Quick answer
Turn the hoodie inside out, wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, and air dry it flat or on a line. Heat is what fades and cracks screen-printed graphics, so cold washing and no dryer are the two habits that matter most.
Why print fades: heat, friction, and harsh detergent
Screen-printed and embroidered graphics break down from three things: heat, abrasion, and chemicals. Hot water and a hot dryer soften the ink or thread, so it cracks or lifts. Tumbling against other clothes rubs the print. Bleach and enzyme-heavy detergents eat away at the bond between ink and fabric. Control those three and your hoodie graphic will outlast the hoodie itself.
How to treat stains before they set
Blot—don't rub—fresh stains with a clean cloth, then apply a small dot of mild liquid detergent directly to the spot and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rubbing spreads the stain into the fibers and can pill the fabric around the print. For grease, sprinkle a little cornstarch on the spot first, wait 15 minutes, then brush it off before washing.
Step-by-step hoodie washing routine
- 1. Empty pockets and zip up: Check every pocket for dice, pens, or receipts, then close the zipper all the way. An open zipper snags the inside of the print and can tear the fabric. Checkpoint: zipper closed, nothing in pockets.
- 2. Turn the hoodie inside out: Pull the sleeves through and shake it out so the printed side faces inward. This puts a layer of fabric between the graphic and everything else in the drum. Mistake to avoid: leaving it right-side out because 'it's just one wash.' One wash is enough to dull a print.
- 3. Wash cold on a gentle or delicate cycle: Set the machine to cold water and the lowest agitation setting. Use a mild liquid detergent—no bleach, no fabric softener, no pods with added brighteners. Checkpoint: water temperature is cold, not warm.
- 4. Wash with similar colors and weights: Pair the hoodie with other dark or similar-colored items, not heavy towels or jeans with metal rivets. Rough fabrics and hardware abrade the print. Mistake to avoid: overloading the machine. A crowded drum increases friction.
- 5. Air dry flat or on a line: Lay the hoodie flat on a drying rack or hang it on a padded hanger away from direct sun. If you must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and remove it while still slightly damp. Checkpoint: no heat. Heat is the number one cause of cracked prints.
- 6. Store folded, not hung: Once dry, fold the hoodie and store it in a drawer or on a shelf. Hanging a heavy hoodie by the hood stretches the shoulders and can distort the print over time. Next step: wear it, and repeat this routine every 3–5 wears.
What this means for Critical Role hoodies
- How Do You Want To Do This? Hoodie: The How Do You Want To Do This? Hoodie is a sponge fleece full-zip with a hand-drawn calligraphy design on the back and a Critical Role logo on the chest, in dark grey. Sponge fleece is soft and holds ink well, but the back print is large and flexes every time you sit or lean. Inside-out washing protects that big calligraphy panel from rubbing against zippers and seams.
- Candela Obscura Beyond the Grave Hoodie: The Candela Obscura Beyond the Grave Hoodie is a black zip closure hoodie with an embroidered logo on the front left chest and a large screen-printed illustration on the back. Embroidery tolerates washing better than screen print, but the screen-printed back still needs cold water and air drying. Black fabric also shows fading and lint more, so wash it with similar dark colors.
- Critical Role Dad Hat: The Critical Role Dad Hat has an embroidered sword logo on the front and a calligraphy design on the back, with a green crown. If you own the hoodie and hat as a set, keep the hat out of the washing machine entirely. Spot-clean the hat by hand so the brim and embroidery keep their shape.
