How to Care for Custom Team Uniforms So They Last All Season

By BOA | Running Shorts & Apparel | Made in the USA | Published: 2026-10-16

Category: Tips & Care

Custom team uniforms survive a full season when you wash them inside out in cold water, skip fabric softener, and air dry. Here is the step-by-step routine, plus the mistakes that fade prints and stretch elastic.

Quick answer

Wash custom running uniforms inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent, skip fabric softener and dryer sheets entirely, and air dry everything away from direct heat. Do that after every wear or two, and the prints, colors, and elastic hold up for the whole season instead of a few weeks.

Sort by fabric and color before anything touches the machine

Custom uniforms mix fabric types in one kit: compression shorts, singlets, and sometimes a warm-up layer. Wash compression pieces separately from looser singlets so zippers, drawcords, and hook-and-loop closures cannot snag the lighter fabric. Keep dark navy and black pieces away from white singlets for the first two or three washes, since new dye can transfer in a shared load.

One common mistake is tossing the whole team bag into one load after a meet. That is how a white singlet picks up a grey cast and how a drawcord turns into a knot that pulls at the waistband.

Turn every piece inside out and close the fasteners

Prints, numbers, and logos sit on the outside of the garment, so turning each piece inside out puts the abrasion against the inside of the fabric instead of the decoration. Zip zippers, button buttons, and tuck drawcords into the waistband. This one habit does more for print longevity than any special detergent.

Use cold water, mild detergent, and a short gentle cycle

Cold water protects color and elastic. Use a mild liquid detergent and roughly half the amount you would use for a normal load, because athletic fabric holds less water and rinses differently than cotton. Choose a gentle or hand-wash cycle with a low spin speed. Hot water and heavy agitation are the two fastest ways to shrink a singlet and dull a bright print.

Skip bleach, oxy boosters, and enzyme-heavy stain sprays on decorated areas. If a piece is genuinely soiled, treat the spot by hand with a drop of mild detergent and cool water, then wash as normal.

Never use fabric softener or dryer sheets

Fabric softener leaves a coating that blocks the moisture movement athletic fabric is built for, and it can dull or crack printed graphics over time. Dryer sheets do the same thing plus add heat exposure. If static is your concern, a short air-dry cycle solves it without any coating.

Air dry flat or hang, away from direct sun and radiators

Lay compression pieces flat on a rack and hang singlets by the shoulders or hem. Keep everything out of direct sun and off radiators, space heaters, and the top of a dryer. High heat is what shrinks elastic and warps printed panels, and it happens faster than most people expect.

If you must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and pull the garment out while it is still slightly damp. Check the care label first; if a specific instruction is not printed on the label, treat low heat as the ceiling rather than the default.

Store clean and dry, and deal with smells at the source

Never leave damp uniforms in a gear bag. Bacteria that cause lingering odor thrive in that environment, and the smell sets into the fabric within a day. Hang pieces to dry completely before they go back in the bag or drawer.

For persistent odor, soak the garment in cool water with a scoop of baking soda for 30 minutes, then wash normally. Avoid vinegar on printed areas, since repeated acid exposure is not kind to some inks and transfers.

Your season-long uniform care routine, step by step

Step 1: Empty pockets and check the care label: Shake out the gear bag, remove anything left in a pocket, and read the sewn-in label before the first wash. If a specific temperature or drying instruction is not printed there, treat cold wash and air dry as your defaults. Checkpoint: if you cannot find a label, do not guess at heat settings.
Step 2: Sort by color and fabric weight: Keep whites and lights away from navy and black for at least the first three washes, and wash compression pieces separately from loose singlets so hardware cannot snag lighter fabric. Mistake to avoid: one big team load after a meet.
Step 3: Turn everything inside out and close fasteners: Prints and logos face inward, zippers are zipped, and drawcords are tucked in. This single habit protects decoration better than any specialty detergent. Checkpoint: every piece inside out before the lid closes.
Step 4: Wash cold on a gentle cycle with half the usual detergent: Use a mild liquid detergent, skip bleach and enzyme stain sprays on decorated areas, and choose a low spin speed. Spot-treat stubborn marks by hand with cool water and a drop of detergent first. Mistake to avoid: hot water and heavy agitation, which shrink singlets and dull prints.
Step 5: Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets: Both leave a coating that blocks moisture movement and can crack printed graphics over time. If static bothers you, a short air-dry cycle handles it without any residue. Checkpoint: no softener, no sheets, no exceptions.
Step 6: Air dry flat or hang, away from heat and direct sun: Lay compression pieces flat and hang singlets by the shoulders or hem. Keep them off radiators, space heaters, and the top of the dryer. If you must use a machine, use the lowest heat and pull pieces out slightly damp. Mistake to avoid: high heat, which shrinks elastic and warps printed panels.
Step 7: Store clean and fully dry, and treat odors at the source: Never put damp uniforms back in a gear bag. For lingering smell, soak in cool water with baking soda for 30 minutes, then wash normally. Keep vinegar away from printed areas. Checkpoint: dry before storage, every time.

What this looks like on real BOA custom pieces

Women's Full Custom Uniforms Morse Custom Women's Fly Fit Compression Shorts. (x 5): Morse Custom Women's Fly Fit Compression Shorts come in White, Navy Blue, Pantone 1235C Athletic Gold, and Black, with Navy Blue elastic. Compression fabric and a colored elastic waistband are exactly the parts that suffer most from hot water and dryer heat, so cold washing and air drying protect both the color and the stretch.
Women's Full Custom Uniforms Hex Custom Women's Premium Interval Singlet. (x 1): Hex Custom Women's Premium Interval Singlet is shown in Light Pink and White, with a note that the BOA logo must be visible. Light colors and visible branding are the first things to look tired if you wash with darker pieces or use chlorine bleach, so sorting and skipping bleach keeps the singlet presentation-ready.
Men's Full Custom Uniforms Slash Custom Men's Standard Racerback Singlet. (x 13): Slash Custom Men's Standard Racerback Singlet uses White, MNTC Gold 122C, Pantone 123 C, and Silver Grey, with a note that the BOA logo must be visible. Multiple color panels and a required logo mean the decoration is doing real work on this piece; inside-out washing and no softener keep those panels crisp through a full season of meets.