Quick answer

Turn your sweatshirt inside out, wash it cold on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, and skip the dryer. Lay it flat to dry or hang it in the shade. That one routine prevents the three things that ruin sweatshirts: pilling, shrinking, and cracked prints.

Why Liquid Death sweatshirts need a gentler routine

Most sweatshirt damage happens in the wash, not on your back. Heat breaks down cotton fibers and loosens the knit, which is what causes shrinking and pilling. Agitation rubs fibers together and pulls loose ones to the surface. A standard warm wash plus a hot dryer is the fastest way to make a crewneck look old.

The prints on Liquid Death sweatshirts add a second concern. Screen-printed graphics sit on top of the fabric, so they crack when the fabric underneath stretches or shrinks unevenly. Cold water and low agitation keep the fabric stable, which keeps the print intact.

What you need before you start

You do not need specialty products. A mild liquid detergent without bleach or fabric softener is enough. Fabric softener coats fibers and traps odors, and it can dull a print over time. Skip it.

Keep a mesh laundry bag and a drying rack on hand. The bag protects the sweatshirt from zippers and buttons in a mixed load, and the rack lets you dry flat without stretching the shoulders on a hanger.

Step-by-step sweatshirt care routine

  1. Turn it inside out and close any zippers: Flip the sweatshirt so the print faces inward. This puts the fabric between the graphic and the drum, which reduces abrasion on the design. If your sweatshirt has a zipper, close it so the teeth do not snag the knit. Checkpoint: the printed side should not be visible.
  2. Wash cold on a gentle or delicate cycle: Set the machine to cold water and the lowest agitation setting available. Use a mild liquid detergent and measure it, since too much detergent leaves residue that stiffens fabric. Common mistake: choosing warm water because the sweatshirt looks heavily soiled. Spot-treat stains instead of raising the temperature. Checkpoint: water temperature is cold, not cool or warm.
  3. Skip fabric softener and bleach: Both shorten the life of a sweatshirt. Bleach weakens cotton fibers and strips color. Softener leaves a waxy coating that makes fabric feel slick and traps smells. If you want a softer feel, add a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle instead. Checkpoint: no softener, no bleach, no dryer sheets.
  4. Lay flat to dry, or hang in the shade: Reshape the sweatshirt on a drying rack and let it air dry. If you hang it, use a thick hanger and keep it out of direct sun, which fades dye. Never put a sweatshirt in a hot dryer. Heat is the main cause of shrinking and pilling. Checkpoint: if you must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and remove the sweatshirt while it is still slightly damp.
  5. De-pill with a fabric shaver, not a razor: If pills form under the arms or along the cuffs, run a fabric shaver lightly over the surface. A disposable razor works in a pinch but cuts fibers and creates more pilling over time. Work in one direction and do not press hard. Checkpoint: shave only fully dry fabric, never damp.
  6. Store folded, not on a hanger: Hanging a sweatshirt stretches the shoulders and can leave hanger marks that do not relax. Fold it and stack it in a drawer or on a shelf. Keep it away from direct sunlight and from damp spaces, which encourage mildew. Checkpoint: shoulders stay level, not stretched into points.

Liquid Death sweatshirts in this care guide