Guide
Patch Care Guide — Washing, Removing, Repairing
Patches outlive garments when treated right — and 'right' differs by construction. The short version: sew-on embroidery laughs at 60°C; everything else is more polite.
Washing by construction
| Patch | Wash | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidered / woven, sew-on | 60°C | Industrial-laundering safe |
| Embroidered / woven, iron-on | 30°C inside-out | Corner-tack for permanence |
| Chenille | 30–40°C inside-out | Keep away from Velcro in the drum |
| Printed | 30–40°C inside-out | Coating lasts years, not decades |
| PVC | Wipe clean | Waterproof — rarely needs washing |
| Leather | Wipe; no machine | Condition like any good leather |
Removing patches cleanly
- Sew-on: seam-rip the stitches, lift the patch, pull residual threads with tape.
- Iron-on: reheat with the iron through a cloth, peel while warm, lift adhesive residue with citrus remover, press the area flat.
- Velcro: just peel — wash the garment with the patch removed.
How long do patches last?
Embroidered and woven patches on sew-on backing routinely outlast the garment — a decade of weekly washing is normal. Iron-on lasts the life of most casual wear. Chenille and printed patches are built for years, not decades. Leather and PVC age rather than fail.
Common questions
Re-press with a cloth at 150°C for 30 seconds while the adhesive is still viable, then corner-tack with needle and thread. If the adhesive has fully failed, sew around the border — the patch itself is fine.
Small snips can be trimmed flush; larger damage means a replacement patch, which is cheap when your digitised file is already on our server.
Keep reading
10-piece minimum · proofs before production
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