7 Easy Steps to Make Bleach Shirts for Sublimation

Bleaching shirts for sublimation lets you place bright, vibrant designs on dark or colored shirts without using vinyl. You lighten just the area you want to sublimate, neutralize the bleach, wash the shirt, then press and transfer your design. Done right, it’s fast and safe and gives you crisp results on almost any color.

Bleach a small area of the shirt, neutralize it with peroxide, wash and dry it, then press your sublimation design. This creates a bright space that makes your print show clearly on dark fabrics.

Learn more about the best fabrics for sublimation to choose shirts that bleach and print well.

7 Easy Steps to Bleach Shirts for Sublimation

Step 1: Print and Prep Your Sublimation Design

Use software like Canva, Photoshop, Cricut Design Space, or Silhouette Studio.
Save your design as PNG, mirror it if needed, and print on sublimation paper.

Cut loosely around the edges, leaving ¼ inch of white helps prevent ink bleeding.

Step 2: Insert Cardboard Into the Shirt

Slide cardboard or foam board inside the shirt.
This:

• Prevents bleach from bleeding through
• Gives you a flat surface
• Helps with alignment

Iron the shirt lightly to remove wrinkles.

Step 3: Apply Bleach (Three Options)

Choose the look you want:

Spray Bottle:

• Gives soft, cloudy edges
• Easy for large areas

Paintbrush:

• Sharp borders
• Great for rectangles or frames

Stencil:

• Most controlled look
• Stars, circles, text outlines, lace patterns

Only bleach the area where your design will go.
You can lightly outline the space with chalk before starting.

Step 4: Let the Bleach Develop and Then Neutralize It

Place the shirt in direct sunlight.
Check it every 60 seconds so it doesn’t over-bleach or burn.

When the color is where you want it:

1. Rinse with cold water
2. Soak 10 minutes in 1 gallon water + 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
3. Wash on cold
4. Dry completely

The peroxide stops the bleaching instantly, which protects the fibers.

Step 5: Press the Shirt Before Sublimating

Moisture ruins transfers.
Press the shirt with butcher paper inside at 400°F for 60 seconds to flatten fibers and remove leftover humidity.

Step 6: Sublimate the Design

Align the design over the bleached area.
Tape lightly on the edges so it doesn’t shift.

Press at:

• 400°F
• 60 seconds
• Medium pressure

Let it cool slightly before peeling.

Step 7: Done! Enjoy Your Bleached Sublimation Shirt

You’ll have a bright, crisp design surrounded by a soft, bleached halo.
Every shirt turns out unique, and no two bleach patterns match.

What This Method Does

Bleach removes pigment from the shirt so the sublimation ink has a light base to sit on. Cotton bleaches quickly, blends react more slowly, and polyester barely lightens at all. A simple bleach spray, a few minutes in the sun, and a peroxide soak is all you need to prep the shirt before pressing your design.

Why Bleach Shirts for Sublimation?

Sublimation ink needs a light background and polyester fibers to bond well. Dark shirts block the ink, so bleaching creates a bright patch that gives you:

• A clean space for vibrant color
• A “distressed” style without extra materials
• The ability to sublimate on colors like black, navy, red, and forest green

People love this method because it’s cheap, fast, and looks handmade without being messy.

Best Shirts for Bleaching and Sublimation

Not all shirts bleach the same. This matters more than most beginners realize.

Shirt Type	Bleach Reaction	Sublimation Color	Best For
65/35 polyester-cotton	Medium-fast, even	Bright	★ Best overall
50/50 blend	Fast, strong	Good but slightly softer	Popular choice
100% cotton	Very fast	Muted or vintage look	Trendy distressed style
100% polyester	Very slow, uneven	Bright	Not great for bleaching

Pro tip: Bleach reacts with cotton, not polyester. So blends bleach the most evenly and still give enough polyester for the ink to bond.

Safety Notes (Don’t Skip This)

The number one mistake beginners make is bleaching indoors or mixing chemicals by accident. Keep it simple:

• Bleach only outdoors or in strong ventilation
• Wear gloves and eye protection
• Never mix bleach with vinegar or ammonia
• Neutralize with hydrogen peroxide immediately after bleaching
• Always wash the shirt before pressing

Bleach keeps working for hours unless neutralized, which is why peroxide is essential.

What You’ll Need

• 50 50 or 65 35 poly blend t-shirt (dark colors work best)
• Bleach (regular, unscented)
• Spray bottle, brush, or stencil
• Hydrogen peroxide + water
• Sublimation printer and paper
• Heat press
• Cardboard insert
• Gloves, mask, apron

If you’re using a 50/50 blend, check out common issues with 50 50 sublimation and how to fix soft or muted colors.

How Long Does Bleach Take to Work? (Actual Timing Guide)

Blend	Sunlight Time	Notes
50/50	3–7 minutes	Quick change, easy to control
65/35	6–12 minutes	Most consistent results
100 cotton	2–5 minutes	Can over-bleach fast
100 polyester	10–25 minutes	Mostly lightens to peach tones

Sunlight speeds things up, but you can also use a heat gun on low if needed.

What You’ll Need

To bleach shirts, you’ll need the following materials:

• A 100% polyester t-shirt in any color (preferably dark or vibrant)
• A sublimation printer and paper
• A heat press or iron
• A piece of cardboard or foam board
• Bleach (regular or color-safe)
• A spray bottle, a paintbrush, or a stencil (depending on the bleaching method you choose)
• Water and hydrogen peroxide
• Protective gloves, goggles, apron, and mask
• A bucket or sink

Knowing about cotton results? Here’s a full guide on how to sublimate on cotton shirts even when you’re bleaching first.

Real-World Case Study

We tested the same sunflower design across three shirt blends:

50/50 Blend (Winner)

• Bleach activated in 6 minutes
• Sublimation transferred with good contrast
• Smooth edges, no fiber damage

65/35 Blend

• Needed 10 minutes in sunlight
• Colors slightly brighter than 50/50
• Most stable bleaching pattern

100 Cotton

• Bleached almost instantly
• Sublimation looked vintage and soft
• Great for a weathered look but not for bright colors

If you want predictable results, 50/50 or 65/35 is the sweet spot.

For pressing, use the correct sublimation temperature guide so your bleached shirts transfer cleanly.

Troubleshooting: Common Problems and Fixes

Why is my bleached area turning yellow?

It wasn’t neutralized with peroxide long enough. Soak again in peroxide mix.

Why did my bleach spread too far?

You used too much liquid. Switch to a brush or stencil.

Why does the shirt still smell like bleach?

It needs another wash cycle.

Why does my design look faded?

The shirt may have too much cotton. Cotton does not bond with sublimation ink.

Why did the shirt burn when I pressed it?

Over-bleached cotton becomes brittle. Reduce bleach time next round.

After pressing, avoid design shifting with these tips on how to prevent ghosting in sublimation.

Best Tips from Experienced Makers

• Don’t oversaturate the shirt
• Always place butcher paper inside during sublimation
• Use cold water for rinsing
• Try lace fabric as a bleach stencil for delicate effects
• Test bleach on an inside seam before doing the main area

Thank you for reading! 😊For more about Bleaching shirts.