How to wash sublimated jerseys so they last

Sublimation dyes the design into the polyester rather than printing a layer on top. Heat turns the ink into a gas that bonds inside the fibres, so the crest, sponsor logos, names and numbers are part of the fabric itself. There is nothing to crack, peel or lift in the wash, which is the most common failure with printed or heat-pressed kit.

That means care is really about protecting the fabric and its fit. Gentle washing keeps the knit soft and the shape true, so the whole kit keeps looking sharp. Read more in how sublimation printing works.

A hot clothes line in full summer sun dries a jersey fast, but hours of strong UV every week are hard on any fabric over a long season. Hang jerseys in the shade, or inside out on a covered line, and bring them in once they are dry. Polyester dries quickly, so there is rarely a need for a dryer.

If you do use a dryer, choose a low heat setting and take the kit out as soon as it is dry. High heat is the main cause of shrinking, shine and a stretched fit. Never dry kit on a hot car dashboard or over a heater.

• ✓Wash soon. Don't leave damp kit zipped in a bag overnight; sweat and damp are what cause smells.
• ✓Rinse mud first. Shake off dry dirt and rinse heavy mud in cold water before the machine wash.
• ✓Treat stains gently. A little mild detergent worked in by hand, then a normal cold wash. Avoid bleach, which attacks the fabric.
• ✓Wash the set together. Jerseys, shorts and training tops in similar colours, with nothing that has zips or hooks that can snag.

Jerseys in our Signature fabrics have an anti-microbial treatment, which helps kit that is worn for a long day and then packed away.

Many clubs have one parent or volunteer wash the full set each week. A few habits make that easier: use a laundry bag for each player's set, wash numbers in order so nothing goes missing, and count the kit back into the bag before it goes home. Line drying a full set takes a couple of hours in the shade on a warm day.

At the end of the season, wash everything once more, dry it fully and store it flat or folded in a dry cupboard, not in a damp shed.

A care note in the kit bag helps too. Print the routine above on a card so whoever takes the kit home that week washes it the same way: cold, inside out, mild detergent, no softener, shade dry.

If a finished kit doesn't match the mockup you approved, we reprint it free. For a lost or damaged jersey later in the season, there is no minimum order, so a single replacement in the same design is easy to order.