How to wash and care for your basketball kit
Practice ends, the bag comes home, and someone has to deal with it. Good news: looking after a basketball kit is not complicated. Here is a simple routine for jerseys, shorts, compression, socks and sleeves, so the kit still looks right in March.
Check the label
Every garment has a care label, and it beats any general advice, including ours. Read it first. Our product pages list care details where they apply. For example, the Hooper Hoodie and Hooper T-shirt are described as easy care, wash as normal, and our headbands and sweatbands are listed as machine wash.
Before the wash
Do not leave a damp kit zipped in the bag overnight. Hang it up or lay it out to air once you are home. Turn jerseys and shorts inside out before they go in the machine. This is a common tip for printed kit, since the print then rubs against fabric instead of the drum.
Keep the mesh away from anything with zips, hooks or velcro. Those can snag.
In the machine
A cold or cool, gentle cycle is usually the safe choice for sports fabric. Our jerseys and shorts are mesh, and our compression pieces are described as 88% polyester and 12% spandex (ZWISHY short compression tights and One-Leg Compression Tights 1.0). Fabric like that usually does well with a mild detergent.
Many parents skip fabric softener on sportswear. It can leave a coating that works against moisture-wicking, so it is often left out. Wash dark and light kit separately, and the white stays white.
Drying
Air drying is the gentler route, and skipping the tumble dryer for printed kit is a common tip. Hang the kit on a rack and let it dry flat or on a hanger. Mesh and polyester dry quickly, so it is rarely a long wait. Several of our shorts are described as quick drying, which helps on a busy school week.
Avoid putting a hot iron directly on a print. If something needs smoothing, check the label first.
Compression & sleeves
Compression tights and arm sleeves are snug by design, and the stretch is what makes them work. Wash them with similar items, not with towels or anything rough. Wring gently, never twist hard, and let them dry flat or hang. Heat is the usual enemy of stretch fabric, so a cool wash and air dry keeps the fit.
Socks
Basketball socks take a beating. The ZWISH PRO Performance Socks have a reinforced heel and toe, and it still helps to turn them inside out so the cushioned sole gets properly cleaned. Pair them up before washing, or use a small laundry bag so single socks do not go missing. A 3-pack is handy for keeping a spare pair in the bag.
Storage
Once dry, fold the kit or hang it. Keep a fresh set in the practice bag so the morning before training is easy. Rotate between two jerseys if your hooper plays several times a week. The kit gets a day to rest, and so does the wash pile.
Quick routine
- Air out the kit when you get home.
- Check the care label.
- Turn jerseys and shorts inside out.
- Wash cool and gentle, with a mild detergent.
- Dry on a rack, away from direct heat.
Not sure about a specific piece? Contact us. We reply in English and Danish, and vask questions are welcome.
Shop the kit
- Jerseys – including reversible styles
- Shorts – to match the jersey
- Compression – tights and layers
- Socks – for long practices
- Sleeves – snug arm sleeves