A football shirt gets worn hard: match days, five-a-side, long evenings in front of the TV. Most of the shirts we sell are 100% polyester with moisture management, and many are sublimation printed, which means the design is dyed into the fabric rather than sitting on top of it. Polyester is tough, but heat, harsh detergent and rubbing are what fade colours and wear out printed names, numbers and badges. A few simple habits keep a jersey looking new for much longer.
Before the first wash
- Check the fit first. Try the shirt on before you wash it. Returns are accepted only for items that are unworn, unwashed and unused, and an exchange must be claimed within 48 hours, so washing it first can cost you that option.
- Read the care label if your shirt has one. Where it differs from this guide, follow the label.
- Check any printing. If a name or number is not what you entered at checkout, tell us before you wash the shirt (see the last section).
How to machine wash a football jersey
- Turn it inside out. This protects the crest, sponsor, name and number from rubbing against the drum and other clothes.
- Use cold or cool water, no hotter than 30°C. Heat is the main enemy of printed names and numbers.
- Choose a gentle or synthetics cycle with a low spin speed.
- Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Powder can leave a residue in the fabric, and bleach damages both the colour and the print.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats polyester fibres and reduces how well the fabric moves sweat away from your skin.
- Wash with similar colours and light fabrics. Keep jerseys away from jeans, towels and anything with zips or Velcro, which can snag the fabric and scuff the print.
Hand washing
Many households in Pakistan wash sportswear by hand, and that is kind to a jersey too. Fill a bucket with cold water and a little liquid detergent, turn the shirt inside out and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Gently squeeze the fabric rather than scrubbing it, and never use a brush on the printed areas. Rinse in clean cold water until there are no more bubbles, then press the water out. Do not wring or twist the shirt: that stretches the fabric and can crack a printed name.
Drying
- Hang it to dry on a plastic hanger, or lay it flat on a towel. Polyester dries quickly, usually within a few hours.
- Dry it in the shade. Strong direct sun, especially in a Pakistani summer, fades bright colours over time.
- Avoid the tumble dryer. High heat can soften and lift printed names and numbers. If you must use one, choose the lowest heat setting.
- Do not dry-clean a football shirt. The solvents can damage prints and badges.
Ironing
A polyester jersey rarely needs ironing if you hang it up straight after washing. If it does, turn it inside out, use the lowest (synthetic) setting and place a thin cotton cloth between the iron and the shirt. Never iron directly over a printed name, number, crest or sponsor logo, because the heat can melt or smudge it.
Sweat, grass and food stains
- Rinse after playing. A quick rinse in cold water straight after a game stops sweat from setting into the fabric and starting to smell.
- Grass and mud: let mud dry, brush it off gently while keeping away from the print, then dab the stain with a little liquid detergent before washing.
- Oil or food stains: treat them as soon as you can with a drop of dishwashing liquid worked in with your fingers, then rinse in cold water.
- Stale smells: soak the shirt for 30 minutes in a bucket of cold water with a cup of white vinegar before a normal wash.
Storing your jersey
Hang the shirts you wear often, or fold them with the print on the inside so the name and number are not creased or rubbed. Keep them out of direct sunlight, and make sure a shirt is completely dry before you put it away, to avoid a musty smell in humid weather.
A quick checklist
- Inside out, cold water, gentle cycle.
- Mild liquid detergent; no bleach and no fabric softener.
- Hang to dry in the shade; no tumble dryer.
- Never iron over the print.
- Store it dry, with the print folded inwards.
If something is wrong with your shirt
Please check your parcel when it arrives. If a shirt is faulty, or a printed name or number differs from what you entered at checkout, send us photos on WhatsApp within 48 hours, before washing it. A print that does not match your order counts as a fault. You can read how faults, exchanges and returns are handled on our policies page.
Looking for a new shirt to look after? Browse our football jerseys, and read how to choose the right jersey size before you order.
