Washing a shirt that has been signed with perm. marker?

[AnnShh]

My work was having a fundraising event today to support an organization that helps with special needs kids and there were a few Washington Redskins players that came out to help (James Thrash, Renaldo Wynn, and Lemar Marshall (who I don't think is with the Skins anymore...). I have a t-shirt signed by them and since I am not that big into football I don't really have a need to frame it, but I would love to wear it as it supports the organization (the shirt has the oranization's logo/name) and to show off haha.

They signed the shirt using permanent sharpie markers.... will this come out if I wash it? Is there any way to safely wash the shirt so that the signatures aren't compromised?

 

[threewingedfury]

It will eventually wear off. I have a lot of t-shirts signed by bands that I wear every once in a while and they just look really worn. It will fade the more you wash it.

 

[smhufflepuff]

I've had things written in black sharpie marker turn sort of green-black-ish in the wash... I'm not so sure I'd risk washing your shirt. Maybe just wear a t-shirt under it so it doesn't pick up sweat so you don't have to wash it as often?

 

[moon]

You can try hand washing it in cold water and laying flat to dry. This should prevent much of the fading.

 

[kaykay]

Yeah, I was going to say...being in a huge racing family I have SEVERAL shirts that are signed. I like to wear them and I have some that have been washed a LOT, I've had these shirts for 4 years or more and the signatures are still on them. Faded, but they are still there. It takes a lot to fade them, IMHO.

 

[Parka]

I have an accidental sharpie stain on one of my work shirts, just a dot, it gets washed every week without fail and the stain is still there. The stain is at least 6 months old. It's still black and it's only faded at the edges--it looks a little fuzzy, if that makes any sense. The original sharpie mark obviously wasn't crisp.. sharpie on fabric bleeds a little.. but I agree with kaykay. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

ETA: I think the suggestion I inserted here is wrong--I'll get back to you later. You could also just handwash the shirt.

 

[AnnShh]

You can try hand washing it in cold water and laying flat to dry. This should prevent much of the fading.

That's a great idea!
My mom suggested turning the shirt inside out.... but I don't know how that really makes much of a difference?