Want your sportswear logos to stay sharp and last longer? Here’s the secret: proper care. Sublimated logos are heat-fused into fabric, making them durable but sensitive to improper washing and drying. Follow these simple tips to keep your uniforms looking fresh:
- Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle to protect the fabric and colors.
- Turn garments inside out to reduce friction and wear on logos.
- Use mild liquid detergent – avoid bleach, fabric softeners, and harsh chemicals.
- Air dry whenever possible; if using a dryer, stick to low heat.
- Store properly in a cool, dry space away from sunlight.
Quick action on stains, avoiding direct heat, and proper storage can extend the life of your uniforms. These steps save money and keep your team looking polished.
What Are Sublimated Logos and Their Benefits
What Are Sublimated Logos?
Sublimated logos are created by permanently bonding dye into polyester fibers using heat and pressure. Unlike traditional printing methods, this process embeds the design directly into the fabric, making it a part of the material itself.
Benefits of Sublimated Logos for Sportswear
Sublimation offers durability that stands up to demanding athletic conditions. The process ensures logos resist fading, cracking, or peeling, even with heavy use. As Sublimation Kings puts it:
Sublimation creates a permanent bond between the ink and the fabric, which means that the design won’t peel or fade over time. This makes sublimated uniforms more durable and longer-lasting than other types of uniforms.
Another standout feature is the longevity of sublimated prints, which can remain vibrant for up to 100 years. This ensures sports uniforms maintain their professional look season after season. Sublimated logos also provide a lightweight and breathable feel since the design is integrated into the fabric rather than layered on top. This allows the material to move naturally, ensuring comfort during intense physical activity. Even after repeated washing and exposure to sweat, the colors and details stay sharp and bright.
Common Sportswear with Sublimated Logos
Because of these advantages, sublimated logos are a popular choice for sports uniforms across various disciplines.
- Basketball jerseys and shorts often feature sublimated team logos, player names, and numbers. The smooth finish complements lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics, keeping logos crisp and vibrant through intense games and frequent washes.
- Football uniforms make use of sublimation, particularly for practice jerseys and warm-up gear, where durability is essential.
- Baseball and softball uniforms benefit from sublimation’s resistance to outdoor challenges like dirt and grass stains, ensuring logos and player details stay clear all season.
- Soccer jerseys commonly use sublimation for team crests, sponsor logos, and player information. The lightweight designs allow for unrestricted movement and maximum comfort on the field.
Wooter Apparel specializes in fully sublimated custom uniforms for sports like basketball, football, baseball, softball, and soccer. Their designs combine performance and style, delivering the durability and polished look that sublimation is known for.
How to Clean Sublimated Sportswear
Keeping sublimated sportswear clean is essential to maintain its vibrant colors and sharp details. Using the right washing techniques ensures your uniforms stay in great condition and last throughout the season.
Washing Steps
Always use cold water to protect the fabric and set the dye. According to Colourvistas:
Utilizing cold water is integral to the washing process of sublimation shirts, while hot water should be avoided. It helps to set the dye and prevent the opening of polyester fabric pores, reducing the risk of print damage.
Turn garments inside out before washing. This simple step minimizes friction between the printed logos and other items, reducing wear and tear on the designs.
Use the gentle cycle on your washing machine. The slower agitation and shorter cycle time are gentler on polyester fibers and help preserve the embedded dyes.
Choose a mild detergent – just one or two tablespoons is enough. Look for detergents specifically designed for synthetic fabrics or sportswear. Avoid products with enzymes or brighteners, as they can harm the material.
Wash similar colors together to prevent color transfer, and avoid overloading the machine. Each garment needs room to move freely for an effective, gentle wash.
Knowing what to avoid during the washing process is just as important.
What Not to Use When Washing
Avoid hot water. Hot water can open the pores of polyester fabric, leading to color bleeding and fading. It can also weaken the fibers that hold the sublimated design in place.
Stay away from chlorine bleach. Bleach can ruin sublimated prints and cause discoloration.
Skip fabric softeners and dryer sheets. These products can coat polyester fibers, interfering with moisture-wicking properties and dulling the designs.
Avoid harsh chemicals. Stain removers with ammonia or strong solvents can break down the fibers and damage the dyes.
Do not use enzyme-based or powdered detergents. These can be too harsh for sublimated sportswear. Liquid detergents are generally a safer and gentler choice.
How to Dry and Handle Sublimated Sportswear
Taking care of sublimated sportswear is about more than just washing – it’s also about drying and storing it properly. These steps help preserve the vibrant logos and extend the life of your uniforms.
Air Drying vs. Machine Drying
Air drying is your best bet for keeping sublimated logos bright and intact. This method protects the fabric’s elasticity, prevents shrinkage, and avoids the heat damage that can cause prints to fade or crack.
To air dry, hang your uniforms on a drying rack or clothesline indoors, away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can gradually fade colors, so keep them in a shaded area. Always turn garments inside out before drying, whether you’re air drying or using a machine, to minimize friction and protect the designs.
If you’re in a rush and must use a dryer, take extra care. JOG Athletics offers this advice:
Although it is always recommended to hang dry your jerseys, we realize there may be situations when you need them game ready. If machine drying your jerseys, it is very important to use a low heat setting. High heat can damage the jerseys, causing them to lose that fresh look and shortening their lifespan.
