How To Hand Wash Football Shirts!

On todays blog I'm joined by Zeke (Twitter @knockemdownes). Avid football shirt collector and wearer and an expert in shirt maintenance. 

Disclaimer: This is a guide on washing shirts, if you re worried do a small test on an area of a shirt or a shirt that matters less to you. We are not responsible if you damage your shirts! 

There are two types of collectors. The first, who keep the tags on their shirts, and ensure they are stored away nicely  where no one can harm them. The second, who believe football shirts are to be worn. There isn’t a right or wrong way to collect football shirts.

Whether you have one, one hundred, or one thousand, the football shirt community, for the most part, welcomes you. If you fall under the category of football shirt wearers, then you almost certainly will have been slapped in the face, metaphorically speaking, with a stain of some sort, or you’ve got sweaty playing football, and your shirt, and you, need a good wash.

In this step-by-step hand washing guide, I will try to ease the burden for those cautious people who refuse to use a washing machine.

There are a few myths when it comes to hand washing football shirts that I want to address right away. Firstly, white shirts and coloured shirts CAN be washed together. Secondly, namesets, or other added extras, will not be harmed. As long as the water is cold or lukewarm, your shirts will be absolutely fine.

Over roughly three years of hand washing football shirts, I have never had a case of colour bleeding or nameset peeling.

Let’s get on with it, then. Here’s how you hand wash football shirts safely.

Here is a video guide! Read on for the step by step guide

1. Fill up a bath or sink with cold or lukewarm water.
2. Sprinkle some washing powder and Vanish powder into the water and give it a good swill around. The Vanish powder is just in case there are any pesky stains on the shirts.

Here's what I use - 

2a- I also put scent boosters in at this stage just to give the shirts an extra bit of freshness. But this is personal preference. 

1. Grab your shirt(s) and dunk them in the water, making sure every inch of the shirt is covered.
2. Give everything a good mix and then leave to soak for about 5 minutes.
3. Once your five minutes are up, drain the water.
4. Rinse the shirt(s) with cold or lukewarm water to get rid of any remaining residue, as this could leave marks if not done thoroughly.
5. Ring the shirt(s) out, trying to remove every last drop of water. 
6. Now hang to dry on a clothes horse, where, if the shirt drips, there will be no damage. Or do a quick cold spin, which is great for getting the shirt close to dry, and then hang them up.

I really hope this has helped many of you get the confidence to wash your shirts with this method, because I’ve found, although it’s the messiest, it’s the safest way. Your shirts will thank you. 

Happy washing!

You may also like my guide on removing stains from football shirts.