Understand what you own
Almost every fabric-painted piece uses fabric-formulated acrylic sealed with a heat-set process at the studio. Cured acrylic is flexible and water-resistant but not heat-proof. High heat (tumble dryers, irons directly on paint, hot water) softens the polymer and lets the paint move under friction.
Every rule below is a version of the same rule: keep the piece cool, dry it gently, and reduce friction on the painted areas.
Washing — the golden rules
- Turn the piece inside-out. Friction between the drum and painted surface is the biggest enemy — inside-out cuts it dramatically.
- Cold water only. Room-temp is fine; hot water is not.
- Delicate cycle or hand-wash. If the garment says "hand-wash," believe the garment.
- Zero fabric softener. Softeners deposit residue on the paint surface and dull it over time.
- Wash alone or with similar colors. Zippers on a companion garment scratch paint.
- Skip the pre-treatment sprays. Enzymatic stain removers can dissolve acrylic.
Drying — the biggest failure point
The tumble dryer is where most hand-painted pieces die. The combination of heat plus continuous friction cooks and rubs paint off in a single cycle. Hang dry. Every time. Even the "no-heat" fluff setting is worse than air-drying — the mechanical friction alone lifts pigment.
If you are pressed for time, lay the piece flat on a clean towel in front of a fan. Ninety minutes and it is dry.
Ironing — do not, but if you must
Do not iron directly on paint. Ever. If the garment has a painted panel and an unpainted panel, iron only the unpainted panel on medium heat, protecting the painted side with a clean pressing cloth or an unpainted second garment as buffer. Steamers are safer — held six inches away, they relax wrinkles without contact.
Storage — the long game
- Hang on a padded or wide wooden hanger. Wire hangers leave creases at the paint edges.
- Do not fold long-term. A fold that sits for six months prints a permanent crease line.
- Store away from direct sunlight. UV fades acrylic pigment over years.
- Keep away from smokers and cooking odors. Painted fabric holds smell longer than unpainted.
Small repairs
If a small chip or crack appears, do not touch it up yourself unless you know what you are doing — mismatched paint stands out more than the chip. Send the studio a photo. Repairs for pieces bought from Be Back Soon are free within the first year and low-cost forever after.