Guide 4 · Caring
Keeping Prints Intact
Before You Wear It
A new shirt needs very little. Remove the hang tag carefully, without pulling at the fabric, and check the wash label for the maker's instructions, which always beat general advice. Do not pre-wash a new shirt: the first wash is the moment your print and badge are most at risk, so save it until you really need it.
If you have had a name and number printed, ask the retailer how long the print should cure before its first wash. Some recommend waiting a day or two.
Washing, Step by Step
- Turn the shirt inside out so prints and badges are shielded from friction.
- Fasten any zips and close any Velcro, and wash it with similar colours.
- Select a gentle or delicate cycle at 30°C, with a low spin.
- Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Skip fabric softener and bleach.
- Take it out promptly and reshape it by hand.
- Dry flat or on a line, away from radiators and direct sun. Never tumble dry.
Protecting Prints and Badges
Heat is the enemy of heat-applied prints, names and numbers, and bonded badges. Hot water, hot dryers and direct irons all risk lifting edges or making them crack. If you must iron, turn the shirt inside out, use the lowest setting and place a cloth between the iron and the print. Never iron directly on a badge or sponsor logo.
Keep clear of velcro, rough zips and sharp jewellery that can snag the thin fabric of player issue shirts. For stains, treat them promptly with cool water and a drop of mild detergent, dabbing rather than scrubbing. Avoid stain removers on prints.
Storing a Shirt
Fold shirts rather than hanging them, as thin shoulders can stretch on a hanger over the years. Place acid-free tissue between folds, especially around the print, and keep shirts in a cool, dry, dark drawer or box. Avoid cardboard that is not acid-free, attics, garages and damp wardrobes.
Do not seal valuable shirts in plastic bags for long periods, as trapped moisture can lead to mould and sticky prints. Every six months, take them out, let them breathe, and refold along different lines to avoid permanent creases.
Framing a Shirt
A framed shirt is the finest way to honour a favourite season. Choose a deep box frame so the fabric is not squashed, and ask for UV-filtering glass or acrylic, because sunlight fades colours quickly. Mount the shirt on acid-free board using stitches or conservation-grade mounts rather than glue or tape, which can stain and cannot be undone.
Hang it on an inside wall, away from windows and heat sources. A professional framer will charge more than a high-street print shop, but a signed or vintage shirt is worth it. Our kit questions cover signed shirts.
Scarves and Other Merchandise
Bar scarves are usually acrylic or a wool blend. Hand-wash them in cool water with a mild detergent, press out the water in a towel without wringing, and dry them flat. Acrylic tolerates a gentle machine wash, but check the label first.
Treat hats and badges kindly too. Spot-clean knitted hats, keep enamel pins dry, and store them away from your shirts so metal does not mark fabric.