Tips for Cleaning Footy Jerseys

Whether you play soccer for a bit of fun with your mates or as an athlete, you are bound to get stains on your jersey. This is a rigorous sport and messing up your footy jersey is part and parcel of engaging in it. However, when your jersey acquires stains, simply throwing it in the wash will not suffice. This is how it ends up looking old and dirty over time, as you are not addressing the different stains appropriately. Here are some handy tips for cleaning footy jerseys.

Do not let the dirt sit

The most common mistake people make when it comes to cleaning footy jerseys is procrastination. Letting the jersey stay in the laundry hamper for days on end just gives the stains time to better embed themselves into the fibres. As such, it is always best to deal with your dirty jersey as soon as you can, preferably the same day after you are done with your football match. The sooner it is cleaned, the easier it will be to eliminate stains.

Getting rid of grass stains

Grass stains may be considered a badge of honour as it indicates your enthusiasm during the match. However, if this is your best footy jersey, leaving it unattended will leave you with a less than attractive jersey when you are going for big games. The first thing to do when trying to get rid of grass stains is concocting a mixture of white sugar and water. Mix the two until they form a pasty consistency. Once this is done, use a soft bristled toothbrush to rub the mixture right into the grass stains. Let the mixture sit on the stains for a short while before tossing the jersey in the washing machine. Do not rinse off the sugar paste, and just launder it as usual.

Getting rid of red clay stains

Another common stain that footy jerseys acquire is dirt or red clay depending on your playing field. To get rid of these stains, you first have to try to eliminate as much loose debris as you can. This can be done by lightly scraping the stained areas. Take note that you should do this in the direction of the weave of the fabric so as not to mistakenly embed the debris further into your footy jersey. The next step would be to concoct a mixture of white vinegar and salt. Pour the solution onto the stains and let the jersey sit undisturbed for a while. If the stain is not disintegrating, you can soak the jersey into a mixture of water and ammonia. Substitute the ammonia with bleach if the jersey is white in colour. After soaking it, you can then launder it as usual in your washing machine.