Many parents know that as soon as school starts there is no time to rest if they have a sport-enthusiastic child. School and club sports can take up any free time that a student (and parent) may have. Practices and matches will have parents driving up and down, and children excitedly talking about the highlights of the day.
But what many people don’t mention when relaying the story about how their daughter scored the winning goal, is the amount of laundry that accompanies the many days of sports practices and matches. Maintaining the cleanliness and longevity of sports kits is essential for both hygiene and performance.
But it is also not only the usual everyday stains and cleaning that need to be dealt with – it is grass stains, mud, sweat, and anything else that could possibly happen during a game. Proper care is needed all season long to ensure that uniforms remain in good condition and (hopefully) useable for next season.
Tips on how to keep your child’s kit looking professional:
- As soon as your child returns from sports activities, remove the kit from their bag to prevent mildew and set-in stains. Not handling these issues straight away can lead to odours and stubborn stains setting in. Any nasty stains need to be addressed immediately.
- When washing your kit, be sure to turn it inside out to protect printed logos, numbers, and letters from wear and tear. Additionally, remember to separate colors from whites while washing to prevent any color transfer, which could result in the home kit looking different from the rest of the team’s uniforms.
- The right detergent is always key. Personal Touch Washing Powder Sheets is gentle on sports kits, keeping them in good condition for longer, while effectively dealing with any stubborn stains and odours. Plus, it can be used as a hand wash as well, giving you the option to have a hands-on approach.
- Washing the kit in cold water on a gentle cycle will prevent shrinkage and preserve fabric integrity. Hot water can set stains and degrade synthetic fibres commonly used in sportswear.
- When drying the kit, rather choose air drying over a tumble dryer. Not only is it eco-friendly and more cost-effective, but it can also help avoid shrinkage and damage to logos and numbers.
Even if your child didn’t work up as much sweat as usual, to avoid bacteria and odour buildup it is advisable to wash the kit after every use. When it is time to pack away the kit, make sure it is completely dry to prevent any mildew and mould. Do not store it in a gym bag, but rather in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Having a child who is active can mean an increase in laundry during the year, but an increase in laundry is a small price to play when your child is happy.
