HOW TO WASH MACHINE A FOOTBALL SHIRT
1. Turn your kit inside out
It may seem unnecessary, but it is good practice to wash football shirts inside out. Most football kits have prints on them, meaning not washing them inside out could damage the print on your shirt. Asking players to turn shirts inside out after use means you don’t need to do this yourself prior to washing. Turning kits inside out also means you can easily check the shirt care labels which brings us on to our next point.
2. Separate colours
You should always separate kit by colour as you would do with normal clothes washes to avoid any issues with colours running and discolouring/ruining kit. For example, washing a blue shirt with white socks could mean your socks don’t stay white for long! To safeguard against this happening always separate colours and if you’re ever unsure always err on the side of caution.
3. Wash at a low temperature
As we’ve already mentioned, it is imperative that you wash football shirts on a low temperature. Football shirts are made with varied heat retaining properties, so it is better to veer on the side of caution and never wash a shirt over 30°C as the care labels suggest.
4. Use stain remover when required
If you have mud or a stain on a football shirt which a standard wash is failing to remove it is worth trying to get rid of it with stain remover. We recommend using stain remover from a recognised brand for best results, and even then, you should always patch test it before fully applying. Patch testing involves apply stain remover to a part of the shirt you cannot see, e.g. inside the hem at the bottom of the shirt. After a period of time if there is no bleach or other markings it is safe to apply to target mud/stains with the stain remover.
5. Air dry your kit
Most football shirts should not be dried in a tumble dryer or on a radiator due to damage it can cause to the print and/or fabric. Instead, you should always air dry football shirts to keep them smelling fresh and looking at their best. If the weather allows, it is good to dry shirts outside with a breeze although you’ll need to ensure they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight and heat as that can damage/discolour shirts. If drying shirts outside isn’t an option, then hang shirts up inside to dry.
6. Ironing your shirt
Whilst most people will opt not to iron their football shirts, it is something you can do if you follow the correct approach. You’ll need to take great care when ironing your football jersey, ensuring you only iron on a low heat with the shirt inside out. If there is any printing on the shirt, you’ll need to avoid directly on ironing on the print.
HOW TO HAND WASH A FOOTBALL SHIRT
1. Prepare the Shirt
Turn the shirt inside out to protect the print and stitching. It is good practice to start doing this if you regularly wash your football kit.
2. Create a Wash Solution
Fill a sink, bath or bowl with warm water and add a splash of colour-safe detergent. Make sure you check the care label for further information.
3. Soak it
Submerge the shirt and let it soak for 10-15 minutes to loosen any stains. If stains do not fade look at using some stain remover.
4. Ring your shirt
Gently squeeze and swirl the shirt in the water to remove dirt. Try and do this a few times to get rid of it all, taking care not to damage any print.
5. Rinse Thoroughly
Use cold water to rinse the shirt until all soap is removed and any dirt and residue washes away.
6. Air Dry
Air dry your shirts on a washing line outside or on an airer inside. Football shirts are typically made from quick drying material so this shouldn’t take too long.
