Look sharp on match day, season after season. Cricket whites are made to take grass, mud and sun — with the right care they stay crisp, bright and true to size. Here is how to keep your IRA whites at their best.
A quick rule of thumb: wash cool, wash separately, skip the chlorine bleach, and dry in the shade. Everything below builds on those four habits.
Give brand-new whites a gentle cold wash before you play in them. It removes any manufacturing residue, sets the fibres, and lets the fabric reach its true fit. Check the care label sewn into the garment — it always takes priority over general advice.
If your whites have sublimated prints, a cold pre-wash also helps lock in the colour so it stays vibrant through the season.
For dinginess or greying, pre-soak in an oxygen-based brightener (the “colour-safe” kind) for 30–60 minutes, then wash as normal. Avoid chlorine bleach — it turns polyester and elastane yellow over time, weakens the fibres, and can damage prints and elastic. A little white vinegar in the rinse helps keep whites fresh and soft.
Add half a cup of baking soda to your wash load for an extra whitening boost — it’s gentle on fabric and works well alongside oxygen brightener.
Treat stains as soon as you can — the fresher the mark, the easier it lifts. Always start with cold water.
Rinse in cold water first. Rub a little liquid detergent (or a paste of oxygen brightener) into the mark, leave 10–15 min, then wash. Avoid hot water, which sets the stain.
Let it dry completely, brush off the loose dirt, then soak in cold water with oxygen brightener before washing. Never scrub wet mud in — it spreads.
Always cold water — hot water cooks the stain in. Rinse from the back of the fabric, dab with a little salt or oxygen brightener, then wash.
Pre-soak in cool water with oxygen brightener to lift yellowing at collars and underarms. White vinegar in the rinse also helps neutralise odour.
Blot (don’t rub), rinse under cold water, treat with detergent or oxygen brightener, then wash as normal.
Dab with a little detergent on the spot and wash promptly. Set-in red-ball marks may need a second oxygen-brightener soak.
Keep a small bottle of oxygen brightener paste in your kit bag — treating the stain at the ground before you get home makes all the difference.
Iron on a warm setting and always turn the garment inside out so you never press directly onto printed or sublimated names, numbers and logos. If you must iron the front, place a thin cotton cloth over any print. Never use a very hot iron on polyester.
Make sure whites are completely dry before you put them away — even slight damp invites mildew and musty smells. Fold neatly rather than cramming, and keep kit somewhere cool and dry between matches.
Care needs vary a little by fabric — always follow the label on your specific garment. Questions about a team order? Reach us at info@irasportswear.com.
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