Five Ways to Cover a Stain on a T-Shirt

If you have a t-shirt that is stained, and you think your only option is to throw it away, read this article first. These tips are handy for any item of clothing, including those for the little people in the home, and they can make the difference between throwing a t-shirt away, or having one that is like new all over again.

One: Tie Dye it. This is a really cute option and works on so many things. This is an especially good option of the stain in question is in a hard to cover spot, as the tie dye covers the entire garment. You can be as creative as you like with tie dye, and use whatever color you like as well. Remember, however, if the t-shirt you are dying is dark to begin with, you are going to have to pick and choose the color of your dye appropriately. In addition to t-shirts, I have seen one-piece rompers for children that have been tie-dyed to disguise a stain and they have just come out beautifully. I have a friend who had a cute shorts and tank top outfit as well, and she got a stain on the shirt. Loving the outfit too much to depart with it, she used tie dye on the top and bottoms, and she receives more comments now on the outfit than she ever did before.

Two: Cover the spot with an iron-on. You can purchase any type of iron-on you would like via online methods, in stores, or at specialty fabric or craft and hobby shops. Depending on where the stain is, you can use a big iron-on, or a smaller one. There is a huge variety of iron-on patches or pictures available, including sports themes, cutesy models, flowers, etc. It only takes a short amount of time to transfer an iron-on and the end result is a t-shirt that looks like new. Keep in mind that iron-ons have a tendency to crack and peel after being washed in the washing machine several times. If the t-shirt is a beloved one that is worn a lot, this may not be the option you want to take. If it is a shirt that is worn infrequently or for working in the house or yard, or play, then this could be the perfect option for you to take.

Three: Embroidery. Embroidery can cover a spot or stain on a t-shirt, and depending on where the spot rests, you can get as creative as you like. You can embroider big or small. You can put a name on, a college, a football team, initials, a slogan, or purchase a template with a picture. The choices are endless, and they are entirely up to your tastes, or the taste of the person to whom the t-shirt belongs.

Four: Put a picture on it. You can take your t-shirt to a specialty shop, easily found in a center aisle of most shopping malls, or you can give the shirt to a photo developer who creates picture t-shirts, along with the picture you want transferred to the shirt. If the stain on the t-shirt is light to medium, the picture will cover it up beautifully. A word of warning, however, if the stain is dark, it is probable that it will show through the photo transfer.

Five: Mark it Up. Gather some puffy or permanent markers or paint, or even ballpoint ink pens, and let loose. You can use stained t-shirts at a gathering such as graduation or end-of-the-school -year celebrations and have family, friends, or school mates sign away. The more the merrier. Or you can have the children in the family create designs with the paint or markers. By the time they are finished, the stain will be unnoticeable and the shirt will be a treasured piece of 'art.'

These five tips are bound to give you an idea for a way to save that beloved t-shirt, instead of throwing it away, or they will spark some ideas of your own.