By HEX Team
Quick answer: Turn jerseys inside out, pretreat grass and mud stains, and wash in cold water on a gentle cycle with a detergent made for synthetics. Always air dry, because dryer heat shrinks fabric and peels numbers and names.
Jerseys take a beating: grass, mud, sweat, and the occasional blood stain, every week of the season. Most are polyester with heat pressed or screen printed numbers, and the wrong wash can fade colors, crack prints, or shrink a jersey a full size.
Step by step
- Wash as soon as possible. Stains and odor set the longer a jersey sits. If you can't wash the same day, rinse stains in cold water.
- Pretreat stains. Apply a stain and odor remover directly to grass, mud, and sweat stains like HEX Performance Stain Remover. Gently work it in and wait 15 minutes.
- Turn inside out. This protects numbers, names, and logos from rubbing.
- Separate colors. Wash whites and light jerseys apart from dark ones, especially for new jerseys that may bleed.
- Cold water, gentle cycle. Hot water fades dyes, shrinks fabric, and loosens printed graphics.
- Use a detergent made for synthetics. Regular detergent leaves oily residue in polyester that holds odor. HEX Performance Laundry Detergent penetrates tight weaves and eliminates odor without heavy perfume.
- No bleach, no softener. Chlorine bleach yellows and weakens polyester. Softener coats the fabric and blocks wicking.
- Air dry. Hang on a plastic hanger or lay flat. Keep out of direct sun, which fades color.
How to remove common stains
Protecting numbers and names
They crack and peel when exposed to heat and friction.
- Always wash inside out.
- Never iron directly over a number. If needed, iron inside out on low with a cloth between.
- Never machine dry, even on low.
Football vs soccer jerseys
Football jerseys are often heavier mesh and are worn over pads, so they pick up oil and dirt from the pads. Wash pads on their own schedule. Soccer jerseys are lighter and touch skin directly, so odor builds faster. Wash after every game and practice.
FAQ
Can I wash jerseys with regular clothes? Yes, with similar colors and weights, in cold water. Keep them away from towels and jeans.
How do I fix a jersey that already shrank? Polyester shrinkage is usually permanent. Prevention is the only reliable fix.
What about youth jerseys parents wash at home? The same steps apply.
