How to Wash Football Pants and Jerseys

How to Clean Football Uniforms

1. Rinse the Uniform

   Rinse the uniform in a utility sink or tub with cold water after every use to remove loose dirt and mud. Or, hang the uniform outdoors on a clothesline and spray it with a hose.

2. Presoak the Uniform

   Fill a large sink, bucket, or plastic storage tub with warm (not hot) water. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of heavy-duty laundry detergent and 1 cup of baking soda.

   Allow the uniform to soak for at least one hour or overnight. The detergent starts working on stains, and the baking soda reduces the odors.

3. Pretreat Stains

   Spray remaining mud and grass stains with an oxygen-based cleaner and brush the fabric with a soft-bristled brush. Allow the detergent to work for at least 15 minutes before washing as usual.

   If washing away red clay mud, make a paste from granular oxygen bleach and a few drops of water. Apply the paste to the stain, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes before washing.

   You can also brighten white football pants with a laundry whitener. Pour a 1/2 cup of detergent into 1 gallon of water, and then let the pants sit in the solution for about an hour. Swish it around a few times, rinse the pants, and then wash as usual.

4. Wash in Cold or Warm Water

   Turn your football jersey inside out to protect the lettering and emblems, and then add it to the washing machine with the pants. Don't add any other clothing items to the washer because the lint from cotton or cotton-blend clothing can cling to the jersey's letters and numbers.

   Set the washing machine to the normal cycle using cold or warm water and then pour in a heavy-duty laundry detergent. These detergents contain active enzymes that cut through heavy soil, lifting it from the fabric.

   Add 1 cup of baking soda to the washer drum for odor control. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove any excess detergent that can leave colors looking dingy.

5. Air Dry the Uniform

   Hang the uniform to dry on a clothesline or a drying rack away from direct sunlight.

   Machine drying can ruin a football uniform by setting stains, fading colors, and destroying screen-printed letters and numbers. If you must put your football uniform in the dryer, tumble dry using low heat on the permanent press cycle.

How to Wash Football Pads

When it comes to washing football pads, there are a few steps to take:

• First, separate each shoulder pad's plastic shells from the fabric, and wipe them down with water and a soft cloth.
• Spray the pads with an enzyme-based stain cleaner to kill bacteria and remove odors.
• Follow the product directions for handwashing, or place the pads in a mesh laundry bag before adding them to the washing machine.
• Air-dry the pads before putting them back into the football uniform.

How Often to Wash Football Uniforms

Wash the football uniform after every use. The faster it can get in the wash, the better the chance you'll have of eliminating stains and odors. If you can't get it washed immediately, throw it in a soak or rinse it in cold water and drip dry.

Football Uniform Care and Repairs

It's common for numbers and letters to peel off football jerseys, especially when the uniforms are hand-me-downs or the material quality is poor.

To repair peeling decals, first back the number or letter with a piece of cardboard. Next, place a pressing cloth over the top of the number or letter. Using an iron set on high heat with the steam turned off, quickly apply the iron tip to the decal's edges with the pressing cloth in between (never allow the iron to touch the jersey fabric directly). Gradually increase the contact time until you see the decal adhering to the fabric.

Storing Football Uniforms

Football uniforms including pads, jerseys, pants, and football gloves should always be cleaned before storing or bacteria will grow, ruining the uniform for the next season. Pads can be hung on hangers and stored in a cool, dry closet. Football uniforms can be hung or folded and stored in the same fashion. Uniforms stored in sealable plastic bins will be protected from off-season damp conditions.

Tips for Washing Football Uniforms

• Add water softener (not fabric softener) to your presoak solution if you have hard water. This will prevent your uniform from feeling stiff from hard water deposits once dry.
• Don't use fabric softener on a football uniform, as it can lessen the fabric's moisture-wicking capabilities.
• Avoid chlorine bleach, even on white fabrics, as it can damage synthetic polyesters and yellow them. Instead, use an oxygen-based bleach or all-fabric bleach, which will brighten dulled whites.
• Use separate presoaking tubs for colors and whites.