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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[ndevlin]

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]

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]

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]

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