How to Wash & Care for Your Football Jerseys – The Complete Guide

A football jersey is more than just clothing. Whether it's your favourite club's home shirt, an away jersey or a customised jersey with your name and number, proper care helps keep it looking its best.

Football jerseys often feature lightweight fabrics, printed designs, heat-pressed logos, names, numbers and patches. Incorrect washing or excessive heat can affect their appearance and durability.

At Jersey Nation, we've put together this simple guide to help you care for your jerseys and enjoy wearing them for longer.

01 — CHECK BEFORE WASHING

Before washing your football jersey, take a moment to check the care label and the garment.

A few simple precautions can help prevent unnecessary damage.

• Check the washing instructions on the jersey.

• Turn the jersey inside out before washing.

• Close any zippers, if present.

• Wash jerseys with similar colours.

• Keep customised jerseys separate from rough or heavy clothing.

Important: Always follow the care instructions provided with your specific jersey if they differ from this general guide.

02 — HOW TO WASH YOUR FOOTBALL JERSEY

Hand Washing — Recommended

Hand washing is a gentle option, especially for jerseys with customised names, numbers, logos and patches.

Follow these steps:

1. Fill a clean bucket or basin with cold water.

2. Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent.

3. Turn your jersey inside out.

4. Gently move it through the water.

5. Avoid scrubbing printed areas, logos or patches.

6. Rinse thoroughly with clean cold water.

7. Gently remove excess water without twisting or wringing the jersey.

Avoid soaking your jersey for long periods.

Machine Washing

If you prefer machine washing, use a gentle approach.

• Turn the jersey inside out.

• Use cold water.

• Select a gentle or delicate wash cycle.

• Use a mild detergent.

• Wash with similar colours.

• Avoid washing with jeans, towels or clothes with zippers and rough surfaces.

For extra protection, place the jersey inside a laundry mesh bag.

03 — HOW TO PROTECT NAMES, NUMBERS & PATCHES

Customised jerseys need extra care because names, numbers and patches may use heat-pressed printing methods.

To help protect these details:

• Always turn the jersey inside out before washing.

• Avoid rubbing or scrubbing printed areas.

• Do not use harsh detergents or bleach.

• Avoid excessive soaking.

• Do not pull, scratch or peel printed elements.

• Avoid high-temperature washing.

Remember: Heat-pressed names, numbers and patches can become damaged if exposed to excessive heat or rough handling.

04 — HOW TO DRY YOUR FOOTBALL JERSEY

Drying your jersey correctly is just as important as washing it.

Recommended drying method:

• Gently remove excess water without twisting the fabric.

• Hang or lay the jersey flat in a shaded, well-ventilated area.

• Allow it to air dry naturally.

• Keep it away from direct sunlight for extended periods.

Avoid:

• Tumble drying at high temperatures.

• Direct exposure to strong sunlight for long periods.

• Using a hair dryer or heater to speed up drying.

• Wringing or twisting the jersey.

Excessive heat may affect the fabric and printed details.

05 — HOW TO IRON YOUR FOOTBALL JERSEY

Most football jerseys do not require frequent ironing.

If ironing is necessary, take extra precautions:

• Check the garment's care label first.

• Use a low-temperature setting if ironing is permitted.

• Turn the jersey inside out.

• Never place a hot iron directly on names, numbers, logos or patches.

• Avoid steam or direct heat on printed areas.

For customised jerseys, avoiding direct ironing over printed elements is especially important.

06 — THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO

Avoid these common mistakes when caring for your football jerseys:

• Do not wash with hot water.

• Do not use bleach or harsh cleaning chemicals.

• Do not scrub printed names, numbers or sponsor logos.

• Do not use high-temperature tumble drying.

• Do not iron directly over heat-pressed designs.

• Do not wring or twist the jersey aggressively.

• Do not wash with rough clothing that may damage the fabric.

These precautions help reduce unnecessary wear and damage.

07 — HOW TO STORE YOUR JERSEYS

Proper storage helps maintain the appearance of your jerseys when they are not being worn.

• Make sure the jersey is completely dry before storing.

• Fold it neatly without creating sharp creases over printed areas.

• Store it in a clean, dry place.

• Avoid keeping jerseys in damp or humid spaces.

• Do not place heavy objects on top of printed designs.

• Keep customized jerseys away from excessive heat.

If you have a collection of football jerseys, organize them by club, season or version to keep everything easy to find.

08 — EXTRA CARE FOR DIFFERENT JERSEY VERSIONS

Different jersey versions may have different fabrics and detailing, but the basic care principles remain similar.

Fan Version

• Use cold water and mild detergent.

• Turn the jersey inside out before washing.

• Protect embroidered or woven detailing.

• Avoid rough washing methods.

Master Version

• Use gentle washing methods.

• Pay attention to stitched detailing and fabric construction.

• Avoid aggressive scrubbing.

• Air dry in a shaded area.

Player Version

• Handle lightweight performance-style fabric carefully.

• Avoid rough washing and excessive heat.

• Protect heat-pressed logos and sponsor details.

• Avoid direct ironing over printed elements.

09 — QUICK JERSEY CARE CHECKLIST

KEEP YOUR JERSEY LOOKING ITS BEST

With the right washing and storage habits, you can help maintain your football jersey's appearance, fabric and printed details.

Whether you wear your jersey on match days, during casual outings or as part of your collection, a little extra care can make a difference.

YOUR TEAM. YOUR PASSION. YOUR JERSEY.

Explore the latest football and basketball jersey collections at Jersey Nation.