How to Wash a Football Shirt: 9 Proven Steps to Keep It Like New

Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed every season

A football shirt goes through a lot — rain-soaked matchdays, muddy five-a-sides, spilt drinks and summer festivals. Knowing how to wash a football shirt properly is what keeps the colours bright, the crest intact and the fabric soft for years. This guide walks you through the exact routine, plus stain removal, drying, ironing and storage, so your favourite shirt still looks new seasons from now.

Why washing your football shirt properly matters

Modern shirts are made from lightweight polyester with heat-applied or embroidered crests, printed sponsors and sometimes names and numbers. Polyester is tough, but heat and harsh chemicals are its enemies. A hot wash, a tumble dryer or a hot iron can:

• Crack or peel printed names, numbers and logos.
• Melt or blister heat-applied crests.
• Cause colours to fade or run.
• Leave the fabric shiny, stiff or misshapen.

The good news is that the right routine takes no more effort than a normal wash, and you only need to learn how to wash a football shirt once — after that, it becomes second nature.

What you need

• A mild liquid detergent (liquids dissolve better at low temperatures than powders).
• A gentle stain remover, or washing-up liquid for greasy marks.
• A mesh laundry bag (optional, but great for protecting prints).
• A plastic or padded hanger for drying.
• Cold water and a soft brush or old toothbrush for stains.

How to wash a football shirt in the washing machine: 9 steps

1. Check the care label. The label inside the shirt is your first guide. Follow any specific instructions it gives.
2. Treat stains first. Deal with mud, grass or food marks before the main wash (see the stain guide below).
3. Turn the shirt inside out. This protects the crest, sponsor and any printing from rubbing against the drum and other clothes.
4. Use a mesh bag if you have one, especially for printed or retro shirts.
5. Wash with similar colours. Keep whites with whites and darks with darks. Avoid washing with towels, jeans or anything with zips and Velcro.
6. Choose a gentle or synthetics cycle at 30°C — or a cold wash for older shirts.
7. Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Too much detergent leaves residue that can trap odours.
8. Skip fabric softener and bleach. Softener clogs the fabric’s breathable structure; bleach damages colours and prints.
9. Remove the shirt promptly when the cycle ends and hang it up to dry straight away to avoid creases.

Which temperature should I use?

30°C is ideal for almost every modern shirt. It cleans effectively with modern detergents while protecting prints and colours. Use a cold wash for very old, vintage or heavily printed shirts. Avoid 40°C and above — heat is the main cause of cracked numbers and peeling crests.

Which spin speed?

A low to medium spin (around 600–800 rpm) is enough. A very fast spin can crease the fabric and put stress on stitching and applied badges.

How to hand wash a football shirt

Hand washing is the gentlest way to wash a football shirt, and it is ideal for retro favourites, signed shirts or anything you treasure.

1. Fill a basin with cool or lukewarm water (no hotter than 30°C).
2. Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent and mix.
3. Turn the shirt inside out and submerge it fully.
4. Gently swish and squeeze the water through the fabric for two to three minutes. Do not scrub or wring.
5. Leave it to soak for up to 15 minutes if it is very dirty.
6. Rinse in clean, cool water until no suds remain.
7. Press out excess water by rolling the shirt in a clean towel.
8. Hang it on a plastic hanger to air-dry.

How to dry a football shirt

Drying matters just as much as the way you wash a football shirt — it is where most shirts are damaged. Follow these rules:

• Never tumble dry. The heat can melt crests and crack printing within a single cycle.
• Hang it on a plastic or padded hanger so it keeps its shape. Avoid thin wire hangers, which can stretch the shoulders.
• Dry it indoors or in the shade. Strong direct sunlight can fade bright colours over time.
• Keep it away from radiators and heaters.

Polyester dries fast — most shirts are dry within a few hours at room temperature.

Do you need to iron a football shirt?

Usually not. If you wash a football shirt correctly and hang it promptly after washing, creases drop out as it dries. If you do need to remove a crease:

• Turn the shirt inside out.
• Use the lowest (synthetic) setting.
• Place a thin cloth or tea towel between the iron and the shirt.
• Never iron over the crest, sponsor, name or number — even from the inside.

