How to Wash Your Sports Jersey without Damaging It

Most sports jerseys are made of either polyester or another synthetic fabric, which are easy to clean and dry. However, it’s the heat-pressed decals (numbers, display logos, or athlete’s name) on them that need extra care while washing to avoid any damage to the fabric.

In this post, we’ll tell you the steps to properly wash and dry your sports team jerseys.

Tips to Properly Wash Your Sports Team Jerseys

1. Remove the stains by hand

Before putting the jersey into the washer, remove the hard stains on the fabric and the stickers. Sweat stains are easier to remove, but grass, blood, mustard, ketchup, or beer can be stubborn. Here’s how you can get rid of them before putting your jersey into the washer:

• Dampen the stained area in cold water.
• Apply the prewash stain removing agent (you can use vinegar or soap or shampoo) on the stain.
• Rub it gently with a stain removing sponge or a soft-bristled toothbrush, and squeeze out the excess moisture.
• Remove the stains as soon as you can before it becomes harder to remove.

2. Prepare them for washing

You’ll need to consider the color of your jerseys (in case you’re washing all of them together), and other clothes you’re washing along.

• Wash your white jersey separately as colors from other clothes may bleed during the wash. Also wash the black jersey separately as its color might also bleed.
• Avoid washing your jerseys with blue jeans as it may cause blue streaks to appear on your jerseys.
• Turn your jerseys inside out before putting them into the washer to protect the patches, wordings, and stitching from abrasion.
• Unbutton the baseball jerseys to prevent the buttons from breaking, and remove the laces from the hockey jerseys to avoid entanglement.

3. Clean your jersey in a washer

Cleaning your jersey needs a ‘delicate’ touch even with the washer. Below are some tips:

• Use cold water for washing your jersey. Hot water may cause fading, shrinking, and damage to the decals.
• Use good quality, bleach-less, and color-protecting (powdered) detergent powder. Liquid detergents do not dissolve well and contain elements that can ruin your jersey.
• If your jersey is stinky, add vinegar to the washer to neutralize the odor. However, add the vinegar through the bleach dispenser, otherwise, your jersey will absorb the vinegar odor.

Tips to Properly Dry Your Jersey

Avoid improper methods to dry your jersey. They may cause damage to the fabric and the decals. Take the following steps to properly dry your jersey:

• After taking the jersey out of the washer, turn it right side out, and shake it. This will prevent the stickers from sticking together.
• Hang dry or flat dry under the sun. You may cover it with thin fabric, to protect from the sun’s excessive heating.
• Avoid using the dryer as the high heat may cause letters and numbers to crack or melt together.
• Avoid ironing for the same reason.

At Pro-Tuff Decals, we have a wide range of uniforms and jerseys in our collection suitable for different purposes and different sports, including football, baseball, and volleyball.