As Houston screen printers for custom team jerseys and sports fan gear, the staff members at Bayou City Shirts are constantly asked, “How do we wash jerseys with screen printed or vinyl numbers on them?”
Washing the Jersey
First, always turn the jersey inside out to prevent the jersey rubbing up against anything other than itself and harming the print of the jersey numbers. When sorting your clothes into wash loads, consider washing your jersey with softer clothes like towels, socks or other t-shirts. Washing jerseys with items like denim jeans with brads or buttons can scar the team jersey leaving “scratches” on the numbers and names.
Wash the screen printed jersey or shirt with your preferred clothing detergent like Tide or Cheer, in cold or tap water temperature water. Do not wash your custom team jersey in hot water. The heat can shorten the lifespan of your screen printed or vinyl team number.
Drying the Jersey
Since most jerseys, including soccer, softball, baseball and football, have a little polyester in them, there’s really no need to put them in the dryer. The heat of the dryer can make the numbers stick together, especially if they are vinyl. This can even happen with large, screen printed numbers.
Once the numbers begin to stick together it pulling them apart once the jersey is room temperature will further damage the number. If the number sticks be sure to pull it apart while it is still warm. But your best plan is to avoid putting it in the dryer in the first place.
Hanging jerseys outside or in the laundry room where it’s warm for 20-30 minutes is sufficient to dry the shirts. If you don’t have access to a clothesline, shower rods work great as well.
Other screen printed items, such as custom printed t-shirts should be treated the same way. Wash them in cold or tap water temperature with the detergent of your choice and avoid the heat of the clothes dryer.
Hang drying can prolong the life of a jersey or t-shirt for years!