Football jerseys play a vital role in a football player’s life. It adds to the aesthetic of their wardrobe. It enhances the professional look of players and allows supporters to cheer on their favorite team in a nail-biting match. Companies often use synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon to make football jerseys. These materials can tolerate the strict physical activity.
However, football jerseys are made of long-lasting materials, but adequate care is mandatory to maintain their eye-catching, vibrant look. If you wash them inappropriately, it will result in their material damage and color vanishing. It will also deteriorate the engraved logo and players’ numbering. This damage will lower the morale of the players and also decrease their performance. To avoid this, you must know how to wash a football jersey appropriately. In this article, you will find detailed information on how to wash a football jersey to make it last longer.
Why Proper Care of Your Football Jersey is Essential
Football jerseys make you look professional. Moreover, it also gives your team a sense of identity. Let’s discuss some reasons why you should wash your football jersey properly.
- Maintain the Color and Design: Football jerseys are made of bright colors, engraved logos, and outlined numbers. If you don't wash your jersey properly, it will damage its colour and design.
- Preserve the Fabric: If you wash your jersey with inappropriate chemicals and the wrong method, it will deteriorate the fabric. The synthetic materials will lose their maintenance features.
- Prevent Damage to Logos and Numbers: Usually, football jerseys display numbering or logos on the chest, back, or arm sides. If washed improperly, it will damage their prints.
If you wash your football jersey with an appropriate method, it will keep it fresh and durable. It will also keep you motivated, whether you're a player or a supporter.
Understanding the Fabric and Design
Before discussing how to wash a football jersey, you must know some common materials used to manufacture football jerseys. Companies usually use synthetic fabrics for their products. They include:
- Polyester: Companies mostly use polyester to manufacture football jerseys. The reason is its ability to endure stress, prevent sweat from appearing on the body, and its airy nature.
- Nylon: Some companies use both polyester and nylon. It adds to the strength of football jerseys.
- Spandex/Lycra: Spandex/Lycra is also used in combination with other materials. It enhances the jerseys’ comfort and flexibility.
Though each of the materials discussed above can endure routine stress, they usually show responses to heat, chemicals, and lubrication. If you know the type of material your football jersey is made of, you can easily follow the suitable washing instructions.
Preparing the Jersey for Washing
Before you know how to wash a football jersey, you must prepare your jersey for suitable washing treatment. Here are some preparation guidelines:
- Check the Care Label: You must read the label on your jersey. It will help you learn about their washing care instructions. Some materials demand specific washing techniques, such as manual washing, steam pressing, dry cleaning, or cold water.
- Turn It Inside Out: You must change the side of your jersey before washing. It will prevent your jersey’s outer from damage. It will also maintain your fabric’s moisture-evaporating features. Moreover, you should do this step to protect your logos and engraved designs.
- Close Zippers and Fasteners: If your football jersey includes zips or buttons, close them properly. Otherwise, they will cause harm to other fabrics and lose their fastening ability.
- Treat Stains Before Washing: If your jersey gets any kind of stains, do not leave it. You should clean them before washing. You can do it by using a chemical stain remover or detergent and applying it to the stain. You will get the stain removed within 15 minutes.
Choosing the Right Detergent
There are various types of detergents available in the market to wash certain types of clothes. The type of detergent you use for your jersey plays a crucial role in maintaining its quality. If you use detergents with harsh chemicals and bleach, it can damage the fabric and fade the color of your jersey. That's why I only use detergents that are specially formulated to wash sportswear. This ensures your jersey gets the right washing treatment while keeping it safe and vibrant.
Want to dive deeper into the world of football? Check out our article on the 13 Most Expensive Transfers in Football History for more exciting insights!
Washing Your Football Jersey by Machine
Most companies allow you to machine wash football jerseys. To do this, you must know the instructions. Let’s discuss them step-by-step.
Step 1: Use a Mesh Laundry Bag
First, put your football jersey in a laundry bag. It will prevent the machine from having an unstable washing action. Also, it will keep the jersey’s fabric fresh and avoid damage to the designs and colors.
Step 2: Select the Right Cycle
The next step is to choose an appropriate cycle on the machine. Go for a delicate cycle with slower shaking. It will protect your jersey from absorbing oil or other lubricants. As a result, the jersey will maintain its freshness. It is important for synthetic materials because they often deteriorate in response to a rigorous cycle.
Step 3: Wash with Cold Water
You should wash your jersey with cold water. If you use hot, sparkling water, it will damage your jersey’s synthetic fabric and cause it to diminish. It will also vanish your jersey’s vibrant colors. In contrast, cold water retains the quality of the fabric.
Step 4: Use a Mild Detergent
The toxic chemicals of the detergent can damage the fabric and color. You must use a bleach-free chemical detergent. You can ask a shopkeeper about suitable detergents that are friendly for football jerseys. A suitable detergent will maintain your jersey’s top-notch quality.
