They’re tricky little buggers, aren’t they? Clean presentation, beautiful applications, crests and designs… and yet they’re incredibly high maintenance to wash. 

Yes, just because we’re a nationwide leading jersey retailer doesn’t mean we’re going to sidestep admitting that caring for and washing your soccer jersey can be difficult. 

But, at the end of the day, they’re our babies and we must take good care of them. So, with that in mind, we at WorldSoccerShop are prepared to lay out all the best practices for keeping your kit in tip-top shape for years on end. 

Follow this guide for the best way to wash and dry your jersey to ensure the applications, badges and colors on your soccer jersey stay in their optimal condition.

Caring for Your Soccer Jersey: Why Bother?

If you toss your kit in the wash and throw it on an average cycle with the rest of your casual gear, you’ll quickly wear out your jersey. 

Failing to properly care for your jersey when cleaning it can result in worn fabric and faded colors at a much faster rate than normal. Additionally, applications such as badges, crests and screened logos for both sponsors and brands can tatter, peel and stick to other parts of the kit. 

Any of the above would not only ruin your jersey’s look, but its value as well, and you wouldn't want your hard-earned dollars going to waste after only getting to wear your shirt on a few occasions. 

To avoid jersey ruin, follow these steps. 

 

Before You Wash: Treating Stains

If you got beer thrown all over you after celebrating a last minute screamer or your stadium nachos were just a little too gooey – you’ve likely dealt with the tricky situation of taking care of a stain in your soccer jersey. 

How do you treat a strong stain on a jersey so delicate and expensive? 

• Treat all stains on your jersey before washing them
• Do not use chlorine bleach. It’s not effective with whitening on jerseys and it can ruin the polyester material that they are made out of
• Consider pre soaking your kit for a brief amount of time in warm water to loosen dirt and soil
• If this pre-wash soak did not pick up all the stains, soaking your jersey in a diluted vinegar solution can help release stains as well. Plus it helps with odor. 

 

How to Wash Your Soccer Jersey 

1. Separate jersey and apparel by color

As a final note before washing your jersey, take care to separate them by color if possible. 

Naturally, you’ll want to keep white kits away from reds, purples and other dark colors – whether they be other jerseys or your everyday apparel. On the flip side, keep your darker jerseys grouped together in the wash. It may feel like this is an extra unnecessary step, but doing so will ensure your jersey enjoys extra longevity. 

Another top tip before washing – turn your jersey inside out. No matter how you plan on washing it, this is a must. To make sure there are no tragedies with your jersey’s applications, washing it inside out will avoid damage. And when it's done in the wash, turn it back right side out and give it a shake. This ensures your applications won't stick to other parts of the jersey.

Lastly, do not wash your kit with fabric softener, as it can be harmful to athletic wear, reducing breathability and trapping moisture. 
 

2. Decide between a hand wash and a machine wash

Here, you have a choice to make. You can either…

• Machine wash on a cool temperature and delicate setting
     - A safe choice for replica jerseys
• Hand wash with cold water
     - WorldSoccerShop recommended
     - The safest way to wash an authentic jersey
     - The best way to ensure longevity and quality in your most important jerseys

Drying Your Soccer Jersey

If at all possible, it’s best practice to avoid heat drying – especially high heat drying. If you wash your jersey in the washing machine, be sure not to leave it to dry in the machine. This can cause wrinkles and the patches/writing on your jersey can be ruined. 

The safest way to dry a soccer jersey is with a hanging air dry. 

Heat and agitation from tumble dryers can harm badges and applications. Speaking of harming badges and applications – you should never iron the applications on a jersey. That’s a surefire way to scorch your kit and ruin an otherwise brilliant shirt. Can’t have that.