4 Steps to Clean Your Jersey
There’s a certain kind of pride that comes with putting on a fresh, crisp jersey at the beginning of a game. But here’s the thing, they don’t stay clean very long. Throughout one single wear, a jersey can get nasty with sweat, grass and dirt stains, food, and even blood.
Jerseys are meant to get dirty, but they don’t have to stay that way. Keep reading for the 4 steps that are guaranteed to keep your jersey looking fresh so you can feel sharp.
#1 Treat Tough Stains
Before throwing your jersey in the wash, give it a once over and look for any major stains. You should treat them before you do anything else.
The type of stain matters. Here are some quick tips to follow:
- Grass stains: A simple mixture of vinegar and water can be a lifesaver when it comes to grass stains. Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts of water, spray or rub into the stain, and let it soak for 1-2 hours. After it’s soaked, throw it in the wash.
- Blood stains: Believe it or not, most blood stains can be easily removed by running the stain under cold water. It’s best to try and tackle the stain when it’s fresh, but cold water should work on dried blood too. Just keep rubbing with your fingers under the tap. If it’s not working, try using a dab of your liquid shampoo.
- Food stains: Hot dog got a little messy at the game? A food stain is best treated by using a little bit of cold water and dish soap on the stain. There are also detergents specifically designed for these types of tougher stains.
#2 Turn Jerseys Inside Out
Preserve the vibrant colours of your jersey by turning it inside out before throwing it in the wash. This will help the graphic avoid coming into direct contact with the detergent, as well as prevent it from getting beat up by your washing machine.
Turning your jersey inside out will also help the detergent and rinse cycle tackle the sweatier parts of your jersey—like the armpits. You’ll get a better clean without sacrificing quality.
Pro Tip: Wash your jersey with OTHER jerseys and not your regular daywear. You should also undo any of your jersey’s buttons!
#3 Be Choosy About Detergent
The detergent you choose will have a major impact on your jersey’s lifecycle (or should we say wash cycle). You want to pick something with two things on the label:
- Protects Colour. Make sure you’re not using something with loads of bleach in it, or that is meant only for dark laundry. Look for a detergent that’s safe for all colours.
- Fights Stains. Our jerseys can get filthy with sweat. Pick a detergent that will battle off any unwanted staining, without being too harsh.
#3 Pick the Right Settings
You might be tempted to put your jersey into a heavy-duty wash cycle after not doing it for weeks of playoffs (we get it, you can’t wash it ‘til your team wins), but we gotta tell you… that’s a big mistake!
Your jersey will last a lot longer if you wash it on a short, 20-minute cycle. You’ll also want to make sure the water is warm, NOT hot, to keep it from getting damaged.
If you find after the 20-minute cycle there are still stains, let your jersey soak for a few minutes, then put it through a quick rinse cycle.
Are the stains still there? You might need to revisit Step 1 and tackle the stains head-on.
#4 ALWAYS Air Dry
Our biggest piece of advice? Never run your jersey through the dryer. The high heat can cause the decals on your jersey to melt or crack (which is not a good look).
It’s best to hang your jerseys out to dry.
As soon as the wash cycle ends, you should take your jersey out of the machine and shake it out (this will keep the decals from sticking together). Then, simply put it on a hanger and let the sun & air work their magic.
Don’t have a jersey to wash? We can fix that! Contact The Jersey Lab for custom-designed jerseys.