Keeping a baseball uniform clean doesn't have to be a frustrating experience. In fact, if you
follow the suggestions below, your uniform will stay cleaner and last for many seasons.

Material: Most high quality uniforms are made from heavy weight stretchable poly knit fill or
mesh. There are two advantages to this material. First, it is very durable. Secondly, it is much
easier to clean than cotton or a cotton/poly blend.

Soft water: Clothes in general are very difficult to get clean in hard water. The biggest key to
keeping your uniform clean, especially if it is white, is by using very soft water. Soft water
optimizes the detergent's effectiveness. A commercial or consumer water conditioner is a big
plus to getting your uniform cleaner. If you don't have one, try using a soft water booster
during the wash cycle such as Calgon or other brands. Add it when you put in the detergent in
the beginning of the initial fill. Canton city water is very hard to begin with. Don't get this
confused with a fabric softener.

Pre-soak: If the uniform has heavy dirt or mud, you need to rinse it in the utility tub. Rinse off
the main dirt otherwise you end up washing the uniform in brown water. Next, get a bucket of
warm, not hot, water and soak it with some detergent. Use some Calgon or other softener if
you don't have a conditioner. Leave it soak for an hour or more.

Chlorine Bleach: Unless your uniform pants are completely white with no piping or trim, do
not use chlorine bleach. If you have white pants and navy piping down the side, it will
eventually turn gray. And do not, under any circumstances, use chlorine bleach when washing
your jersey. The lettering and numbers will fade quickly, sometimes immediately, especially in
hot water.

Separate: The uniform should be washed all by itself. Do not wash your uniform with other
clothes. One reason is that most clothes contain cotton or a cotton blend. The lint that comes
off during the wash cycle has a habit of clinging to the stitched-on lettering and numbers. If
both the jersey and pants are white, you can toss them in together. If the jersey is a solid
color, even though poly in general doesn't run, wash it separately. And don't use hot water.
Although your uniform may be white, the lettering and numbers are not. They will fade with hot
water.

Drying: Do not use the dryer to dry your uniform. Dryers, especially when set on hot or warm
may fade the lettering colors. It will also permanently set in any stains. Hang dry it. You'll be
surprised how fast the uniform dries just by hanging it. Just a few hours is all it takes. This will
also extend the life of the uniform.

Grass stains: Use cold water. It's true, cold water takes grass stains out of materials much
better than warm or hot water. You can pre-treat grass stains by soaking in cold water with
detergent for a few hours before putting it in the washer.

Again, the importance of using soft water can't be emphasized enough. It makes a dramatic
difference. Oxygenated bleaches such as OxyClean are also very effective laundry boosters
and can be used with colors. Using the tips described above will keep your uniform clean and
newer looking.