How to Wash and Care for a Sports Jersey

Tips to keep your sports jersey clean and fresh

Team jerseys air drying next to cleaning materials and laundry basket

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to $20

Knowing how to wash a jersey—whether it's your favorite seasonal NFL team jersey or it's one your kid uses almost daily for soccer or basketball practice—can help this expensive item last longer. Learn how to keep sports jerseys looking as fresh as possible, remove stains from a jersey's numbers, and how to make repairs if the letters or numbers begin to peel away.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Jersey

  • Washer
  • Clothesline or drying rack
  • Soft-bristled brush (optional)

Numbers and Lettering

  • Iron
  • Ironing board
  • Sewing machine

Materials

Jersey

  • Laundry detergent
  • Water
  • Stain remover (optional)

Numbers and Lettering

  • White copy paper or notebook paper
  • Acetone-based nail polish remover
  • Cotton swab
  • Matching jersey fabric (optional)
  • New fabric letters or numbers (optional)
  • Matching thread(s) (optional)

Instructions

Clothesline next to soft bristled brush and laundry detergent on white surface

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

How to Wash a Team Jersey
Detergent Regular
Water Temperature Cold or lukewarm
Cycle Type Permanent press or delicate
Drying Cycle Do not machine-dry; air-dry only
Special Treatments Wash inside out
Iron Settings Do not iron
How Often to Wash Once a season for spectators, after every wearing for athletes

You've watched your kid slide into home base wearing their team jersey or worn yours to support your favorite team. Now it's in need of a good wash before the next game. Here's what to do.

How To Wash a Jersey

  1. Pretreat Stains

    Pretreat stains before washing a sports jersey. Use an enzyme-based stain remover or heavy-duty laundry detergent on stains like mustard, ketchup, beer, mud, and grass. Rub in the cleaner with your fingers or a soft-bristled brush, avoiding the numbers and letters. Let it work for 15 minutes before washing.

    Tip

    Choose an odor-fighting detergent to wash your sports jersey in if it's available. These detergents have odor blasters that target smells such as body odor and sweat.

    Heavy duty laundry detergent scrubbed into stained team jersey

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  2. Load the Washer

    Turn every jersey inside out before adding it to the washer. This will protect the numbers and lettering from abrasion and agitation and will make them last longer.

    Team jerseys turned inside out on laundry basket for washing

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  3. Select the Washer Cycle and Water Temperature

    Select the permanent press or gentle washer cycle to help prevent excessive wrinkling and wear on the letters and numbers. Set the water temperature to cold or lukewarm. Do not use hot water that can cause fading, shrinking, and letter damage.

    Washer machine set for gentle cycle jersey on top

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

    Cold or Hot?

    Never use hot water to wash your sports jersey. Cooler water temperature will prevent colors from running and bleeding and is gentler on any embellishments such as letters and logos. This will prevent cracking, melting, or peeling.

  4. Dry the Jersey

    After washing the jersey, turn it right side out and shake gently to prevent the decals from sticking. Avoid wringing it, and don't use a dryer as the high heat can damage the letters. Dry the jersey flat on a rack or hang it to air-dry.

    Team jerseys hanging on drying rack

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  5. Avoid an Ironing Disaster

    Don't iron a jersey because the high temperature can burn holes or melt letters and logos. If you absolutely must iron a jersey, use a pressing cloth and your iron's lowest temperature.

    Team jersey ironed with pressing cloth in between

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

How to Repair Peeling Letters and Numbers

You've done your best to maintain your jersey, but now the letters or numbers on the shirt are curling up and peeling away. Or, maybe the printer misspelled a player's name. Here's what to do.

  1. Repair Letters and Numbers

    Iron a freshly washed jersey with a peeling decal facing up on high heat without steam. Smooth the decal, and cover the curled section with a sheet of white paper.

    Use only the tip of the iron and press the edge of the curling decal. Start with a short pressing time and gradually increase it until the decal sticks again to the fabric. Never let the iron touch the jersey or the decals directly. Leave the jersey flat on the ironing board until it cools down completely.

    Repairing lettering of team jersey with iron and decal paper

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  2. Separate any Melted Lettering

    If the jersey was accidentally put in the dryer on high heat and the letters have melted together, they can be separated to save the jersey. But, no matter how careful you are, the letters are never going to look the same as before. However, this technique will allow you to wear the jersey again without a big hole.

