Your team opens a box of new jerseys. The colours are sharp, and the new look is loved by all the players. Two months later, the reds are pink, and the whites are gray. Why? The jerseys were washed in hot water with fabric softener and thrown into the dryer. 

The jerseys are now worn, and the moisture-absorbing properties have decreased. Bad washing wastes money and time and lowers team pride. Sublimated ink will not peel or crack, but hot water and strong chemicals will fade the colors. 

Today we will show you how to wash sublimated jerseys the right way. You'll get 6 easy steps and 3 drying rules to keep your colors fresh throughout the season.

The sublimation technique involves printing onto the fibers with heat. The design becomes part of the material instead of sitting on top like a thick layer of ink. This ensures that the jersey is smooth and enhances intricate team designs.

However, the fabric must be cared for properly. Your sports clothes do not last as long if you go overboard with heat, rough washing, strong chemicals, and poor storage. Take the following actions after each game or practice.

1. Always Invert the Jersey

Always turn your top inside out before putting it into the washing machine. When you wash inverted jerseys, you are creating a "shield" for your print design.

This is an easy measure to prevent external rubbing against the wall of the washer drum. It also keeps buttons and seams of other clothing from rubbing. Covering the outer surface prevents surface pilling and will help maintain the sharpness of front logos.

2. Always Choose to Wash With Cold Water

Synthetic performance fabrics get ruined quickly when exposed to hot water. Sensitive polyester fibers become damaged by heat, and sublimation dyes become weaker with time.

Set your washing machine temperature dial to cold water. A cold wash removes dirt, leaving colouring well preserved in the fibres. Cold water also helps avoid unwanted shrinkage of shirts and helps to conserve electricity.

3. Pick a Mild Detergent

Heavy chemical detergents destroy technical athletic gear. Bright team art is easily removed by strong soaps, which also remove sweat-wicking coatings.

Choose a mild and neutral detergent suitable for activewear. Mild soaps remove tough body odor without leaving thick chemical films behind. Using gentle soap helps the gear last through the weekend of games and more.

4. Say No to Bleach and Fabric Softener

Harsh chemical additives ruin custom athletic wear fast. Strong polyester threads are consumed by bleach, and technical fibers are coated with softeners.

• Fabric softeners can block breathability holes in the fabric and prevent sweat management.

• Chemical scent beads will mar sublimated graphics in grease lines.

• Bright blues, reds, and yellows will not withstand chlorine bleach.

Use simple, mild soap and no fabric softeners near team uniforms.

5. Separate Out Rough Clothing Items

Never throw delicate team shirts into laundry loads with heavy work clothes. Zippers, metal snaps, and coarse denim destroy fine athletic knits.

• Wash team gear in dedicated sport-only laundry loads.

• Keep shirts away from heavy towels and Velcro straps.

• Close all metal zippers on nearby gear before hitting start.

Sorting laundry takes two extra minutes but prevents costly fabric snags.

6. Run a Delicate Cycle

High-speed agitation wears out light athletic gear quickly. Rough spinning pulls on side seams and stretches shoulder cuts out of shape.

Select a gentle or delicate machine setting for every load. A low-spin cycle cleans effectively while protecting garment shape and stitching strength.

Proper post-wash care keeps athletic apparel performing like new. Skipping heat cycles protects lightweight custom fabric types so they stay smooth and flexible. Here is what you need to do after washing your jerseys.

1. Always Air Dry Your Gear

High dryer heat shrinks performance apparel instantly. Heat bakes lingering odor into fabrics and ruins smooth neck collars.

• Hang your clean shirt on a plastic hanger indoors.

• Lay tops flat across a wooden drying rack.

• Keep garments in a well-ventilated laundry room.

Choosing to hang dry prevents heat damage and preserves original sizing.

2. Keep Gear Out of Direct Sun

Sunlight damages athletic dyes over time. Strong ultraviolet rays break down dye bonds and turn bright white panels yellow.

Dry your wet gear inside or under deep shade cover. Store clean apparel inside dark closets or gear bags away from sunny windows. Avoiding direct sunlight preserves bright team colors across multiple seasons.

3. Treat Tough Stains Right Away

Grass stains, dirt, and blood demand quick attention after games. Letting mud sit overnight makes cleanup twice as hard.

1. Rinse fresh mud spots with cold tap water immediately after games.

2. Dab a drop of mild soap straight onto dirty grass spots.

3. Rub fabric together gently with your fingers to lift ground-in dirt.

4. Avoid stiff scrubbing brushes that fuzz up smooth polyester faces.

Fast stain action keeps your gear looking picture-day ready.

Your team's uniforms represent hours of practice and a shared goal. By knowing how to wash sublimated jerseys, you can give every jersey the care it needs. Moreover, it will also keep the fabric comfortable and the colors sharp.

At Gear Team Apparel, we engineer custom team gear built to handle tough athletic play and regular washing. You get top-tier sublimated designs, lightweight moisture-wicking fabrics, bold fade-proof colors, rapid production times, and direct support for American sports programs.

Call our team or book an online consultation to design your custom team package today.

How to wash sublimated jerseys without fading colors? 

Fold the jersey inside-out and wash in cold water with a mild soap. Use a light machine cycle and do not use fabric softeners or bleach. Hang your gear away from heat and direct sunlight to keep bright color shine.

Are sublimated jerseys dryer safe?

Actually, you should never put sublimated jerseys in the hot machine dryer. Performance polyester becomes weak at high temperatures, neck collars lose shape, and fits shrink. Use a drying rack or hanger to hang dry equipment.

Why is fabric softener not good with sublimated jerseys? 

Technical fibers are covered with a thick layer of wax from fabric softener. This coating fills in the air holes of the fabric, compromises the ability of the fabric to wick sweat, and creates an undesirable streak effect over custom-printed designs.

What are the ways to remove grass stains from sublimated jerseys? 

As soon as your game, immediately wash away grass stains with cold water. Spot-treat with a little mild liquid soap, rub the clothes together, and wash on the cold cycle.