Cleaning your lacrosse uniform

Reminder:  DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH on your uniforms.

Keeping your lacrosse uniform clean doesn't have to be a frustrating experience.  Follow the suggestions below and your uniform will last for many seasons:

Use soft water - If you don't have a water softener, just add some Calgon or other brand of water softener to the wash cycle.  Don't confuse water softener with fabric softener.  Soft water optimizes a detergent's effectiveness.

Pre-soak - If the uniform has heavy mud, you need to rinse it in a utility tub.  Rinse off the main dirt--otherwise you will be washing your uniform in brown water.  Next, get a bucket of warm, not hot, water and soak it with detergent.  Use some Calgon, if you don't have a water softener.

Separate - Wash your white shorts and white jersey separately from your red jersey.

Drying - Do not use the dryer to dry your uniform. Dryers, especially when set on hot or warm may fade/melt the lettering colors.  It will also permanently set in any stains.  Hang dry it.  You will be surprised how quickly the uniform dries; line drying will extend the life of the uniform.

Grass stains - Use cold water. You can pre-treat grass stains by soaking in cold water with detergent for a few hours before putting it in the washer.

More tips -

• For stubborn mud stains on white nylon:
  • Try tips from the "Oxi" laundry products, Oxiclean, Oxi-Magic
  • Check out the Tide Stain Detective for mud on colored nylon
• You are looking at a dry, mud-caked uniform:
  • Brush or break off all the chunks of mud. 
  • Rinse to get rid of the remaining mud (may have to repeat several times)
  • Follow up with a good laundry pre-treatment stick, then make a paste of Oxi-clean and use a nail brush to work into stains.
  • Wash white uniform in very warm water.