My boyfriend is a hockey player and has many jerseys that he constantly gets dirty and sweaty. We also have a handful of NHL replica jerseys, which we wear once in a while. Dry cleaning all those jerseys all the time is a waste of time and money. Here’s how to save time and money by cleaning them at home, right inside your washer and dryer.
Think about it, do you really think that NHL teams have all of their jerseys dry cleaned after every game? Definitely not. Jerseys are made to be durable, to outlast hits, checks against the boards, and even fights. And their jerseys still always look clean and crisp at the beginning of every game. Colors don’t run either, they look like they have been professionally dry cleaned, but they really aren’t.
First, it’s important to spot clean any stains that are on the jersey, with a product like Shout or Tide To Go, before you wash it. Next, you’ll need to turn the jersey inside out. Make sure the water you’ll be washing it in is cold. Wash the jersey with similar colors. For example, I have Marc-Andre Fleury’s home jersey (which is mostly black, however there is some white in it), I wash it with gray, which won’t bleed into the white spots of the jersey, but it also won’t be dyed darker, since it’s already gray. For dark jerseys, wash with darks. Light jerseys, wash with lights. Whites with whites. Do not ever bleach your jerseys, unless your entire jersey is white. Most jerseys have a logo and a name on the back, so bleaching isn’t a good idea. Use regular laundry detergent that you normally use, as long as there is no bleach in it! Don’t worry about the colors on your jersey bleeding together. My boyfriend has a lot of jerseys that are 2 contrasting colors, such as red and white, or blue and white. The colors never bled, as long as they are washed in cold water with similar colors. Once the jersey is washed, place it in the dryer for about 15-20 minutes just to get the wrinkles out. Make sure the heat is on low. Take the jersey out of the dryer, it will still be a little damp so you’ll need to hang it on a plastic hanger, and let it air dry the rest of the way. I do this to make sure the front logo doesn’t start to bend in any way. The penguin logo on my Fleury jersey sometimes will bend a little bit after I wear it. After letting it air dry, the penguin logo is flat again.
The question comes up a lot if an autographed jersey can be washed in the washer. I wouldn’t recommend it, however, most autographs are made with a Sharpie pen, which is permanent and is supposed to last through the wash. It shouldn’t fade away, but personally, I don’t trust washing it in the washer. I have never washed an autographed piece of clothing in the washer, just because I recommend hand washing the jersey. Wash around the autograph if possible, or use one of those home dry cleaning kits to use in the dryer, such as Dry-El. They do not work as well as professional dry cleaning, but they do take most dirt and stains out. Now these tips are only useful if you are planning on wearing the jersey again. A lot of people put their jersey on display, and never wear it again, which is a good idea, so you won’t run the risk of ever staining it! But if you do plan on wearing your jersey, then it is OK to wash, just do it by hand, or use the home dry cleaning kit. Once washed, hang it up to dry, do not put it in the dryer.
Hockey jerseys can be expensive, with the average NHL customized replica jersey costing about $160. If you swear by dry cleaning, then by all means, take the jersey to the dry cleaner. Whichever way you decide to clean it, it’s important to protect your investment and wash it the right way.
