HTV (aka Heat Transfer Vinyl) is a popular method for making custom graphics, logos, and designs on clothing, shoes, hats, bags, and other items. This material can be applied to fabric by an iron, and is a fast and efficient way to create custom t-shirts.
When you make mistakes, removing HTV from fabric can be extremely difficult. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can cause irreversible damage to the fabric underneath. This is why it’s important to know how to remove vinyl from a shirt before starting!
Thankfully, removing vinyl from clothes is not a difficult task. It just requires the right tools and a little patience. In this post, I’ve gathered the best methods on how to remove vinyl from shirt.
Without further ado, how to remove vinyl print from shirt!
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How To Remove Vinyl From Shirt
Best Products To Remove Vinyl From A Shirt
1. Nail Polish Remover (Acetone)
Acetone is a chemical often used as a solvent in nail polish remover. It is commonly found in many other household products such as paint thinner and glue remover. For removing vinyl, make sure to use 100% acetone.
Nail polisher remover will break down the adhesive of the vinyl print, making it easier to remove from clothing. Acetone can be safely used on cotton shirts and other man-made fabrics that does not contain plastic. Note that some fabrics are more sensitive to acetone than others. Do not use it on delicate materials like silk and wool.
It is important to take necessary precautions before using acetone, as it can be dangerous if not handled properly. Acetone is hazardous if it comes into contact with skin and eyes. For this reason, make sure to work in a well-ventilated area, and wear gloves, protective eyewear, and a mask.
Here’s how to remove vinyl from a shirt using nail polish remover:
How To Remove Vinyl From Shirt With Nail Polish Remover
- Work in a well ventilated area and cover your workspace with a plastic garbage bag. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a mask.
- Flip your shirt inside-out so the back of the vinyl is facing up on the fabric. Apply a small amount of acetone onto a cotton ball and gently rub it onto the underside of the vinyl lettering.
- The nail polish remover will soak through the shirt and start breaking down the glue. Flip the shirt right-side up. When the vinyl starts to peel, use tweezers to remove the lettering.
- Apply nail polish remover onto a clean cotton ball and gently wipe off the remaining adhesive.
- To wash off the excess nail polish remover, soak the t-shirt in soapy water or clean in a washing machine as normal.
2. Goo Gone
Goo Gone is a household cleaner that safely removes sticky substances from fabrics and hard surfaces. For removing vinyl from a shirt, I recommend using Goo Gone’s Adhesive Remover. This product breaks down the bond of the adhesive, making it super easy to peel off the vinyl print.
Before applying Goo Gone to fabrics, make sure to test it on an inconspicuous area. Note that Goo Gone does have a strong, unpleasant odor, so make sure to ventilate your workspace well. Keep children and pets away when using.
Here’s how to remove vinyl from shirt using Goo Gone:
How To Remove Vinyl From A Shirt With Goo Gone
- Work in a well ventilated area and cover your workspace with a plastic garbage bag. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a mask.
- Flip your shirt inside-out so the back of the vinyl is facing up on the fabric. Apply a small amount of Goo Gone onto a white microfiber cloth and gently blot it directly on the fabric.
- The Goo Gone will soak through the shirt and break down the glue. Allow the solution to sit for around 5 to 10 minutes. Flip the shirt right-side up. When the vinyl starts peeling, use tweezers to remove.
- Apply Goo Gone to a clean, white cloth and gently wipe off the remaining adhesive.
- To wash off the excess product, soak the t-shirt in hot soapy water or clean in a washing machine separately with extra detergent.
3. Fabric Vinyl Remover
Professional fabric vinyl removers are designed to dissolve the HTV adhesive, making it super easy to peel off vinyl lettering. This is a safe and effective solution that can be used on a variety of fabrics.
For removing vinyl from a shirt, I recommend using AlbaChem’s Heat Transfer Vinyl Remover for Fabrics. This powerful residue remover completely takes off vinyl letters and residues from most fabrics. It is easy to use, doesn’t leave stains, and removes vinyl prints in seconds.
This is a great product to use on cotton, polyester, and linen shirts. Avoid using this heat transfer vinyl remover on acetate fabrics, and use in a well ventilated area. Here’s how to remove vinyl print from shirt using a professional fabric vinyl remover:
How To Remove Vinyl From Shirt With A Fabric Vinyl Remover
- Work in a well ventilated area and cover your workspace with a plastic garbage bag. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a mask.
- Unscrew the spout cap and puncture the center of white plastic seal. Replace the spout cap and remove the red tip.
- Flip your shirt inside-out so the back of the vinyl is facing up on the fabric. Apply a few drops of vinyl remover onto the underside of the vinyl lettering.
- The fabric vinyl remover will soak through the shirt and start breaking down the glue. Flip the shirt right-side up and stretch the fabric until it starts to peel. Use tweezers to remove the vinyl.
