Cracked, brittle prints? This simple trick should work wonders

Laura Scholz

11/4/2025

Translation: machine translated

Some hacks sound too good to be true. Like this simple application of nail varnish remover to textiles. What exactly does the hack promise, and does it really keep its word?

A DM is lurking on Instagram. Colleague Natalie Hemengül posts a promising fashion hack: Nail polish remover is said to be the solution to worn-out T-shirts and jumpers. More specifically, for the prints on them.

You may be familiar with the problem: after repeated wear and washing, prints tend to become porous and tear. You could accept this as a used look or casual vintage feature. Or you could see it as a reason to sort out the «worn» piece soon. This is where the Instagram tutorial by @iamzuckerpuppe comes into play. He claims that you need nothing more than acetone-based nail polish remover and a cotton pad to dab the print back to a decent shape. Clearly, I have to test this out.

I can quickly find a T-shirt with a cracked print in my wardrobe. I pluck cotton pads and nail polish remover from the bathroom shelf. Yeah, let's go then, shall we?

How it works (allegedly)

The step-by-step instructions are quickly explained: soak a cotton pad generously with nail polish remover containing acetone and press it onto the print for at least 30 seconds. So far, so easy. And then?

At first glance, the lettering may not look like new, but it actually looks a lot better. Great! I continue dabbing euphorically. But while I'm still working on another spot in the next 30-second interval, the first letters are already crumbling again. The colour of the print also transfers a little onto the soaked cotton wool pad.

I still don't give up straight away and keep testing. I treat some areas a second (and third) time and extend the pressing time with the cotton pad. But the result remains the same: what looks for a brief moment like a «too-good-to-be-true» solution turns out to be just that. After a few minutes, the supposedly mended motifs gap apart as before. At the latest when the fabric on the body starts to move.

Conclusion

Even if it doesn't take much effort, you can save yourself the trouble. This «hack» doesn't help at all and, in the worst case, even costs you some of the saturation of the print. Not worth it.

Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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