If you love soccer, then you know that a high-quality soccer jersey is simply necessary for the collection of any real fan. But what happens when it gets dirty?
Here you can find everything you need to know on how to wash a soccer jersey.
Should I wash a soccer jersey?
Regular washing of any piece of clothing is essential. It helps to remove bacteria, dirt, or any other pollutants and infections. Not washing your clothes often enough can cause germs and microbes to accumulate.
When you wear your clothes in public, you are exposed to other people’s germs, which can lead to these germs sticking to your clothing.
The more people you run into, the more germs you will accumulate over time.
Soccer jerseys, like any other clothing, need to be refreshed. If it is a gift from a famous soccer player or if it’s just a thing that lies in the closet and is not worn, then it can be not washed.
If it is a t-shirt that is worn daily or just regularly, you should definitely wash it: this is basic hygiene.
Not washing your clothes often enough can cause germs and microbes to accumulate.
How do you wash a real soccer jersey?
The question is: how to wash a soccer jersey? For some people, that is an easy question to answer, but for others? Not as simple.
Start with preparing your soccer jersey for washing.
How do you prepare the soccer jersey?
Turn the jersey inside out. As a result, stains or sweat will be easier to wash off. You can also prevent any ironed letters or numbers from peeling off or fading by washing the jersey inside out.
When washing a jersey, turn the clothing inside out and place it in a garment bag for additional protection.
Make sure to give the jersey a proper wash in cold water in gentle mode. By washing it in cold water, you can prevent fading, shrinkage, and damage to the letters and numbers on your jersey.
Hot water can lead to color fading and other damage to your knitwear, even if it’s a good quality one.
Avoid using fabric softener. Adding fabric softener can make it difficult for the detergent to fully absorb the material, where odors and bacteria can linger, especially if we talk about synthetic fibers.
By washing it in cold water, you can prevent fading, shrinkage, and damage to the letters and numbers on your jersey.
Step-by-step instructions
Some clothing fabrics withstand washing better than others, so choose soccer jerseys made of materials that can be washed in the machine. They can include polyester, cotton, and synthetic fibers.
These fabrics can withstand a large number of cleanings without any shrinkage or grinding.
Here are some tips on how to wash a soccer jersey.
Pre-soak your jersey
Before cleaning, let the jersey pre-soak for around half an hour with laundry detergent or soap. This allows the laundry detergent to absorb into grass or sweat stains on the jersey, and this will alleviate their removal after the jersey gets into the washing machine.
This will save you time as you won’t have to clean the sweater again because the stains didn’t come off the first time; soaking eliminates this.
It is highly recommended to use liquid detergents for better results.
Turn the soccer jersey inside out
To protect a jersey, try to wash it inside out. It will help to prevent the jersey from rubbing against other items in and against the washing machine.
Machine wash in cold water separately
Machine washing in warm or hot water can cause fading of colors in your jerseys. Moreover, it is required to wash them separately or with knitwear of a similar color.
Even though most jerseys are made out of synthetic materials, it is important to follow this rule: the colors of other pieces of clothing may mix with your t-shirt’s color or make it fade.
Machine washing in warm or hot water can cause fading of colors in your jerseys.
Air dry the jersey
Most people think that the best way to dry a jersey is to take it to a dry cleaner, and they couldn’t be more wrong.
Although it takes more time, the best way to dry your clothes is to simply let them air dry, as there is no chance of damaging the jersey at all.
Dryers are known to be very cruel to soccer jerseys and can cause peeling due to high temperature and friction, even if they are made out of synthetic fibers.
Using air drying is better, as staying in the dryer can easily shrink the jersey, which may mean that it will no longer fit you, and you will have to buy another one.
If you are not willing to wait for your jersey to air dry, you can steam clean your jersey using distilled water to limit any potential damage to your jersey.
Use a proper detergent
Using the right detergent for your jersey is crucial. Since synthetic fibers are most commonly used to make a jersey, the best detergent for washing them targets these fibers.
Can I put a soccer jersey in the washing machine?
Is it safe to wash a jersey in the washing machine?
The ideal way to wash a soccer jersey is to clean it with your hands in cold water.
Using warm or hot water can sometimes cause shrinkage, fading, or damage to soccer jerseys. If you are to get rid of blood stains, you are never to wash a jersey in hot water.
To prevent that, it is recommended to wash your clothes on low heat.
Doing laundry by hand is more gentle than cleaning it in the machine.
Use a bath or container, and mix water, and laundry detergent to get rid of tough stains. Put the soccer jersey into this liquid and let it soak in the liquid.
hen, gently scrub the stained area to remove odor and stains. When you’re done, rinse it with clean water and hang it to dry.
To spare your time and energy, doing a pre-wash and putting the jersey in the machine would be a better option. If you want to properly wash your soccer jersey, hand wash is recommended.
Drawing conclusions
Most jerseys are made out of synthetic materials, creating no chance for them to shrink when being washed. The important thing to remember, however, is that when you do wash your jersey, always use cold or medium-level water, and avoid drying it.
Ultimately, this will keep your jersey looking brand new after multiple washes and uses.