How to Clean Football Uniforms
From general cleaning to deep-set stain removal, caring for football uniforms could very well be the most difficult part of participating in team sports. Like any skill, the right set of tools and know-how make the difference between dingy and sparkling clean uniforms.
Things You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Stain treatment such as Fels Naptha, hydrogen peroxide or Shout
- Bucket or large sink for soaking
- Presoak agent – dish soap or OxiClean
- Laundry detergent
- Prevent stains by applying a light dusting of baking soda to uniforms before a game. This creates a stain barrier, but should only be used on light-colored uniforms to avoid splotches during gameplay.
- Treat stains before washing using either Fels Naptha bar soap rubbed directly on the stain, hydrogen peroxide rubbed into the stain with a damp rag, or a commercial stain treatment such as Zout or Shout. Avoid bleach when treating stains. Most football uniforms are made of polyester, which can yellow from bleach.
- Presoak uniforms in warm water with a squirt of dish soap with one cup bleach, with one cup of OxiClean, or regular laundry soap in a medium load measurement, accordingly.
- Wash the uniform by itself or with other uniforms on warm using regular laundry detergent and the heavy cycle on your washing machine.
- Check the uniform for any missed stains. If necessary, apply any treatments again and rewash.
- Hang the uniform to dry, or put it in the dryer per the instructions on the label.