How to Wash and Dry Your Dead by Daylight Hoodie Without Damaging the Print
By Shop -Dead By Daylight | Published: 2026-09-14
Category: Tips & Care
A step-by-step routine for washing and drying your Dead by Daylight hoodie so the print stays sharp and the fit stays true, from the first wash onward.
Quick answer
Turn your Dead by Daylight hoodie inside out, wash it cold on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, and skip the dryer. Lay it flat or hang it to air dry. Heat is what cracks prints and shrinks cotton, so cold water and air drying solve both problems at once.
A hoodie print can survive years of wear if you keep two things away from it: heat and friction. Most damage happens in the dryer, not on the street. The ink on a screen-printed hoodie softens in high heat, then cracks along the fold lines when it cools.
The routine below works for any printed hoodie, including the Naughty Bear Hooded Sweatshirt - Grey. It takes a few extra minutes per wash and adds years to the print. If you already own a Dead by Daylight hoodie, start with the first wash and keep the habit.
What actually damages a hoodie print
Printed graphics sit on top of the fabric as a cured ink layer. Heat makes that layer soft and sticky; agitation makes it rub against itself and the drum. Together they cause the fine cracks that eventually flake. Fabric softener and dryer sheets add a waxy coating that dulls the print and traps odors in the fleece.
Shrinkage is a separate issue. Cotton fleece relaxes and contracts in heat, which is why a hoodie that fits well on day one can feel tight after a hot wash and a hot dry. Cold water and low heat protect both the print and the fit.
- Never iron directly over a printed graphic.
- Skip bleach and fabric softener entirely.
- Wash printed hoodies separately from items with zippers or hooks.
How often should you wash it?
Hoodies are outerwear, so they need less washing than a T-shirt. If you wear yours over another layer and it does not smell, airing it out overnight is often enough. Wash after two to four wears, or immediately after sweat, spills, or a convention floor.
Overwashing is a real risk. Every cycle adds a little agitation, and that is what wears down a print over time. Spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth and mild soap between full washes.
- Air out between wears to extend time between washes.
- Treat stains promptly instead of waiting for laundry day.
Drying options ranked by safety
Air drying is the safest method for any printed hoodie. Lay it flat on a drying rack or hang it from the hood, reshaping the seams while damp. If you must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and remove the hoodie while it is still slightly damp, then hang it to finish.
High heat is the single biggest cause of cracked prints and shrunken fleece. If a care label is missing or unclear, treat the hoodie as cold-wash, air-dry only. That default never causes damage.
- Flat drying prevents shoulder stretching from hanger weight.
- If you use a dryer, keep it on air fluff or low and check every 10 minutes.
Step-by-step hoodie wash routine
- Check the care label first: Read the label inside the hoodie for any specific temperature or drying instructions. If the label is missing or faded, default to cold wash and air dry. Checkpoint: if the label says dry clean only, stop here and follow that instead.
- Turn the hoodie inside out: Pull the sleeves through and make sure the printed graphic faces inward. This puts fabric, not ink, against the drum and other garments. Common mistake: leaving the hoodie right-side out, which lets the print rub directly against the machine.
- Close zippers and fasten any closures: If your hoodie has a zipper, close it fully. If it has drawcords, tuck them inside or tie them loosely so they do not whip around during the cycle. Checkpoint: exposed zipper teeth can snag and tear the print on the same load.
- Wash cold on a gentle or delicate cycle: Use cold water and a mild liquid detergent. Choose the shortest gentle cycle your machine offers. Avoid bleach, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. Common mistake: using warm or hot water because the hoodie looks dirty. Cold water cleans everyday soil just as well and protects the print.
- Skip the spin cycle if you can: If your machine allows it, reduce the spin speed or skip the final high-speed spin. High-speed spinning presses the print against the drum and sets in creases. Checkpoint: if you cannot change the spin, remove the hoodie immediately when the cycle ends.
- Reshape and air dry: Lay the hoodie flat on a drying rack or hang it from the hood. Smooth the seams and the print with your hands while it is still damp. Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators. Common mistake: hanging a wet hoodie by the shoulders on a thin hanger, which stretches the neckline.
- If you must use a dryer, use low heat: Set the dryer to the lowest heat or air fluff. Remove the hoodie while it is still slightly damp, then hang or lay it flat to finish drying. Checkpoint: if the print feels warm and soft when you take it out, it got too hot. Lower the heat next time.
Product facts that affect how you care for it
- Naughty Bear Hooded Sweatshirt - Grey: Grey hooded sweatshirt with sizes S and M listed as available. If you own this hoodie, check the size before washing. A cold wash and air dry keep the fit consistent, which matters most when only select sizes are available.
- Dead by Daylight – Logo Piqué Polo Shirt: Made from breathable piqué cotton with a printed logo on the chest. The same cold-wash, air-dry routine protects the polo's printed logo. Piqué cotton can shrink in heat just like fleece, so treat it the same way.
- Dead by Daylight - Laptop Sleeve: Available in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes with listed dimensions. Not a garment, but it is a reminder that printed and coated gear lasts longer when you avoid heat. Never tumble-dry or iron any printed accessory.
A printed hoodie is not fragile, but it does have two enemies: heat and friction. Cold wash, inside out, gentle cycle, air dry. That is the whole routine. Follow it and the print on your Dead by Daylight hoodie will stay sharp long after the season ends.