A handheld clothes steamer, held a few centimetres away, is a safer alternative.

How to remove stains from a football shirt

Treat stains as soon as possible, and always before you wash a football shirt in the machine — heat can set a stain permanently.

Stain	How to treat it
Mud	Let it dry completely, brush off the loose dirt, then pre-treat with liquid detergent and wash.
Grass	Rub a little liquid detergent into the stain, leave for 15 minutes, then wash at 30°C.
Sweat / deodorant marks	Soak in cool water with a little white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda for 30 minutes, then wash.
Food and grease	Dab with washing-up liquid, leave for 10 minutes, then rinse in cool water and wash.
Beer and soft drinks	Rinse from the back with cold water as soon as possible, then pre-treat and wash.
Blood	Rinse immediately with cold water only — never hot — then pre-treat and wash.
Sun cream	Dab with washing-up liquid, rinse cool and wash. Sun cream can leave yellow marks if left.

Always test a stain remover on a hidden area first, and avoid rubbing directly over printed names, numbers or sponsors.

Caring for names, numbers and crests

Printed names and numbers are the most fragile part of any shirt. To protect them:

• Always turn the shirt inside out before washing.
• Keep the temperature at 30°C or lower.
• Never tumble dry or iron over the print.
• Do not fold the shirt tightly through the middle of a number when storing it.

Embroidered crests are more durable, but a gentle cycle still helps prevent loose threads and puckering.

How to wash a retro or vintage football shirt

Older designs deserve extra care, especially if they mean a lot to you. If you own a remake from our retro football shirts range, a 30°C gentle machine wash inside out is fine. For a genuine vintage original, hand wash it in cold water, never soak it for long and always air-dry it flat or on a padded hanger. Our list of the best classic football shirts might inspire your next addition.

Washing slim-fit match shirts

Player version shirts use thinner, lighter fabric with ventilation zones. They benefit from the gentlest routine: a mesh bag, a 30°C synthetics cycle and a low spin. Learn more about the differences in our guide to player version vs fan version shirts.

Washing kids football kits

Kids’ kits get the muddiest of all. To wash a football shirt from a kids kit, let mud dry and brush it off before washing, pre-treat grass stains and wash shirt and shorts together on a 30°C cycle. Buying two kits — one in the wash and one ready to wear — saves a lot of stress before matchday. See our guide to kids football kit sizes if you are buying a spare.

Washing white football shirts

White shirts — think England, Real Madrid or Tottenham at home — need a little extra attention whenever you wash a football shirt in white:

• Wash only with other whites.
• Pre-treat collar and underarm marks before every wash.
• Use an oxygen-based stain remover rather than chlorine bleach, which can yellow polyester and damage printing.
• Dry away from direct sun, which can cause yellowing over time.

How to get rid of smells

Polyester can trap odours, especially after hard exercise. If a shirt still smells after washing:

1. Soak it inside out in cool water with a cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes.
2. Wash as normal at 30°C with a small amount of detergent.
3. Make sure it dries fully before you put it away.

Using too much detergent or fabric softener is a common cause of lingering smells, as residue traps bacteria in the fabric.

How often should you wash a football shirt?

It depends on how you wear it. If you played or trained in it, wash a football shirt after every use — sweat left in the fabric causes odours and can weaken the fibres over time. If you wore it casually for a few hours, hanging it up to air overnight is often enough, and you can wash it after two or three wears.

Washing less often, when it is sensible, is one of the easiest ways to make a favourite shirt last longer.

How to wash a football shirt after a match

After a muddy game, a quick routine stops stains and smells setting in:

1. Take the shirt out of your kit bag as soon as you get home — never leave it damp overnight.
2. Shake or brush off loose mud once it has dried.
3. Rinse sweat out from the inside with cold water.
4. Pre-treat grass and mud marks with liquid detergent.
5. Wash a football shirt from a match on its own or with other kit, inside out at 30°C.
6. Hang it up to dry straight away so it is ready for the next game.