    Allow the jersey to cool completely. Dip a cotton swab in an acetone-based fingernail polish remover, and slowly swab the stuck areas while very gently pulling the letters apart. There will be some damage to the letters no matter how gentle you are in the process.

    Separating melted lettering from team jersey with fingernail polish remover

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  3. Restore Cracked Lettering

    If the numbers and lettering have cracked or faded, it's nearly impossible to restore them to their original glory. Some sites recommend using fabric paint to repaint the lettering; you can purchase fabric paint at a craft store or online. However, the repair will never look like the original and may appear uneven. Another option is to wear the cracked lettering proudly to signify your years of support for the team.

    Restoring cracked lettering on team jersey with fabric paint

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  4. Correct Misspelled Lettering

    Printers make mistakes, and sometimes a name is misspelled or a number needs to be changed. It's virtually impossible to remove the letters without damaging the fabric. Instead, buy some matching jersey fabric, and attach the new numbers or lettering (iron-on or stitched) to the fabric. Then hand- or machine-sew the square or rectangle onto the jersey. It won't look perfect, but it can get a kid through the season or get you through the game you've been waiting to attend. It's less expensive than buying a new jersey.

    Misspelled lettering on team jersey fixed by hand sewing matching fabric

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Treating Stains on a Team Jersey

A team jersey used for practices and games will need attention after just about every wearing. Since a team jersey should be washed on a more gentle cycle in the washing machine, you may have to work on the stains by hand for best results.

Sweat

Eliminate sweat stains and perspiration odor on a team jersey by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to your wash. If the odor is still lingering, wash again, but this time add 1/2 cup baking soda to the load.

Grass

Remove stubborn grass stains by mixing one part vinegar with two parts water. Dip a toothbrush or soft-bristled brush into the liquid. Gently brush the mixture onto the stain. Let it absorb for one to two hours. Then, wash as directed.

Blood

Remove blood from a jersey by running cold water over the shirt. Continually rub your fingers on the stain under the water to loosen it from the fibers. If needed, add a drop of shampoo or dish soap to the stain while you rub it in with your fingers under cold water. Rinse, and repeat if necessary. Then, wash per the instructions.

How to Repair and Care for Your Sports Jersey

Besides fixing cracked numbers, your jersey may end up with a rip or snag in it. To fix a rip, simply find thread the same color as the jersey. Turn the jersey inside out and fix the rip with a needle and thread from the wrong side. Fix a snag in a woven team jersey much like you would do with a sweater, but the weave is likely a lot tighter. Use a needle (blunt or otherwise) to poke the snag through the fabric to the wrong side of the jersey. Use tweezers to grab the thread once you can pull it through to the wrong side of the fabric. Do not cut the snag, just leave it hanging on the inside.

Storing a Sports Jersey

Team jerseys should be washed before storage to avoid difficult-to-remove stains for the next season. They can be folded or hung but should always be kept in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent damage to the lettering.

How Often to Wash a Sports Jersey

Spectators can wash a jersey once a season to keep it in good shape, unless there are spills that need to be cleaned. Athletes should wash their jerseys after each wearing to remove dirt and odors.

Tips for Washing a Sports Jersey

  • Don't use fabric softeners on team jerseys because the chemicals can coat the fabric and damage the way it wicks moisture away from your body.
  • For extra protection, wash your jersey in a mesh garment bag. That way the hooks, zippers, and Velcro from other items won't snag on the jersey.
  • If you need your jersey to dry quickly, grab your blow-dryer, set it to cool, and point it at the garment to dry.
FAQ
  • How do you wash a jersey in a machine without ruining it?

    Most jerseys are made of synthetic fabric, making them easy to wash and dry. However, the letters and numbers on them require special care. Be sure to use a gentle touch during this process. Read the care label and follow instructions carefully to avoid regrets later on.

  • Why is my jersey ripping when I wash it?

    Letters and numbers can rip off a jersey when the adhesive on the back weakens from wear-and-tear and many washings. Do not rub your jersey's fabric when you wash it to avoid any more rips after you repair them.

  • Should I take my jersey to the dry cleaners?

    Do not dry clean a sports jersey because the solvents and other chemicals could damage the fabric and embellishments.