When using a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting or an air fluff cycle. Remove the uniforms as soon as they’re dry to avoid wrinkles or heat damage, and don’t overload the machine – this can lead to uneven drying and unnecessary wear.
How to Fold and Store Sportswear
Once your uniforms are dry, proper storage is the next step in keeping them in great shape.
Start by folding your uniforms on a clean, flat surface, keeping the design facing up. Follow the natural seams to avoid creating creases over the printed areas.
For storage, choose a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Avoid stuffing uniforms into tight spaces, which can lead to wrinkles or compression over time. A breathable garment bag or a dedicated space for your uniforms is ideal.
For long-term storage, hang jerseys on padded hangers to maintain their shape and prevent creases. Shorts and other items can be loosely folded and stored flat in drawers or on shelves.
To avoid color transfer, especially in humid conditions, store uniforms separately by color. Check on them occasionally to refold if necessary and prevent long-term creases from setting in.
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How to Make Sublimated Logos Last Longer
Taking care of sublimated logos goes beyond just washing and drying. A few extra steps can help keep those vibrant colors and sharp details intact, ensuring your team uniforms look polished and professional season after season.
Don’t Iron Directly on Logos
Heat and logos don’t mix well. Direct heat can cause logos to fade, crack, or even melt. To avoid this, turn the uniform inside out before ironing. Place a thin cotton cloth or parchment paper over the logo and use low to medium heat settings.
Instead of ironing directly on the logo, focus on areas of plain fabric where wrinkles tend to form, like along seams or folds. If the logo itself gets wrinkled, try hanging the garment in a steamy bathroom or using a garment steamer from a safe distance. These methods smooth out the fabric without risking damage.
And remember, treating stains quickly is just as important for maintaining your uniform.
Treat Stains Right Away
Quick action is your best defense against stains. The longer a stain sits, the harder it becomes to remove without harming the logo.
Start by blotting the stain gently with a clean, damp cloth – don’t rub, as this can spread it further. Rinse the stain from the reverse side using cold water to push it out. Avoid hot water, which can set the stain permanently.
Use a mild detergent designed for sportswear. Apply a small amount directly to the stain, let it sit for a moment, and then gently work it in with your fingers. Stay away from harsh chemicals like bleach, fabric softeners, or alcohol-based stain removers, as these can degrade the sublimated inks.
For common stains like grass, a mix of cold water and enzyme-based detergent works well. Let it sit briefly before washing as usual.
When to Replace Your Sportswear
Even with the best care, sportswear doesn’t last forever. Replace uniforms when logos begin to crack or peel, fabric starts thinning, or pilling becomes noticeable.
If the uniforms no longer fit properly due to shrinkage or wear, it’s also time to consider replacements. To extend their lifespan, rotate your uniforms – reserve the best-kept ones for competitions and use older ones for practice. This way, you’ll always look sharp when it matters most.
Conclusion: Keep Your Team Looking Professional
Keeping sublimated logos on sportswear in top condition is all about sticking to a few straightforward steps. Wash with cold water, use a mild detergent, and let the uniforms air dry. These simple actions go a long way in preventing issues like fading, cracking, or peeling – problems that can make even the most dedicated teams look less polished.
Taking care of uniforms isn’t just about appearances; it also strengthens team spirit. When teams create clear care guidelines and educate players on proper washing and handling, they can maintain that crisp, unified look all season long. Vibrant logos and well-kept fabrics not only boost morale but also exude confidence, whether facing opponents or performing in front of fans.
Starting with high-quality gear makes a big difference. Wooter Apparel offers uniforms made with advanced sublimation techniques and premium fabrics, ensuring durability and vibrant designs that stand up to repeated use and washing. This solid foundation helps your team maintain a professional and polished image.
FAQs
Why are sublimated logos more durable than traditional printed designs?
Sublimated logos stand out for their durability because the ink bonds directly to the fabric fibers, effectively becoming part of the material. This unique process ensures the design won’t crack, peel, or fade, even after frequent use and repeated washes.
Unlike traditional printing methods that place the design on the surface of the fabric, sublimation integrates the ink into the material itself. The result? A long-lasting, vibrant logo that resists fading and retains its quality for years with proper care.
Why is air drying better than machine drying for sublimated sportswear?
Air drying is the preferred method for sublimated sportswear because it helps preserve both the fabric and the logos. Machine dryers, with their high heat and constant agitation, can weaken the material and cause the sublimated designs to fade or crack over time.
When you opt for air drying, you’re giving your sportswear a better chance to retain its vibrant colors and logo quality. This simple choice not only keeps your gear looking great but also ensures it stays durable for longer.
What’s the best way to remove stains from sublimated sportswear without ruining the logos?
To safely clean sublimated sportswear without harming the logos, start by gently blotting the stain with a soft cloth dampened with either isopropyl alcohol or a mild stain remover. Be careful not to scrub, as this can damage the sublimated design. If the stain is fresh, natural options like lemon juice or white vinegar can work well too.
Before applying any cleaning solution, always test it on a small, hidden area of the fabric to make sure it won’t cause any discoloration or damage. Stick to gentle blotting instead of rubbing to preserve the look and quality of your sportswear.