Jerseys are great – comfortable, practical, and usually a way to express your individuality. If you’re showing off your favorite NFL, hockey, or basketball team or playing sports yourself, knowing how to wash a jersey without damaging it is essential. Keeping them in top condition requires proper care. Whether you're wondering how to wash a sports jersey without damaging the fabric or how to remove stains and odors after an intense game, following the right steps is key.
Sort your clothes – Make sure that you’re just washing dark colored clothing, and that no light or white garments are hidden in the mix. You should also avoid washing jerseys with towels, or clothes with a zipper (like pants), because the zipper may catch the delicate material in the wash and damage it.
Why wash jerseys inside out? This simple step protects printed numbers, logos, and stitched designs from friction and fading in the wash.
Jerseys can collect sweat, dirt, and even grass stains, so it's essential to pre-treat them before washing. First, check your laundry care label. Then, apply Persil® Advanced Clean Oxi+Odor Power or another enzyme-based stain fighting detergent directly to problem areas. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes before washing.
If you use a high quality detergent, you can be sure that even a small amount will get out smells and dirt, meaning you can use less. Less detergent means less wear and tear on your clothes. For jerseys that see a lot of action—such as your baseball jersey or football jersey—be sure to use a detergent formulated for activewear and synthetics, like Persil® Activewear Clean. Our activewear detergent is specially designed to fight body oils and sweat while maintaining fabric shape and stretch.
Wash your jersey in cold water – Cooler temperatures keep garments vibrant for longer, so as long as you’re using a good quality detergent, you can wash your jersey at cooler temperatures. It may even be worth thinking about how to wash a jersey by hand, as this can be gentler on your clothes. To do this, simply follow all the steps above, but place your jersey in a basin rather than in the machine, and gently wash off the dirt by hand.
Liquid Fabric softeners can clog moisture-wicking materials, reducing breathability. Bleach can break down fibers and cause discoloration—even for white jerseys. Stick with a high-quality detergent to keep your jersey fresh.
So, how do you wash a jersey? First and most importantly, you should decide whether your jersey really needs a wash. If you’ve been playing sports in it, the answer is almost always yes – but to avoid your clothes from being literally worn out, try and reduce the amount of washing you subject them to. Sometimes they can just be hung out to air a bit. Think about whether your clothes really need a wash first!
Here are some more top tips for how to wash a jersey without ruining it.
Jerseys often have emblems, logos or lettering on them, which is to be treated delicately when washing. The best thing to do is to turn the garment inside out, so that the outside is protected from the machine wash. Make sure you check the care label, too.
Outdoor sports like baseball, football, and soccer often lead to grass stains and tough dirt. If you’ve got stains on your sports jersey, you should pre-treat the stain thoroughly with the right stain removal product such as Persil® Advanced Clean Oxi+Odor Power.
When it comes to stretchy sports gear, turn to Persil® Activewear Clean laundry detergent, specially formulated for activewear and synthetics, yet works on all fabrics. Our Activewear detergent actively fights body oil and sweat, while helping maintain fabric shape and stretch.
For more laundry tips that help keep you looking and feeling good, explore our library of fabric care guides. For more on washing synthetic fabrics, check out our article on how to wash workout clothes or how to wash polyester.