Fall sports can be rough on kids’ clothes. Between practices, games, and weekends spent running around outside, uniforms and everyday clothes can come home covered in grass stains, dried mud, sweat, and odors that don’t always disappear after one trip through the washing machine.
And plenty of families will be dealing with it this school year. According to a recent survey, 7 in 10 families plan to have their children participate in sports, which means a lot more dirty uniforms, socks, and practice clothes headed for the laundry pile.
Before replacing something because of a stubborn stain or smell, a few changes to how you handle sports laundry can help keep those clothes clean and wearable throughout the season.
Treat Grass Stains Before Washing
Grass stains can be difficult to remove once they’ve settled into the fabric, so don’t automatically toss a stained uniform straight into the washer. Pretreat the stained area with laundry detergent, then let it sit to work into the fibers before washing.
Let Mud Dry Before You Deal With It
It can be tempting to scrub a muddy pair of pants right away, but wet mud can spread and work deeper into the fabric. Let the mud dry, brush or shake away as much loose dirt as possible, and then treat what’s left before putting the clothing in the wash.
Don’t Let Sweaty Clothes Sit in a Bag
A uniform stuffed into a backpack or sports bag after practice can stay damp for hours, giving odors plenty of time to settle in. Take sweaty clothes out as soon as possible and allow them to air out until you’re ready to wash them.
Pretreat the Worst Areas
Some parts of a sports uniform take more abuse than others, especially knees, elbows, collars and underarms. Apply detergent directly to heavily soiled areas before washing rather than relying on the regular wash cycle to do all the work.
The ARM & HAMMER Deep Clean Laundry Detergent as a pretreatment for particularly stubborn grass stains. The detergent is designed to penetrate between fibers to help lift dirt and odors during washing.
Check Stains Before Using the Dryer
Don’t assume a stain is gone just because the wash cycle is finished. Check stained areas before moving clothes to the dryer so you have another opportunity to treat and rewash anything that’s still visible.
Turn Uniforms Inside Out
Sports clothes often have printed numbers, logos and other details that take repeated trips through the laundry. Turning uniforms inside out before washing can reduce friction on those areas while also exposing the inside of the clothing, where sweat and body oils collect.
Give Really Dirty Clothes Their Own Load
A mud-covered soccer uniform doesn’t necessarily need to go into the washer with the rest of the family’s clothes. Separating heavily soiled sports gear also gives you more control over how you treat and wash those items.
Related: Your Clothes Shouldn’t Age You — but These 12 Fashion Mistakes
Don’t Forget the Socks
Sports socks can collect dirt, grass and sweat all at once, especially after outdoor practices and games. Shake away loose dirt, pretreat visibly stained areas, and turn socks right-side out before washing if they’ve balled up or ended up inside out in the laundry basket.
Related: Fun DIY Projects You Can Make With Old Socks
Air Out Sports Bags, Too
Sometimes the odor isn’t coming only from the clothes. Empty sports bags regularly and let them air out so freshly washed uniforms aren’t immediately being returned to a damp or smelly bag.
Deal With Sports Laundry as Soon as You Can
The longer muddy, sweaty or stained clothing sits around, the more difficult laundry day can become. Getting uniforms out of bags, dealing with loose dirt, and pre-treating noticeable stains soon after practice can make the actual wash much easier.