How to wash a football shirt with a signature

Signatures in marker pen can fade or run in water. If your shirt is signed and you want to keep it that way, the safest option is not to wash it at all — display it in a frame instead. If it must be cleaned, spot-clean carefully around the signature with a damp cloth and a drop of mild detergent, avoiding the ink entirely, and let it air-dry flat.

How to wash a football shirt with flock or velvet numbers

Some older and retro designs use flock (velvet-feel) names and numbers. These are delicate and can lose their texture with friction. To wash a football shirt with flock printing, always turn it inside out, use a mesh bag, choose a cold or 30°C delicate cycle and a low spin, and never iron the print — even through a cloth.

How to wash a football shirt when travelling

On tour, at a tournament or on holiday, you may need to wash a football shirt without a washing machine. Use the hand-wash method in a sink with a little shampoo or travel detergent, rinse in cool water, roll the shirt in a towel to remove excess water and hang it on a hanger in the bathroom. Polyester dries quickly, so it is usually ready by the morning.

If you use a laundrette, choose the gentlest cycle at 30°C and skip the industrial dryers — they run far hotter than home machines.

Does it matter what detergent you use?

A mild, non-biological liquid detergent is the safest choice when you wash a football shirt, particularly if you have sensitive skin. Avoid detergents with added bleach or optical brighteners for coloured shirts, as they can dull rich reds, blues and greens over time. Sports detergents designed for synthetic fabrics are a good option if you play regularly, because they target sweat odours without needing high temperatures.

How to store football shirts

• Hang them on wide plastic or padded hangers to protect the shoulders.
• Or fold them loosely, with the print facing inwards, and avoid sharp folds through numbers.
• Keep them out of sunlight to prevent fading.
• Use breathable garment bags rather than sealed plastic for long-term storage.
• Frame your favourites in a UV-protected shadow box if you want to display them.

Matchday and travel tips

Heading to a match or a tournament abroad? Pack your shirt rolled rather than folded to avoid creases, keep a small travel stain pen in your bag and rinse any drink spills with cold water as soon as you can. If you need to wash a football shirt in a hotel sink, the hand-wash method above works perfectly with a little shampoo or travel detergent.

Understanding care label symbols

Symbol	Meaning
Wash tub with 30	Machine wash at no more than 30°C
Wash tub with a hand	Hand wash only
Crossed-out triangle	Do not bleach
Crossed-out square with a circle	Do not tumble dry
Iron with one dot	Iron on a low setting only
Crossed-out circle	Do not dry clean

5 football shirt washing myths

1. “Hotter washes clean better.” Modern detergents work well at 30°C — heat just damages prints.
2. “Fabric softener keeps shirts soft.” It actually clogs performance fabric and traps smells.
3. “A quick tumble dry is fine.” Even one hot cycle can crack a number.
4. “You should wash a shirt after every wear.” If you only wore it for a couple of hours casually, airing it out is often enough.
5. “Polyester never fades.” Strong sunlight and harsh detergents can fade any colour over time.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wash a football shirt in the washing machine?

Yes. Turn it inside out, use a gentle or synthetics cycle at 30°C with mild liquid detergent, and wash it with similar colours.

What temperature should I wash a football shirt at?

30°C is best for modern shirts. Use a cold wash for vintage or heavily printed shirts. Avoid 40°C and above.

Can you tumble dry a football shirt?

No. Tumble drying can melt crests and crack printed names and numbers. Always air-dry on a hanger.

How do I stop the numbers peeling on my football shirt?

Wash inside out at 30°C or below, never tumble dry and never iron over the print. Heat is the main cause of peeling.

How do you get grass stains out of a football shirt?

Rub a little liquid detergent into the stain, leave it for 15 minutes, then wash at 30°C. Treat the stain before machine washing.

Should I use fabric softener on a football shirt?

No. Fabric softener clogs breathable fabric and can trap odours. A mild liquid detergent is all you need.

This guide on how to wash a football shirt is reviewed every season. For a full reference of international care symbols, see this guide to laundry symbols.