Step 5: Avoid Fabric Softener
However, some people use fabric softeners for their jerseys. But you should avoid using them. They usually leave a remnant that can damage the fabric’s moisture-evaporating capacity. As a result, it will affect its breathability and make players uneasy during their strenuous sports routine.
Hand-Washing Your Football Jersey
If your jersey’s fabric and design demand manual washing, you should go for it. Let’s discuss how to wash a football jersey by hand.
Step 1: Fill a Basin with Cold Water
You can fill your tank or basin with cold water. If you want to maintain the fabric and texture of the jersey, do not use hot water.
Step 2: Add Mild Detergent
Next, add one or two drops of bleach-free detergent to the filled water. Mix the drops in water with your hand to make a soapy mixture.
Step 3: Submerge the Jersey
The next step is to put the jersey in the soapy solution and twirl it uniformly. If your jersey requires thorough washing, you can leave it in water for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse with Cold Water
After 15 minutes, clean your jersey with cold water through continuous rinsing. It will remove the soap residue if left. You must clean it until the cold water itself becomes clean.
Step 5: Gently Squeeze Out Excess Water
After you clean your jersey properly, you must filter out additional water. You should squeeze water gently and avoid twisting. It will damage your jersey’s shape.
Drying Your Football Jersey
You should also dry your jersey with care. It is equally important as proper washing. Here are some tips that you can follow to dry your jersey without deteriorating its shape.
Air Dry Only
The best option is to air-dry your jersey on a clean cloth or by hanging it on hangers. You must avoid putting it in the air dryer as it will compress and damage the fabric. Moreover, air drying will peel your logo and numbering designs.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Though air drying is a preferred method, you should avoid direct sunlight. There must be a filter in between. If you keep your jersey in the sunlight for a long time, it will fade its bright colors. You can hang it inside, where there is light during the day, to allow it to dry naturally, and avoid direct sunlight at the same time.
Avoid Wrinkles
The wrinkled jersey does not look professional. If you want to avoid wrinkles, you should keep it in its straight, original shape.
Storing Your Football Jersey
Proper storage of football jerseys is necessary to retain their high quality. Here are some pro tips to follow for its proper storage:
- Hang it up: You must use a good-quality hanger to hang it. It will maintain its original shape.
- Avoid folding: You should avoid folding and twisting jerseys for a long period.
- Store in a cool, dry place: You should store it in your indoor wardrobe. The wardrobe should be kept away from direct sunlight.
Dealing with Stubborn Stains
Some stains are so stubborn that they don’t come out even after the wash. For them, you can try some methods like:
- Spot Cleaning: Apply a stain remover or mild detergent over the affected area. Gently rub the remover for a few minutes and then leave it to rest. Wash it with cold water later.
- Baking Soda Paste: Use a paste of water and baking soda over harsh stains. Leave the paste on the stain for about 10-15 minutes, and then wash it.
- Vinegar Solution: Vinegar is also good for removing stains from the cloth. It neutralizes the smell and removes the stain naturally.
Additional Tips for Football Jersey Care
The following are some tips that will help you maintain the integrity of your favorite football jersey for a long time.
- Wash After Each Wear: People love to wear their favorite jersey whenever they go out. Mostly, they avoid washing and want to wear it as many times as possible without washing, which is really not a good idea. Washing your jersey after every wear is crucial to avoid smell and discoloration.
- Avoid Wearing For Casual Activities: It is better to keep your jersey safe for only special events like big days and games. If you wear it casually, it might make it old.
- Handle With Care: Always be careful while wearing your football jersey. Rough handling may lead to tears or cracks.
- Rotate Jerseys: Change turns if you own multiple football jerseys. This keeps them away from excessive wear and protects their integrity.
What to Do If Your Jersey is Damaged
Well, if you see damage in your football jersey. You can do these steps to repair it.
- Repair Tears: Little tears can be taken care of with sewing. Use a matching thread of the jersey and do a little stitching to avoid more tearing.
- Fixing Peeling Designs: Peeling designs can also be fixed with little heat and parchment paper. Just place the parchment paper on the design and press it with very gentle heat. Avoid too much heat, as it will damage it further.
- Seek Professional Help: If you think repairing isn't your forte, you can also get it from professional tailors.
Special Considerations for Custom Football Jerseys
Some football players and their die-hard fans order customized football jerseys with engraved logos, numbers, and prints. If you also own a jersey like this, you need to take extra care of it. Otherwise, it will damage the embroidery. Moreover, you should wash it gently following the step-by-step guidelines mentioned in the article above.
Conclusion
Whether you are a football player or a keen team supporter, you must know how to wash a football jersey. It should be done properly to maintain its high quality for a long time. Different fabrics have different washing requirements.
You can wash it by machine or by hand after reading the care instructions on the jersey. You should use bleach-free detergents, cold water, and air drying to preserve the fabric and design. You should store it by hanging it in a suitable place in your wardrobe, away from direct sunlight. If you follow the basic guidelines mentioned in the article above, you will have your favorite jersey with you for a long time.
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