How to Remove an Old Logo from a T-Shirt

Remove an unwanted logo from your T-shirt.

Over time, an "iron-on" or vinyl logo on a T-shirt may start to peel or crack, creating an unattractive appearance on an otherwise, decent garment. There are several reasons why the logo starts to wear out -- time and repeated washing are the two most common. Remove the logo and keep the shirt with either of two methods: rubbing alcohol or heat. Either process is simple and takes minimal time to complete. In addition, once the logo is removed from the shirt, you can put another in its place or leave the shirt plain without any logo.

Things You'll Need

• Method 1:
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton ball or clean cloth
• Blunt knife
• Method 2:
• Cardboard
• Parchment paper
• Iron

Instructions

Rubbing Alcohol

1. Turn the dry shirt inside out and lay flat.

2. Saturate a cotton ball or clean cloth with rubbing alcohol.

3. Apply the cotton or cloth to the back side of the logo. Press down and hold for 15 to 20 seconds. This will allow the alcohol to absorb into the fabric and back side of the logo, weakening the fabric glue.

4. Turn over the shirt and gently peel the logo up with a blunt knife. Repeat the process until the logo is completely removed.

Parchment Paper and Heat

1. Rinse the T-shirt in cold water until completely saturated.

2. Insert a piece of cardboard inside the shirt.

3. Cut a piece of parchment paper the size of the logo. Place the parchment paper on the logo with the shiny side facing downward, over the logo, and the dull side facing upward.

4. Heat an iron to the cotton setting, typically 6 or 7. Press the iron down onto the parchment paper and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat in 10-second intervals until the logo starts to adhere to the parchment paper.

5. Pull the paper upward carefully. The logo will be attached to the shiny side of the parchment paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not place the iron directly onto the logo; this will cause the logo to bond to the iron.

• If one method is unsuccessful, try the other method.

References

• Iron On Patches; How to Remove Iron On Patches; Tara Dooley; December 2010
• Label Your Stuff: FAQ/Shipping: Can I Remove My Iron-on Labels?