- To remove any remaining adhesive residue, apply vinyl remover to a clean cloth and gently wipe off.
- To wash off the excess vinyl remover, soak the t-shirt in soapy water or clean in a washing machine like normal.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can be found in most drugstores and pharmacies, and is often used for disinfecting and cleaning. It is usually made of a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. This solution can be used as an antiseptic, household cleaner, or even a vinyl and residue remover for clothing.
Rubbing alcohol is an excellent cost-effective way to remove vinyl from clothing. For removing heat transfer vinyl from a shirt, I recommend using this Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70% USP from Dealmed. This multipurpose product dissolves the adhesive on the vinyl print, making it easier to remove.
Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly and will not leave any traces of residue on the fabric. It will also not damage the shirt in any way, but might cause some discoloration if left on for too long. Note that rubbing alcohol does require some time to work and is not as fast as fabric vinyl removers or Goo Gone.
Here’s how to take vinyl off a shirt using rubbing alcohol:
How To Remove Vinyl From A Shirt With Rubbing Alcohol
- Work in a well ventilated area and cover your workspace with a plastic garbage bag. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a mask.
- Flip your shirt inside-out so the back of the vinyl is facing up on the fabric. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and gently rub it onto the underside of the vinyl lettering.
- The rubbing alcohol will soak through the shirt and start breaking down the glue. Flip the shirt right-side up. When the vinyl starts to peel, use tweezers to remove the lettering.
- Apply rubbing alcohol onto a clean cotton ball and gently wipe off the remaining adhesive.
- To wash off the excess rubbing alcohol, soak the t-shirt in soapy water or clean in a washing machine as normal.
5. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is a substance that is often used for its therapeutic properties. It can be used to help heal wounds, soothe skin irritations, and even help with minor burns.
Petroleum jelly also has many household uses as well. One of them is removing residue from clothes. If you have a hard time removing the excess glue from your shirt, I recommend using petroleum jelly alongside another method from this post.
Petroleum jelly is non-toxic and gentle on sensitive materials. It will not damage the fabric, but can leave behind an oily stain if you don’t properly wash it out. Note: Although petroleum jelly can be used to remove vinyl, it is not as effective as other methods from this post.
For removing HTV residue from clothes, try using Vaseline’s BlueSeal Pure Petroleum Jelly. This product is made of 100% petroleum jelly and has great quality for the cost! Here’s how to take off vinyl from a shirt using petroleum jelly:
How To Remove Vinyl From Shirt With Petroleum Jelly
To Remove The Vinyl:
- Flip your shirt inside-out so the back of the vinyl is facing up on the fabric. Using your fingertips, gently rub a small amount of petroleum jelly onto the underside of the vinyl lettering. Apply a few drops of laundry detergent and rub it over the petroleum jelly.
- The petroleum jelly and laundry detergent will soak through the shirt and start breaking down the glue. Flip the shirt right-side up. When the vinyl starts to peel, use tweezers to remove the lettering.
- Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the vinyl is completely removed.
- To wash off the excess petroleum jelly, hand wash the t-shirt with more detergent or clean in a washing machine as normal.
To Remove The Adhesive Residue:
- After removing the vinyl from your shirt, it’s time to get rid of the vinyl adhesive. Using your fingertips, gently rub a small amount of vaseline onto the remaining glue residue. The vaseline will loosen the adhesive, making it easier to remove.
- Using your normal laundry detergent, hand wash the remaining vinyl glue and petroleum jelly.
- Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the adhesive and petroleum is completely removed.
Summarized: How To Remove Vinyl From Shirt
In this post, I’ve gathered the best methods on how to take off vinyl from a shirt. Here are all the recommended products in one convenient list.
- Pronto 100% Pure Acetone
- Goo Gone Adhesive Remover
- AlbaChem Heat Transfer Vinyl Remover for Fabrics
- Dealmed Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70% USP
- Vaseline BlueSeal Pure Petroleum Jelly
Conclusion
Heat transfer vinyl (also known as HTV) is a material that can be applied to fabric by ironing. It is often used for decorative purposes and is a fast and efficient way to create custom t-shirts. In this post, I’ve gathered the best methods on how to remove vinyl from shirt.
If you have never worked with vinyl before, it can be surprisingly difficult to it remove from clothes. This sticky material that adheres tightly to fabric, making it hard to peel off without damaging the fabric underneath. Fortunately, using the right techniques and products, it is not too difficult to remove vinyl from a shirt.
The two best ways is to use an adhesive remover (Goo Gone) or professional fabric vinyl remover. Adhesive removers are made specifically for removing adhesive substances like glue or tape from surfaces. They work by breaking down the chemical bonds between the adhesive and the surface it’s stuck to.
On the other hand, fabric vinyl removers are made specifically for removing vinyl from fabrics without damaging them in any way. They work by dissolving the glue that binds the vinyl and fabric together while keeping the clothing intact.
I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to take vinyl off a shirt. Good luck!