You’ve got to keep that cricket kit of yours in tip-top condition on the pitch. This page is your go-to cleaning guide, from your whites to your cricket bat!
How To Wash Your Cricket Kit
Your cricket kit isn’t just your uniform on the pitch. It’s both proof that you’re serious about the sport, and it’s your protective layer against injuries. Especially when it comes to the padding. Something that only gets worse if it’s not being cared for and cleaned properly.
So, making sure that it’s kept in pristine condition is vital for both keeping up appearances, and making sure that they can do their job right!
That’s why we’ve created this quick guide to cleaning your cricket kit. From your whites to your batting pads and gloves, this little tutorial will have you covered!
Washing Cricket Clothes
The base of your cricket kit will be your main cricket clothes, your shirt, trousers, and socks. Because these are pretty much standard white clothes, they’re usually the easiest part of your kit to clean.
Because cricket whites are supposed to be… well, white, the best method of washing them is often a little more involved than normal clothes, just so they hold on to that brightness.
First, you should soak your cricket clothes in question in warm water for around 40 to 60 minutes. You can also add in some liquid detergent or stain remover here, in case there are any particularly strong stains from mud or grass in them.
Once they’ve been soaked, they can then be put on a warm washing cycle in the washing machine. 40 degrees Celsius will be warm enough to lift any remaining stains, keeping those bright whites pristine.
Once your clothes are thoroughly washed, make sure to hang them out to air dry on an airer or washing line. This is absolutely the best way to dry these clothes, especially compared to dryers. Sunlight will help bleach the whites, and whiten your cricket clothes even more.
Extra Notes
Of course, different brands and makes of cricket clothes will often use different materials for their trousers, shirts, and even socks. Making sure that you’re using proper instructions for them is essential if you want to avoid accidentally ruining your cricket clothes!
The main materials that you’ll see them made from are:
- Flannel
- 100% Polyester
- Cotton
- Wool
Flannel
Flannel is one of the most common materials used for cricket clothes, and has been used for centuries. Modern flannel is perfect for making cricket trousers, where its high elastic content gives them great mobility for fielding.
Because flannel will sometimes have a high wool content, it’s best to use a colder temperature when washing them. Make sure that your clothes are soaked in the same cooler temperature, and with some liquid detergent to help lift stains and other dirt.
If you’re going to rinse your clothes after, make sure that it’s at the same low temperature as the wash.
100% Polyester
Polyester has become an incredibly popular material to make clothes from, especially when it comes to sports kits. Their stretchy qualities make them great for both shirts and trousers alike, and their breathable material helps players stay cool during intense matches.
Because polyester is a synthetic material, it can be washed well at a variety of heats. Cold and warm cycles both work well on this fabric. Just make sure to avoid the hottest heat, as the fibres in polyester can start to break down when they’re exposed to too high washing temperatures.
If you want to go the extra mile, soaking your polyester clothes in water and detergent overnight will really bring out that shining white colour!
Cotton
Like most other clothes, cotton is a go-to material to make plenty of cricket wear from, especially collared shirts and jumpers.
The best way to keep your cotton cricket whites bright is to wash them at the highest heat that they’ll tolerate, and follow the method we’ve already explained. Most ‘white’ cycles on washing machines will wash cotton cricket clothes nicely.
Wool
While not as popular as it used to be, wool is still used for making cricket jumpers. So it’s worth knowing how to wash this type of outer cricket wear.
Like with flannel, wool cricket clothes can shrink if they’re washed at high temperatures, so make sure that you’re washing at lower heats to avoid this.
Washing Protective Gear
Washing your cricket clothes is one thing. But keeping your pads, gloves, and other gear in tip/top condition is something else!
Because they’re often made with different materials and methods, and to specific shapes, washing your gear like normal clothes is the quickest way to ruin them.
So, you’re going to need to follow these specific methods to wash different parts of your cricket kit.
Batting Pads
Batting pads are a high priority when it comes to kit-washing. You’re not just cleaning a big item, but one that will have dirt, sweat, and all kinds of stains on them.
To keep them clean, you’ll want to make sure that your pads are completely dry after they have been used before they are used again or put into storage after a season ends.
Putting moist or sweaty pads into storage before they can dry is the quickest and worst way to allow fungus and other nasty bacteria to grow in them. This makes them both smell awful and a potential health hazard, so leave them out to thoroughly dry out first!
If the pad has parts that can be detached, make sure to do so, and gently hand-wipe them with some kind of soap or detergent.
If you want to be extra thorough, or you can’t detach parts, gently sprinkle baking soda over your pads, and leave them for an hour or two, then gently brush off the excess. This will both neutralise smells on the pads and get rid of dirt.
This is a method that you can use for many kinds of cricket pads, from chest guards to cups, to thigh guards.
So, while they seem like pretty intimidating items to clean at first, pads are actually surprisingly easy to maintain!
Cricket Gloves
Another essential kit item is cricket gloves. These vital pieces of hand protection are also a hive for both moisture and bacteria to build up. So, keeping them clean and well-maintained is a must!
To avoid that build-up of sweat and other moisture, make sure that you’re wearing a pair of thinner gloves underneath the batting gloves. Any dirt that has built up on the outside
Make sure that you don’t use any liquid cleaning products for the grips on the gloves. They can be easily damaged by them, which makes them less effective at their main function: holding on to your cricket bat!
Washing Other Kit Items
Alongside your main guards and gloves, there are a few other items that you’ll need to keep in top condition for the cricket pitch!
Helmet
Helmets will be easy to clean when it comes to scuffs and dirt on the outside, but the inside padding will start to smell of sweat and bad odour without regular cleaning.
If possible, detach the inside of the helmet from the outside, and use a warm damp cloth to wipe the inside. Using baking soda or a weak detergent is also a good call, which will take care of the smells and bacteria that may build up inside.
Cricket Bat
Enough solid shots with your cricket bat, and you’ll start to notice that ball stains and other bits of dirt can build up on it. It’s not exactly a pretty sight, so knowing how to get rid of cricket ball stains on your bat is a must!
While it can be tempting to wipe with water, you should NOT do this under any circumstance. Cricket bats are made from solid willow wood, which is known to absorb water incredibly well. This can cause your bat to swell, soften, warp or even crack, making it unusable.
Instead, make sure to have some cricket bat treatment oil handy, and apply a small amount to a cloth, so you can gently wipe it into your bat. Linseed oil is ideal for this, in case you’re unable to find dedicated bat oil.
Make sure to only use a little, however, applying too much can also result in the joint between the bat and the handle weakening. Instead, make sure to inspect your bat regularly, and only lightly oil if you’re concerned about small cracks becoming larger.
Cricket Bag
With it being where all your kit is stored, it’s no surprise that cricket bags may build up a little dirt or odour over time.
At this point, you’ll probably know that baking soda is a great way of removing odours. Plus, cricket bags are usually made of material that is perfect for wiping with a damp cloth and some soap/detergent.
Final Thoughts
So, as you can see, cricket kits’ aren’t exactly the most simple items to keep clean. There’s plenty to keep track of, that’s for sure!
However, a good cricket player will be rewarded for taking care of their kit, with equipment that performs at its best and will last for a long time.
So, don’t neglect your cricket kit, just because it’s a little tricky to care for. It will all pay off!
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