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FOOTBALL KIT CLEANING & CARE GUIDE

HOW TO WASH AND DRY FOOTBALL KITS

After playing a game of football it can be tempting to throw your kit in the wash without looking at the washing instructions. However, not following the care labels can lead to damaging your kit which could potentially make it unwearable.

With this in mind, we’ve put together this guide which explains how to wash football kits to maximise their longevity.

UNDERSTANDING FOOTBALL KIT WASHING SYMBOLS AND CARE LABELS

Care labels can be very easily missed on a football shirt as they are typically found on the inside of the shirt near the waist. Given the materials used to make football shirts, and the printing that features on them, it is important to check and understand the symbols on care labels. Whilst they may seem confusing on first glance, clothing care symbols are actually very straightforward as we explain below.

Washing symbols

The washing machine symbol generally consists of a bucket/tub symbol filled with water. Within the bucket symbol there is often a number (e.g. 30, 40 or 60) or a dot system to show the maximum temperature that a garment should be washed at. One dot means wash at 30°C, two dots means wash at 40°C, three dot means wash at 50°C and four dots means wash at 60°C. You may also see washing symbols with one line under the bucket which means wash on a synthetics wash, whilst two lines means use a gentle or wool cycle. Other variations to look out for are the bucket symbol with a hand which means wash by hand, and the bucket symbol with a cross which means do not wash. Typically, most football kits including FORZA football kits recommend a 30°C cold wash.

Washing Symbols ExplainedWashing Symbols Explained

Drying symbols

The tumble dryer symbol is typically represented by a square with a circle inside. As with washing machine symbols, there are a number of variations with dots/lines used for some instructions. A square with a circle inside but no dots means a garment can be tumble dried on any heat. If there is one dot within the circle it means tumble dry on a low heat, whilst two dots means tumble dry on a high heat. One line underneath the square with an empty circle means use the ‘Permanent Press’ setting, and two lines/bars underneath the square means use the delicate/gentle setting. Other variations include a square with three vertical lines which means drip dry, a square with one horizontal line which means dry flat, and a square with a drooping line from the top left corner to top right which means hang the garment to dry. Finally, if the symbol has a cross over the square and circle it means do not tumble dry. Most football kits including FORZA kits should not be tumble dried and therefore feature the tumble-drying symbol with a cross.

Drying symbols explainedDrying symbols explained

Bleaching symbols

The bleaching instructions for a garment will be displayed in a triangle symbol. There are three variations of the triangle symbol which each mean very different things. An empty triangle symbol means you can bleach the garment safely when needed, whilst a triangle with a cross means do not bleach. You may also see a triangle symbol with two diagonal lines which means you can bleach with non-chlorine bleach. FORZA football kits can’t be bleached and therefore the care label displays a triangle with a cross.

Bleaching clothes care symbolsBleaching clothes care symbols

Ironing symbols

The ironing symbols are one of the more obvious care labels as they feature an iron symbol. Ironing symbols are often accompanied with either one dot which means iron on a cool heat (max 110°C), two dots which means iron on a medium heat (max 150°C) or three dots which means iron on a high heat (max 200°C). A cross over the iron symbol means do not iron, whilst you may also see an iron symbol with two lines and a cross at the bottom which means do not steam. FORZA football kits can be ironed on a low heat if required, although the majority of people don’t iron their football shirts. If you do choose to iron your shirt always turn it inside out and never iron directly on the print.

Ironing clothes symbolsIroning clothes symbols

Dry Cleaning symbols

The dry cleaning instructions for a garment are shown in a circle symbol. A circle with nothing else means that item of clothing is dry clean only, whilst a cross over a circle means do not cry clean. Other dry cleaning symbols include a circle with an ‘A’ inside which means dry clean with any solvent, a circle with a ‘P’ inside which means dry clean with any solvent except trichloroethylene, or a circle with an ‘F’ which means only dry clean with petroleum. You may also see some clothing with a dry clean symbol showing a circle with a line at the bottom left which means dry clean on a short cycle, whilst a circle with a line at the bottom right means dry clean with a low heat. FORZA football kit care instructions include a circle with a cross which means they can’t be dry cleaned.

Dry clean symbolsDry clean symbols

Anti-Odour Finish symbols

Whilst anti-odour symbols are less common and don’t necessarily require you to do anything from a kit care point of view they do feature on FORZA football kit care labels. The symbol which is a circle with a ‘germ’ or ‘bacteria’ inside with a line through it means the fabric has an anti-bacterial finish which prevents bacteria growth and bad odours on the garment, preserving the fabrics freshness.

