If you’ve ever worried about spending hours on a painted design only to watch it fade in the wash, you’re not alone. The good news? With the right fabric paint and a few simple steps, your designs can stay vibrant wash after wash.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about how to paint on fabric permanently, from choosing the right paint to heat-setting your finished piece.
Your go-to tips:
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Use fabric-specific paint or acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium
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Pre-wash your fabric to remove sizing and oils
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Heat set with an iron or tumble dryer to make the paint permanent
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Wait 72 hours before washing, then wash inside-out on a gentle cycle
What You’ll Need
Before you start, gather your supplies. You’ll need fabric paint (or acrylic fabric paint), brushes or sponges, cardboard or plastic to place inside your fabric, and an iron for heat setting. If you’re using regular acrylic paint, pick up a fabric medium too.
Natural fibres like cotton and linen work best. This matters because cotton absorbs paint beautifully and holds colour well over time.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Acrylic Paint Stay on Fabric
Step 1: Pre-wash your fabric
New fabric often has sizing, oils, or finishes that prevent paint from bonding properly. Run it through a wash cycle without fabric softener, then let it dry completely. This simple step makes a big difference.
Step 2: Prepare your workspace
Lay your fabric flat and slide cardboard or plastic inside (for garments) to stop paint bleeding through. Tape down the edges if needed to keep everything steady while you work.
Step 3: Apply your paint
Use thin, even layers rather than thick globs. Thick paint is more likely to crack or peel. If you’re using regular acrylic paint on fabric, mix it with fabric medium first to keep it flexible after drying.
Step 4: Let it cure
Allow your painted fabric to dry completely, then wait at least 24 hours (ideally 72) for the paint to fully cure before moving to the next step. Patience here pays off.
Step 5: Heat set your design
This is the step that makes your paint permanent. Place a thin cloth over your design and iron on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, moving the iron constantly. Alternatively, tumble dry on high for 30 minutes. Heat-setting bonds the paint to the fibres so it won’t wash off.
Looking for quality paints and brushes? Browse fabric paint and art supplies in Australia at Craft Online to find everything you need for your project.
How to Wash Painted Fabric Without Ruining It
Wait at least 72 hours after heat setting before the first wash. Turn your garment inside-out, use cold water, and choose a gentle cycle. Skip the fabric softener and tumble dry on low or air dry. With proper care, your design should last for years.
Fabric painting is easier than it looks, and with the right prep, your designs will stay put. Grab some fabric paint, follow these steps, and enjoy wearing (or gifting) something you made yourself.
Make Sure Your Design Stays Put
Fabric painting is one of those crafts that feels intimidating until you actually try it. With the right fabric paint, a bit of prep, and proper heat setting, your design will survive the washing machine just fine. Start with something simple (a tote bag or plain t-shirt), follow these steps, and see for yourself. You've got this!
