It happens to all sports fans. You buy that fancy new jersey or team shirt with your favorite player’s number on the back and plan on wearing it 100 times through games in the rain, sun and dirt.
As time goes on, the inevitable starts to happen. The paint on said shirt starts to curl and crack, and you’re going to be forced to drop another $50-$100 on another piece of apparel.
Instead of continuously dropping cash on new duds, follow the tips below to learn how to preserve your merchandise.
Turn It Inside Out Before You Wash It
Before throwing that jersey in the hamper, take a second to turn it inside out, that way when you finally get to doing laundry, you won’t have to worry about digging through the pile. It’s also best to always wash the jersey in cold water.
Don’t Put It In The Dryer
It doesn’t matter if it’s game day and you need that jersey dried quickly. If you put it in the dryer, you’re only asking for trouble. Instead, plan ahead so you can lay it flat or use a hanger to air dry.
Fix Letters/Numbers That Are Curling
Make sure your jersey is clean and lay it on an iron board with the iron set on high temperature with no steam. Take a sheet of paper and lay it on the damaged area, place the tip of the iron flat on the letter as it originally appeared when you first got it. Be sure to only use a small part of the iron and take it slow as to not damage the jersey.
Nothing Will Fix The Cracks
Sorry to say, but if the paint starts to crack, there’s nothing you can do to fix it.
At this point you have two options: Wear that shirt with pride, because now it looks like you’ve been battle-tested as a fan.
Or you can buy a new shirt and follow the steps we mentioned above to avoid this problem in the future.
Featured image via Reddit
This article originally appeared on Gamedayr
