Read through the history of team apparel & the uniform cleaning tips we have found successful over the years.
Though more than 100 countries are now part of the International Baseball Federation, the sport originated in the U.S. when the first official game was played in 1846. It might not have appeared so official to onlookers, however, as players didn’t have any sort of standardized team apparel until 1849. (Fun fact: The Cleveland Indians were the first major league club to have numbered uniforms when they took the field in 1916.)
The first baseball team uniforms included blue woolen pantaloons, a white flannel shirt, and a straw hat. Can you imagine trying to clean the dirt and grass stains out of wool and flannel, let alone playing in the summer heat in those sweat-inducing materials?
Fortunately, today’s athletic uniforms are much easier to clean. Here are some tips on how to make that jersey look like it’s brand new.
Uniform Cleaning Tips & Getting Out Stains:
- Grass stains: Grass stains on football team uniforms are inevitable due to the physical nature of the sport. But no worries! For the most stubborn grass stains, just create a paste out of water and a fourth of a cup of white sugar. Rub the sugar mixture into the grass stain with a soft bristled brush before tossing the garment into the washing machine. Don’t rinse the sugar scrub off of the uniform before putting it in the washer.
- Dirt or clay: A baseball team uniform is bound to get a few dirt or red clay stains. To remove the stains, scrap off as much of the dry, loose dirt as possible. Next, wet the stain with a mixture of one cup white vinegar and three tablespoons of iodized salt. Let the mixture sit for half an hour before rinsing with cold water.
Getting Rid of Odor
Athletes sweat, producing body odor that will inevitably permeate the sports uniform. One tried and true method for eliminating odor is to pour one cup of vinegar in the bleach dispenser in the washing machine. Add your regular detergent and let it spin! Believe it or not, vinegar is great for giving fabric a fresh, clean scent. And no, your clothes won’t smell like a jar of pickles.
Just follow these cleaning tips and your athlete will have the freshest uniform on the team. If you have any additional advice on how to clean athletic apparel, feel free to post in the comments section below.
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