Most dye sublimation fabrics are made with polyester fabrics, and with the dye sub printing process, the color becomes embedded in the fabric, so fading is not a problem unless it is done too often.
If your graphics are not too big to fit in your washing machine, it is no problem at all to wash them there. However, if they are too large to fit in your washer, you may have to find another way to wash the banner, whether by hand in a large tub, or while hanging up with a soapy brush and a water hose. Or anything else you can come up with for washing your banner.
In either case, we agree that it would probably be better for your banner(s) to be hung out to dry rather than dried in a dryer, although there doesn't seem to be a problem with that either.
Once the fabric banner has dried, you can also use an iron on low heat to iron out any wrinkles that may have occurred in the drying process. Now you have a bright and clean banner to hang up at your next show!
Can my outdoor fabric graphics be cleaned?
Outdoor fabric or cloth banners are pretty much the same as interior banners, except that the outdoor fabric is more durable in the various weather conditions that are thrown at it.
However, dye sublimated outdoor banners will often become soiled and dirty much faster, especially in congested urban areas where there's certain to be more pollution in the air from various sources.
As stated in the previous query, if the banners are small enough to fit in a washer, and I didn't mention that a rotary washer is superior to an agitator-type washer, then this will be the easiest way to wash your banners. It is likely you'll need to use a more aggressive grease removing detergent with an outdoor banner that you would with its indoor banner counterpart.
If you can't fit the banner or banners in your washer, then you'll need to manually wash them, whether when you're hanging them or washing them in a large tub or barrel. No matter which route you take, make sure your detergent is tough against grease.
Once you've washed your dye sub cloth banners, the best practice is to hang them up to dry. If you don't have this option, and they'll fit in a dryer, go ahead and dry them that way. Make sure you don't leave them in the dryer once it stops, as it'll create wrinkly banners, and it's not a lot of fun ironing them out, although that is an option with polyester fabric dye sublimate printed banners.
Are outdoor fabric display products able to withstand typical weather conditions like thunderstorms?
Yes, as long as there are no accompanying violent winds, tornadoes, or a direct lightning strike to the banner (unlikely). Dye sublimated cloth banners are made from polyester fabric and are quite tough. A thunderstorm may have accompanying high winds of 40 to 50 MPH, but as long as the fabric banners or displays are secured tightly, there shouldn't really be any issue with them withstanding inclement weather. After all, they are outdoor fabric banners.
Barry Brown has been in the Sign, Banner, Decal and Display Business for over 20 years. It isn't what he thought he'd do with his life, but he says he knows too much now to do anything else!
He has been marketing these products online since 1998, and the company he was general manager of in 1998 was the first sign company to be listed on Yahoo!
