Properly washing your cheer uniform is key to keeping it looking crisp, clean, and presentable for practices and games. It also helps extend the life of the uniform so you avoid costly replacements.

While cheer uniforms are designed to withstand wear and tear, taking proper care when laundering will preserve the fabric integrity, remove odors and bacteria, and maintain your squad’s polished presentation.

In this guide, you’ll learn the ins and outs of prepping, washing, and caring for your cheer uniform before and after laundering. From pre-treating stains to the best way to dry your uniform, follow these tips and your uniform will stay looking game-ready all season long.

Reasons to Properly Wash Your Uniform

Preserve Fabric Integrity

Cheer uniforms undergo a lot of movement and friction during stunts, tumbling passes, and cheer motions. The fabrics need to withstand stretching and abrasion. If you toss your uniform in the wash without care, the fabrics can breakdown prematurely. This leads to tears, holes, fraying seams, faded colors, and misshapen pieces over time.

By using a gentle detergent, washing on delicate cycles, and air drying, you preserve the uniform’s integrity so it retains its shape, color vibrancy, and durability through many washes.

Remove Odors and Bacteria

It’s no secret cheer uniforms get sweaty and smelly, especially after long practices or sweltering games. When sweat-drenched fabrics sit balled up in your bag, odor and bacteria accumulate. This leads to permanent stains, yellow discoloration, and clinging body odors. Not a good look for a squad uniform!

That’s why it’s critical to wash uniforms regularly to remove sweat, body oils, and microbes. This keeps every member of the squad looking and smelling fresh when making an entrance.

Maintain Team Presentation

A cheer squad functions as a cohesive unit—every member reflecting the dedication, spirit, and style set by the team. Faded uniforms with fraying hems and yellow stains disrupt that unity, making the squad appear unpolished.

By properly laundering uniforms and taking care of stains promptly, each member contributes to the squad’s reputation and school pride. Crisp, bright uniforms make a bold statement that your squad takes presentations seriously.

Supplies You’ll Need

Caring for your cheer uniform requires just a few special supplies you likely have at home:

Uniform-Safe Detergent

Skip the regular laundry detergent which can be too harsh for performance fabrics. Instead, use a gentle, uniform-safe detergent without optical brighteners. Detergents made specifically for athletic apparel retain vibrant colors without damaging elasticity or breathability.

Wash Bags

Place delicate uniform pieces like sports bras, sleeves, and socks into wash bags before tossing in the machine. Mesh bags allow water flow while preventing fabrics from catching, twisting, or stretching out of shape during the cycle.

Stain Remover (optional)

Having a good pre-wash stain remover helps lift stubborn marks like grass, blood, and body oil. Look for an enzyme-based formula designed for synthetic fabrics. Or make a DIY stain remover from items already in your laundry room.

Preparing Your Uniform for The Wash

Before laundering your soiled uniform, take a few minutes to prep the fabric so it comes out looking revived rather than wrecked.

Pre-Treating Stains

Don’t let stains set in and bond to the fabric. Treat them as soon as possible after wear.

Fresh Stains

For stains less than 24-hours old, spray liberally with stain remover. Let set 5-10 minutes then launder as usual.

Set-In Stains

For dried stains, soak the fabric in a diluted stain remover solution for 30+ minutes before washing. This allows the enzymes time to break down the stain.

Stubborn Stains

For tough stains, make a paste from stain remover and baking soda or washing soda. Rub gently into stain and let set 1 hour before washing. The abrasives help lift deep stains without damaging fabrics.

Emptying Pockets and Compartments

Don’t forget to empty all pockets and hidden compartments in your uniform before washing. Items like coins, chapstick, bobby pins, hair ties, and even Kleenex end up in the washer or dryer, damaging the machine or melting inside uniform pieces. Pockets turned inside out also wash better.

Washing Your Uniform

Washing your sweat-soaked uniform takes precision. Follow these steps for cheer uniforms that come out looking revitalized from wash to wear.

