Extending the Life of Your Kit: The Ultimate Care Guide for Custom Printed Jerseys
Introduction
We have all seen it: a great jersey ruined by a cracked number or a faded logo after just a few months. The culprit isn't usually the manufacturing quality, but the laundry room. Modern high-performance fabrics and decoration methods (like sublimation and heat transfer) require specific care to maintain their vibrancy and technical properties. Here is how to keep your Xteamwear custom kits looking brand new season after season.
Rule 1: Cold Wash is King
Heat is the enemy of custom decoration. Hot water can weaken the adhesive used in heat-transfer numbers and names, leading to peeling. For sublimated jerseys, extreme heat can re-open the fibers, potentially causing slight color bleeding over time.
- The Fix: Always wash your jerseys in cold water on a gentle cycle. It’s safer for the print and better for the environment.
Rule 2: Inside Out, Always
Friction inside the washing machine allows zippers, buttons, or velcro from other clothes to scratch your jersey's logos. This is the #1 cause of "scuffed" prints.
- The Fix: Turn every jersey inside out before throwing it in the wash. This protects the printed outer layer from abrasion against the machine drum and other garments.
Rule 3: Skip the Dryer (Air Dry Only)
If the washing machine is tough on jerseys, the dryer is a death sentence. The intense, tumbling heat shrinks polyester fibers and melts vinyl prints.
- The Fix: Hang dry your jerseys. Performance fabrics are designed to be quick-drying and moisture-wicking, so they will dry incredibly fast on a hanger without any heat.
Need Replacements? Did an old jersey get ruined in the dryer? Contact Us to Order Single Replacement Jerseys.
Rule 4: Say NO to Fabric Softener
This is a little-known fact: Fabric softener works by coating fibers with a waxy substance to make them feel smooth. However, on athletic wear, this wax clogs the pores of the fabric, completely ruining its ability to wick sweat away from the body.
- The Fix: Use standard detergent only. Keep the softener for your towels, not your uniforms.
Professional Quality Requires Care
At Xteamwear, we build our jerseys to withstand the tackles and the slides on the field. By following these simple laundry steps, you ensure they survive the wash just as well.
- Learn More: Have questions about our fabric durability? Ask Our Experts About Fabric Technology.
