Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

[rll31]

I recently purchased a game used David Price jersey. Pulled from one of his starts last week. Totally pumped on this pick-up. I open the box up today, take it out the item and step back admire. A minute later, I realize it reeks of BO. Some would say the smell adds to the awesomeness of this item, but I don't think I can hang this up in my house smelling like this.

Obviously I want to preserve the item as much as possible, and I don't want to damage the jersey or the MLB hologram on it. I'm going to air it out for a few days, but if it still smells this much, do I wash it? Spray it with Febreeze? Relish in the authenticity of it, and let it stink? Thanks in advance for the advice!

[aphanna25]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

Intrigued at what the responses will be. I've got a jersey that reeks of BO and a heavy "musk" scent also and was going to post here.

[Wrigley2010]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

I've had the same issue with a Matt Garza Cubs jersey which I believe originated from a member here. It absolutely reeked of body odor/sweat and I thought I could live with it, I was wrong. I was also afraid it would contaminate my other jerseys which were stored in the same area. I knew washing it was out of the question because I would lose not only the smell but also the dirt and probably the holograms as well.

I tried airing it out for a few weeks rotating it from outside to inside depending on the weather. That didn't work at all. So I decided to try Febreze and it did work but took a long time to kill the odor. I would apply it twice each week for a period of two months. It took that long for the odor to become tolerable. It still has a smell today but I'd say it's about 20% of what it use to be. Hope this helps.

[R. C. Walker]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

Had a similar issue with a jersey. It was pretty bad.

All I did was purchase a spray bottle of Fabreze, hung the jersey insideout in the garage and sprayed so it was just a mist lightly throughout the jersey. Let it hang for a day and did it again. Turned it right side out and did it one last time a day later. Depending on how bad, you might have to repeat.

Good as new.

[Phil316]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

I bought several Seahawks gamers direct from players last year. Each where put in a clear plastic bag after a game. All are unwashed. I pulled them out last week as I smelled an odor. Sure enough the culprit was a Kam Chancellor. I had forgotten about it. I usually let the straight off the field stuff air out in the garage. I have never sprayed my items or put anything on them.

[slam]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

I've had success with a dryer sheet in a ziplock bag.

[ndevlin]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

Had a similar issue with a jersey. It was pretty bad.

All I did was purchase a spray bottle of Fabreze, hung the jersey insideout in the garage and sprayed so it was just a mist lightly throughout the jersey. Let it hang for a day and did it again. Turned it right side out and did it one last time a day later. Depending on how bad, you might have to repeat.

Good as new.

Have done the exact same thing in the past and worked just fine.

[rll31]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

The jersey has been getting aired out for the past few days. Still stinks pretty badly. Not quite as bad as when I opened the box, but they are about to get a mist of febreeze.

Thanks for the input everyone!

[RJB44]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

I would wash it. I know some people like the dirt stains and all that, but to admire the BO, no thanks. Personally, I don't even care for dirt stains, but I don't collect high profile players. I would really have no interest in displaying or even storing a dirty jersey, but that's just me.

[SavedbyGrace]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

For me personally, the BO goes along with a jersey being game used. I actually may go so far as I won't buy a jersey if it's washed. It adds to the authenticity. That's just me, I guess. I prefer unwashed jerseys

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

For me personally, the BO goes along with a jersey being game used. I actually may go so far as I won't buy a jersey if it's washed. It adds to the authenticity. That's just me, I guess. I prefer unwashed jerseys

Given most older jerseys were washed by the team equipment manager, that might be a hard rule to adhere to.

Anyway, I'd use Febreze Heavy Duty, then store in a container with baking soda.

[ndevlin]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

For me personally, the BO goes along with a jersey being game used. I actually may go so far as I won't buy a jersey if it's washed. It adds to the authenticity. That's just me, I guess. I prefer unwashed jerseys

You aren't married, are you?

[Phil316]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

So here it is from the other end.

I purchased last week a unwashed football jersey. It arrived this morning and when i opened the package a strong smell of a masking agent (could be febreeze) filled the living room and my face. It was never mentioned in the auction that this jersey was hammered on with chemicals.

I will let it air out for a day or two. hopefully I can get some balance.

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

So here it is from the other end.

I purchased last week a unwashed football jersey. It arrived this morning and when i opened the package a strong smell of a masking agent (could be febreeze) filled the living room and my face. It was never mentioned in the auction that this jersey was hammered on with chemicals.

I will let it air out for a day or two. hopefully I can get some balance.

Hey Phil, I doubt the smell was from Febreze. Although Febreze does have a smell initially, the perfuming agents tend to dissipate rather quickly. The way Febreze works is that the chemicals actually capture odor chemicals, so the perfume is really just there so people think something is happening. They could probably have a neutralizer without the floral scents, but my assumption is the actual smell of the base chemical probably didn't test well with market research groups. Perhaps the smell had no smell that people felt they were paying for nothing but air.

[Phil316]

Re: Game Used Jersey Stinks! To wash or not

I messaged the seller. He said he used Lysol.