shirt For Sublimation
There are two ways to bleach a shirt for sublimation. One requires spraying the bleach onto the shirt, and for the other, you can use a paint brush. Before bleaching your shirt, it is very important to make sure that the area where you are working is properly ventilated. It is best to work outdoors for this process.
Bleaching With A Spray Bottle
- Lay your shirt on a flat surface, exposing it to direct sunlight. Put a piece of cardboard inside the shirt so the bleach will not go through and damage its back side.
- Take equal quantities of water and bleach and mix them together in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle.
- Spray onto the shirt where you want to print the sublimation design.
- Let the bleach work its way through the shirt by leaving it in the sun for about 7 to 8 minutes. This will hasten the process. Once the desired level of bleaching is achieved, it’s time to stop the process.
- In a bucket, mix water and hydrogen peroxide in a 10:1 ratio and soak the bleached shirt in it. Do not use more hydrogen peroxide, or it can damage the fabric.
- Now wash the shirt thoroughly and let it dry. You have successfully bleached it.
Bleaching With A Paint Brush
- The bleaching method using a paint brush is the same as the one using a spray bottle. The only difference is that in this, you will apply the bleach and water solution using a flat brush.
- Using strong strokes, generously apply the bleach and water mixture to the area where you want to print the sublimation design. Keep your shirt in the sun for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Rinse it in the water and hydrogen peroxide solution, then wash it and let it dry.
The Complete Sublimation Process After Bleaching the Shirt
Here’s how you can successfully design your bleached dark-colored shirt using sublimation printing:
- Prepare the Shirt: After your bleached shirt has completely dried, press it to remove creases and moisture, if any. Apply a lint roller on it to remove dust or loose fibers.
- Work on your Sublimation Design: Finalize your design on the software of your choice, such as Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or the like. Set its dimensions according to the bleached white space on your shirt. Mirror the image or flip it horizontally.
- Print Your Design: Insert the sublimation sheet in your special sublimation printer and allow it to print.
- Let the Print Dry: Keep the printed sublimation sheet aside and let it dry. Do not touch the pattern or you might smudge the ink. Your design will look dull at this point. Don’t worry, the colors will come out vibrant after heat application.
- Transfer the Design: Place the printed sublimation sheet on the bleached area of the shirt with the image facing down. Secure its edges with the heat-resistant sublimation tape so it won't move during heat application.
- Apply Heat: Place the butcher paper on top, set the heat press to 400°F, and apply heat for 60 seconds.
- Your Shirt is Ready: After the time is up, remove the butcher paper. Allow the shirt to cool down before removing the sublimation sheet. You’re done! You have successfully transferred your beautiful design to a bleached shirt through the sublimation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thought
Understanding how to bleach a shirt for sublimation opens up a world of creative possibilities. After bleaching, you can even design an otherwise dark poly-cotton shirt through sublimation. It not only makes the colors stand out more vividly but also allows for unique contrasts and effects that aren't possible on unbleached fabric. Let’s play with vibrant shades and eye-catching designs. For premium-quality sublimation sheets, visit the TeckWrap Craft online store now!
