Gold Medal Cleaning for Your Jersey or Uniform

How to Keep Your Uniform Clean When You’re Performing Like an Olympian!

Whether you’re in the the Olympics in London or you just aspire to be there some day, you know what it’s like to have a smelly, dirty uniform. I’m going to share with you some tips on how to keep that sports uniform (for any uniform that can be washed in water, which is most of them) in tip top shape to keep your athlete looking their best while they’re performing at their best.

Use powder soap when cleaning sports uniforms. The extra mechanical action provided by the grain of the soap will help to break the dirt free from the garment. Contrary to popular advice (just this once), put the soap and uniforms in before the water goes in. You can use a liquid de-greaser to aid uniform cleaning if you like (in addition to the powder detergent).

Pre-treat any problem areas before cleaning. Pour a liquid detergent or pre-treater (not the kind that contain bleach, check the label) on problem areas before cleaning and work in with the back of a spoon on a flat non-porous surface. Using the back of a spoon will work the soap into the fibers without damaging them. Let the pre-treater sit for about an hour before cleaning for maximum performance.

If the stains don’t come out (either dirty spots or yellow sweat stains), soak in a slow acting bleach such as Oxyclean (NOT CHLORINE BLEACH, this will damage and dull uniforms). After soaking for several hours to overnight (follow the directions on the label – don’t make stronger with hot water or too much product), wash again.

Air dry once the jersey is clean. Using a dryer can shrink your uniform, melt the numbers off, add static cling, set stains, or otherwise damage your uniforms. This means you need to plan ahead and clean your uniform right away so you wont have to use the dryer to have it ready on time.

Clean often. It’s much easier to remove a series of small stains from your uniform than one deep, dirty, nasty, smelly stain.

Hopefully these at home uniform cleaning tips will help keep you or your athlete looking great on the field this fall! Have any more tips? Share in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: familymwr

Scared To Clean Your Uniform at Home?

Bring your jersey or uniform in to the uniform cleaning specialists at Janet Davis Cleaners. We’re in Berkley, MI (across Woodward from Royal Oak Ford), Bloomfield, Michigan (at the Corner of Maple and Lahser) and your front door (with our free pickup & delivery service).