Choosing Wash Cycle and Water Temperature

Heavy Duty Cycle

Skip the delicate cycle and wash cheer uniforms on the Heavy Duty or Bulky Items setting. The longer cycle allows more time for detergents to penetrate and lift stains and odors without excess agitation.

Warm or Cold Water

Always use cold or lukewarm water temperatures for washing. Warm water helps dissolve detergents and lift odors without risking heat damage to elasticity. But extremely hot water causes fabrics to stretch out permanently.

Using a Gentle Detergent

Powder vs Liquid Detergent

Stick with liquid detergents or powders made specifically for athletic fabrics. They dissolve better in cool water cycles than regular powder forms. Just avoid thick gels which can leave sticky residue.

Amount of Detergent

Resist the temptation to overload the detergent no matter how smelly or stained your uniform! Too much causes buildup which attracts more dirt over time. For a standard washer, use 1/4 cup liquid or 1-2 tablespoons powder detergent.

Air Drying vs Machine Drying

Skip the dryer which exposes fabrics to excess heat and friction that damages elasticity. Instead, shake water out and lay uniforms flat to air dry. Hang delicates like socks and compression shorts to retain shape.

Post-Wash Care Tips

Don’t stop caring for your uniform after washing. These post-wash tips help uniforms maintain shape, freshness and color.

Removing Wrinkles

Hang to Dry

Letting uniforms air dry on hangers prevents wrinkles from setting into fabrics. For items prone to holding creases, like skirts and tops, reshape the fabric then hang dry.

Use a Steamer

A garment steamer gently smooths wrinkles without pressing creases into the fabric. Tip: Hang items in the bathroom while showering for impromptu steaming!

Sanitizing Your Uniform

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Prevent future odor issues by adding a capful of laundry sanitizer during the rinse cycle. It kills 99% of bacteria that causes lingering odors.

White Vinegar Rinse

For a natural sanitizer, fill your washer’s fabric softener tray with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Its mild acid neutralizes odors without harsh chemicals.

Storing Your Uniform

Maintain your uniform’s fresh, clean look by properly storing between practices and games.

Hang Up Uniform Pieces

Avoid shoving uniforms into cramped lockers, bags or drawers between uses. Hanging pieces allows air circulation so fabrics stay fresh and wrinkle-free.

Use Uniform Bags

When transporting uniforms in a gym bag, use breathable mesh laundry bags. These protect fabrics from picking up odors while preventing colors from bleeding or snagging other gear.

Conclusion

Showing squad spirit and unity starts with proper uniform care from first wear to storage. By pre-treating stains, washing with specialized detergents, air drying, and storing pieces properly between uses, your uniform maintains its integrity all season long.

Show up to games with a polished look that makes your squad stand out with crisp, vibrant uniforms.

FAQs

Can I dry clean my uniform?
Avoid dry cleaning which uses harsh solvents to clean fabrics. The heat and agitation damages elasticity and causes colors to fade. Instead, wash uniforms at home so you can treat stains promptly and air dry pieces.

How can I whiten my uniform if it starts to grey?
Skip the bleach which weakens fabrics. Instead soak uniforms for 30 minutes in warm water with bluing liquid added. This optical brightener removes dull grey discoloration and helps whites look crisp again.

What temperature water should I wash my uniform in?
Use cold or lukewarm water up to 85°F to wash uniforms. Extreme hot water causes permanent stretching of elastic and damages fabrics. However, warm water helps dissolve detergents better than cold.

Can I put my uniform in the dryer if I’m in a hurry?
It’s best to always air dry uniforms to avoid damaging elasticity from heat and agitation. But in a pinch, dry on the Air Dry or Delicates setting (not High Heat) then promptly remove pieces before fully dry to prevent over-drying.

How often should I wash my uniform?
Ideally, launder uniforms after each use to remove body oils, bacteria and odors that damage fabrics and team presentation. For convenience, wash uniforms at least every 2-3 wears even if not visibly soiled to keep the fabrics and squad looking polished.