FORZA Goalkeeper Football KitFORZA Goalkeeper Football Kit
Football Kit - Red & White StripesFootball Kit - Red & White Stripes

HOW TO WASH A FOOTBALL SHIRT


Now that you have a clear understanding of clothing care labels, we’ll run through how to wash football shirts. When washing football shirts, it is important to follow these 7 simple points:

1. Turn your kit inside out
It may seem unnecessary, but it is good practice to wash football shirts inside out. Most football kits have prints on them, meaning not washing them inside out could damage the print on your shirt. Asking players to turn shirts inside out after use means you don’t need to do this yourself prior to washing. Turning kits inside out also means you can easily check the shirt care labels which brings us on to our next point.

2. Check the care label
It is easy to think that the hotter the wash the better, but when it comes to football kits this is not the case. Football kits are made of lightweight fabric materials which can be broken down when put on a hot wash. Most shirts including FORZA football shirts should be washed at 30°C unless you plan to hand wash them which we also cover later in this guide.

3. Separate colours
You should always separate kit by colour as you would do with normal clothes washes to avoid any issues with colours running and discolouring/ruining kit. For example, washing a blue shirt with white socks could mean your socks don’t stay white for long! To safeguard against this happening always separate colours and if you’re ever unsure always err on the side of caution.

4. Wash at a low temperature
As we’ve already mentioned, it is imperative that you wash football shirts on a low temperature. Football shirts are made with varied heat retaining properties, so it is better to veer on the side of caution and never wash a shirt over 30°C as the care labels suggest.

5. Use stain remover when required
If you have mud or a stain on a football shirt which a standard wash is failing to remove it is worth trying to get rid of it with stain remover. We recommend using stain remover from a recognised brand for best results, and even then, you should always patch test it before fully applying. Patch testing involves apply stain remover to a part of the shirt you cannot see, e.g. inside the hem at the bottom of the shirt. After a period of time if there is no bleach or other markings it is safe to apply to target mud/stains with the stain remover.

6. Air dry your kit
Most football shirts including FORZA football shirts should not be dried in a tumble dryer or on a radiator due to damage it can cause to the print and/or fabric. Instead, you should always air dry football shirts to keep them smelling fresh and looking at their best. If the weather allows, it is good to dry shirts outside with a breeze although you’ll need to ensure they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight and heat as that can damage/discolour shirts. If drying shirts outside isn’t an option, then hang shirts up inside to dry.

7. Ironing your shirt
Whilst most people will opt not to iron their football shirts, it is something you can do if you follow the correct approach. You’ll need to take great care when ironing your football jersey, ensuring you only iron on a low heat with the shirt inside out. If there is any printing on the shirt, you’ll need to avoid directly on ironing on the print.

Football Shirt Football Shirt
Green and white Football ShirtGreen and white Football Shirt

HOW TO HAND WASH A FOOTBALL SHIRT

Whilst this might not be an option for some clubs, many people do opt to hand wash their football shirts. Hand washing football shirts can be a safer choice and it's great for tackling stubborn stains.

Here’s a quick, step-by-step rundown on how to do it:

1. Prepare the Shirt
Turn the shirt inside out to protect the print and stitching. It is good practice to start doing this if you regularly wash your football kit.

2. Create a Wash Solution
Fill a sink, bath or bowl with warm water and add a splash of colour-safe detergent. Make sure you check the care label for further information.

3. Soak it
Submerge the shirt and let it soak for 10-15 minutes to loosen any stains. If stains do not fade look at using some stain remover.

4. Ring your shirt
Gently squeeze and swirl the shirt in the water to remove dirt. Try and do this a few times to get rid of it all, taking care not to damage any print.

5. Rinse Thoroughly
Use cold water to rinse the shirt until all soap is removed and any dirt and residue washes away.

6. Air Dry
Air dry your shirts on a washing line outside or on an airer inside. Football shirts are typically made from quick drying material so this shouldn’t take too long.

To roundup what we have covered, it is always good to take care when washing and drying a football kit.

The key points to remember are:

  • Always check the care label
  • Put shirts on a cold wash
  • Make sure they are inside out
  • Use stain remover to get rid of stubborn marks
  • Air dry shirts once washed


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