How to Care for Rhinestone & Embroidery Tees

You invested in a handmade piece. Now let's keep it looking like a handmade piece — for years, not weeks. The good news? Caring for rhinestone and embroidery tees isn't hard. It just takes one or two small changes from your usual laundry routine.

Here's exactly how we recommend caring for your Yanxa pieces, broken down by step.

The Golden Rules

1. Always wash inside-out. This is the single most important thing you can do. Turning the tee inside-out before washing protects the rhinestones and embroidery from rubbing against your other clothes (and the washing machine drum).
2. Cold water only. Hot water loosens adhesive and weakens fabric fibers. Cold water keeps everything tight and bright.
3. Gentle cycle, every time. The aggressive setting on your washer is the enemy of detail work. Always use the gentle, hand wash, or delicate setting.
4. Hang dry. Never tumble dry. The heat and tumbling motion of a dryer is what kills rhinestone tees fastest. Hang them over a hanger or lay flat to dry.

Step-by-Step: Washing Your Rhinestone Tee

Here's our exact process:

1. Turn the tee inside-out before tossing in the wash
2. Use a mesh laundry bag if you have one (highly recommended)
3. Set your washer to cold water and gentle/delicate cycle
4. Use a mild detergent — avoid bleach, fabric softener, and strong stain removers
5. Once the cycle is done, take the tee out immediately (don't let it sit in the wash)
6. Reshape gently and hang over a padded hanger, or lay flat on a clean towel
7. Let air dry completely before storing

If you only follow ONE rule, make it this: turn it inside-out and skip the dryer. That's 90% of the battle.

What to Avoid

• Bleach — eats adhesive, fades colors, and can damage rhinestones
• Fabric softener — leaves residue that can dull the shine
• Direct sunlight for drying — can fade colors over time. Indoor air dry is better.
• Ironing directly over rhinestones or embroidery — if you must iron, flip the tee inside-out and iron from the back, on a low setting
• High heat dryers — heat is the #1 killer of statement pieces
• Storing while damp — leads to mildew and weakened adhesive

Storing Your Tees Long-Term

If you're not wearing your Yanxa tee for a while, here's how to store it:

• Make sure it's completely dry before storing
• Fold it (don't hang for long periods — hanging stretches the shoulders over time)
• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight
• If folding, place tissue paper between the front and back of the rhinestones to prevent any rubbing

For Embroidered Pieces

The rules are basically the same, with a couple extras:

• Embroidery thread can fray if it catches on something — be extra careful with zippers and Velcro on your other clothes
• If a thread does come loose, don't pull it. Snip it carefully with small scissors
• Avoid pressing irons directly on embroidery — flip inside-out and iron from the back

What If a Rhinestone Falls Off?

It can happen — usually after years of wear or if it got snagged on something. The good news: it's an easy fix.

• Find a small, replacement rhinestone in a craft store, or hold onto fallen ones if you spot them
• Use a small dab of fabric glue (or e6000 adhesive) to attach
• Press firmly and let dry for 24 hours before wearing or washing
• If you'd rather not DIY, message us — we can sometimes do small repairs

The Bottom Line

Handmade pieces deserve handmade care. The few extra minutes you spend turning your tee inside-out and air drying instead of throwing it in the dryer? That's the difference between a tee you wear for 6 months and one you keep for 6 years.

Your Yanxa pieces are made to last. With a little bit of love, they will.