Washing and storing

An old football shirt can usually cope with a wash, if you take it gently. These tips are safe for most shirts. They are general: a shirt thirty years old sometimes has a mind of its own, and we can't guarantee that the result will always be lovely. Always check the care label in the neck first.

Look first

• Read the care label. If it has worn away or you can't read it, wash by hand only, and cold.
• Is there an ironed-on or cracked print, badge or sponsor? Then take extra care.
• Does the shirt smell of the loft? Air it outside for a day first, in the shade. Often that is enough.

Washing

1. Hand wash or wool cycle. Hand washing is the safest. Use lukewarm or cold water (30 °C at most) and a mild detergent without bleach.
2. Turn the shirt inside out. That way the print doesn't touch the drum.
3. Don't rub the print. Submerge the shirt and press gently.
4. No bleach, no fabric softener, no boiling water.
5. Rinse well in cold water.

Are you going to wear the shirt for sport? Take extra care: old prints don't stand up to high temperatures and friction.

Drying

• Not in the tumble dryer.
• Lay it flat on a towel or hang it over a drying rack, in the shade. No direct sun and no radiator.
• Don't wring it out. Press the water out gently in a towel.

Ironing

Preferably not. If you really have to: iron it inside out, on the lowest setting, and never directly on the print or badge.

Stains

Test any product on a hidden spot on the inside first. Dab, don't rub. If you can't get it out, it is often better to leave it: an old stain sometimes belongs to the story. Do email us if you are unsure.

Storing

• Store it folded in a cupboard, dark and dry. Avoid plastic hangers and plastic bags that trap moisture.
• Put a sheet of acid-free paper between the folds if you are storing it for a long time.
• Fold it differently now and then, so the creases aren't always in the same place.
• Don't hang it permanently as a framed piece or on a wall in sunlight: colours and prints fade.

What we do before we send it

We wash every shirt gently (or air it, if it is better not to wash it) before we pack it. What we have done is stated under the condition.