Sweat, dirt, grass stains—uniforms can take a beating during game time. But with high-quality materials and proper care techniques, your uniforms can still look good and perform well. Get down and dirty when you need to, and still show up to your next game in a bright, clean uniform.
Get our best tips for how to wash a jersey.
1. Wash Your Custom Jersey Immediately After Play
After a tough game, the last thing you want to do is run a load of laundry. However, washing your uniform as soon as you get home will pay off in the long run.
Tackling stains immediately gives you the best chance to remove them, especially for larger stains that might take some elbow grease to remove. It is also the most efficient way to remove odors—and keep your laundry hamper from smelling like a locker room.
2. Use a Pre-Treatment on Tough Spots
You might not need any extra treatments after a typical practice session, but those game-day plays can add even more dirt to a jersey. In the event of larger stains, pre-treatment tackles the grime before the regular wash cycle.
To treat stains when cleaning a jersey:
- Pick a pre-treatment. Most people have a favorite commercial stain remover. Some people even swear by dish soap or baking soda. In the event of injury during a game, hydrogen peroxide is generally the best stain remover for blood.
- Apply the stain remover as soon as possible. The longer stains remain on a fabric, the harder they are to remove. Apply your stain remover as soon as the game is over. If you have to wait to do this step, running the jersey under cold water can give you a little more time to address the issue.
- Be gentle with the fabric. Rubbing the fabric together or taking a harsh brush to the jersey can cause damage. It can push the stain further into the fibers, too, which makes it harder to get out. Gentle rinsing and dabbing will do the job.
- Let the treatment sit. Read the instructions on your chosen stain remover to see how long of a treatment is recommended. Generally, the longer the better (though chemicals like hydrogen peroxide can cause color fading if left too long).
- Rinse and wash the garment. When the treatment has had enough time to sit, it is time for your regular wash. Many pre-treatments need to be rinsed out before the garment is put in the washer. So run it under gentle, cold water before tossing it in.
- Air dry and examine the stain. With a big stain, do not put the garment into the dryer. This can set the stain, making it more difficult to continue any treatment. Use a clothesline or a drying rack instead. Once the jersey is dry, examine the stain spots to ensure they are fully gone.
If necessary, you can repeat the treatment and jersey cleaning process to remove any final remnants before your next game day.
3. Wash Your Custom Jersey Gently—and Inside Out
Handwashing is the gentlest way to wash custom jerseys. If you have the patience, this can lengthen the lifespan of your garment and keep colors and vinyl pressings vibrant. However, handwashing is not always practical, especially for sweaty sports uniforms.
There is no reason you should not feel comfortable running your custom jersey in the washer. It certainly makes cleaning your jersey immediately after a game much easier. To best protect garments in the washing machine:
- Run on a gentle cycle to prevent aggressive tossing, turning, and abrasions to the vinyl decorations.
- Wash with cold or lukewarm water. Too high a temperature will compromise the adhesive of the vinyl and might cause cracking or peeling.
- Use only mild detergent. Avoid detergent options that contain the phrases brightening, whitening, or stain fighting. These typically have harsh chemicals that could compromise the integrity of the vinyl.
- Do not use additional fabric softeners or any other chemicals such as bleach.
When in doubt, wash vinyl-printed jerseys inside out. This simple method prevents unwanted chemical exposure and abrasions on the vinyl logo. If you have access to a garment bag, that’s even better. Anything that prevents chafing on the vinyl detailing during the washing cycle will help immensely.
4. Use Appropriate Treatment for Odors
As tempting as scented detergents or additional laundry additives might be to eliminate odors, they usually are not the best way to address stubborn sweat smells. Scented additives often mask smells rather than actually addressing them, and extra chemical exposure could compromise the vinyl logo.
In that case, how do you eliminate odors? Something as simple as adding a half cup of baking soda or a cup of vinegar to your wash can be a way to tackle stubborn odors without running the risk of damaging your uniform. Sometimes the natural solutions are the best.
5. Avoid Too Much Heat on the Jersey
High heat can degrade the quality of custom jerseys. You should avoid both using high-heat clothes dryers and ironing the garment. The benefits of these treatments do not outweigh the potential risks, which include:
- Compromising the elastic material of the jersey, altering its fit
- Damaging the vinyl logo and detailing
- Causing integrated padding (like in football uniforms) to become misshapen
Opt for air-drying your uniforms after a wash. In a pinch, you may run the uniform through the dryer on a low-heat cycle to mitigate damage risks.
If you need to iron your custom uniform, use low heat. Place a towel between the garment and the iron to avoid direct heat on the decorations.
Bonus Tip: Avoid taking custom jerseys to the dry cleaners. Too much heat and too many chemicals. You are better off learning how to wash a jersey at home.
6. Maintain and Store the Jersey Properly Between Games
Even a clean jersey needs a little attention before the next game. Another important way to care for your apparel is by using proper storage techniques.
Jerseys stay in good condition when stored in a cool, dry place. The closet is preferable to the laundry room, for example. Hang up the jersey—with plenty of breathing room between other items—to best preserve vinyl design elements.
You can also take the post-wash period to address any necessary repairs. If ignored, loose threads, small snags, and scratched vinyl designs will all worsen over time.
7. Replace Damaged or Worn-Out Jerseys
Even with thoughtful care, jerseys typically only last a season or two. Regular play and regular wash wear down the fabric and dull the designs. Youth athletes may also grow out of their jerseys in a short period of time, potentially requiring replacements even if their current uniforms are still in good condition.
Once a jersey has reached the end of its lifespan, it is time to order a new one. Continuing to play in a damaged jersey can limit performance, not to mention the impact it can have on appearance and morale. If your team uses a print-to-order supplier like gearUP, you can order new jerseys at any time. With other uniform providers, you should work with your coach to obtain replacements.
Trust gearUP for Quality Jerseys and Apparel
Compared to stock sports apparel, custom jerseys can bring greater excitement and cohesion for teams. Never be afraid to take your jersey through its paces or fear sullying it during game day. There is always a way to care for and clean jerseys so they are ready to go for next time.
At gearUP, we source only the best quality high-performance apparel so your team looks the part come game day—and so they can always play at their best. Coaches and managers love our easy customization and ordering processes.
Let us outfit your team with the best custom jerseys available. Contact us today.
