Laundry in the NFL: Yes, It Gets Dirty (2024)

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Equipment managers look for best ways to remove uniform stains, prevent yellowing

Matt Poe

CHICAGO —The NFL regular season is over and only two teams remain: the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots.

Most people are debating which team is going to win the Super Bowl.

Folks in the laundry and linen services industry, on the other hand, might notice that even after a full season, and playoffs, of grass, dirt and blood stains, the teams’ uniforms still have bright colors and gleaming whites.

That’s because each team has an equipment manager who, in addition to maintaining all of the other gear, makes sure a team’s uniforms are spotless throughout the season.

“The game uniform is where you really take your time to have pride in it because that’s what’s seen on your biggest stage,” says Chris Valenti, equipment manager for the Denver Broncos, which won Super Bowl 50last year.

And it’s not just grass and dirt and blood. Some stadium field maintenance personnel paint their fields green to look brighter on television, which is yet another stain to deal with.

One might assume that teams have a new uniform for every game, and they do use special uniforms, like historic throwback uniforms, for special games. The reality is, however, they wear the same uniforms, either a home or away version, most games.

“That’s our job,” says Steve Urbaniak, equipment manager for the San Francisco 49ers. “So that every game, it looks like the players are coming out there in a new uniform, even though they’ve worn the same one for maybe eight games.”

While it seems like the state of uniforms would be the last thing on the minds of the players and coaches, it does get noticed.

“When I knew the head coach was unhappy that things were yellow, I worried about it,” says Allen Wright, equipment manager for the Kansas City Chiefs, which was just one win away from the AFC championship game this postseason. “I lost sleep over it. He had only been my boss for a month, and the first thing he had said was, ‘Why are things so yellow?’ To be able to hit a home run right with the very first thing that I dealt with our head coach was extremely important to me.”

Teams like the Broncos, 49ers and Chiefs use commercial on-premises laundry (OPL) equipment. Often, though, it isn’t the washers and dryers that create an issue with the uniform—it’s the chemicals used.

“We were finding our reds were fading really fast, and the whites started to yellow,” Urbaniak says. “We had to really struggle getting it clean. What we were using, it just faded again faster and the whites got dingier and yellower really quick.”

“The stains we get on the white pants are probably the biggest concern,” Valenti says. “It’s always been the bane, if you will, for me, getting those grass stains out of the pants.”

All three teams turned to the Tide Professional Laundry system to help get out the stains and remove yellowing.

“We brought in a few different systems, one of them being the Tide system, and we knew after we did the first load that there was a difference,” Wright says.

So, how does a laundry supplier like Tide Professional Laundry become part of an NFL team?

“The process for working with NFL teams is very similar to how we work with all new customers,” says Renee Buchanan, communications manager for P&G Professional.“We identify the top laundry and cleaning needs of the customer, in this case a professional football team, and then we set a meeting with the equipment manager to discuss the issues they may be having and what we can do to help.”

She says that in many cases, the company is referred by another customer (or team in this case) who is already using the system.

“The NFL equipment manager group is a small network of people who like to help each other out and often pass along recommendations to each other,” she says.“In other cases, equipment managers may contact us because they are having problems with their current products and/or systems and we come in to help them.”

Valenti says Denver has a “tricky issue” because the water at the Broncos facility is extremely hard.

Buchanan says the company works closely with the equipment managers to identify not only the issues, but how to ensure the laundry system works best with the material being laundered, taking into account regional factors, such as water quality.

“We create a custom solution for each team to keep them happy and help ensure the players feel their best when taking the field,” she says.“We are honored to be a part of the NFL, even if it is behind the scenes.”

Laundry in the NFL: Yes, It Gets Dirty (2)

Denver’s equipment manager, Chris Valenti, loads towels used by Broncos players.(Photos: P&G Professional)

Laundry in the NFL: Yes, It Gets Dirty (3)

Employees in the Kansas CityChiefs laundry room load soiled gear gathered from the locker room.

Laundry in the NFL: Yes, It Gets Dirty (4)

Steven Urbaniak, equipment manager for the San Francisco 49ers, tracks down gear for players.

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [emailprotected].

Laundry in the NFL: Yes, It Gets Dirty (2024)

FAQs

How do NFL teams do laundry? ›

NFL teams use industrial size washers and dryers to get the job done in the laundry room. These are required because of the massive amount of laundry that need to be done to keep an NFL team going. During the peak times, such as training camp, NFL teams are washing laundry for sometimes over 200 people daily.

What laundry detergent does the NFL use? ›

CINCINNATI (September 21, 2021) -- Tide®, America's #1 laundry detergent brand, announced on August 31 that it is joining forces with another iconic brand – the National Football League (NFL) – to encourage fans to turn the dial from hot to cold and make a positive impact on the planet.

Who does the NFL laundry? ›

Do you think pro NFL players have to take their uniforms home to wash them? No, they have equipment managers that clean, wash and mend all of the players' uniforms and equipment (pads and helmets).

How does the NFL get grass stains out of uniforms? ›

Now, after a game, the dirty uniforms first sit in a tub of soapy water for three to four hours, which he says, is key in releasing a lot of the stains, be it grass, mud, or blood. "The real bad ones [such as those from the offensive and defensive linemen] we let sit overnight."

Do NFL teams fly home immediately after a game? ›

Often, the TSA screening occurs at the stadium before boarding the buses back to the airport. Within an hour of the game ending, the Giants are on the way home. “Getting home at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning isn't fun,” Robinson said. “That's the only downside of road trips, especially playing on the West Coast.”

When NFL players swap jerseys, do they wash them? ›

Jersey exchanges are back on for 2020 -- sort of. The NFL informed clubs tonight it is partnering with Tide, which will cover the cost of one replacement jersey per player -- all washed first and exchanged by mail. Some NFL teams have previously fined players or deducted the cost of jerseys from their salaries.

What do football players wear to protect their balls? ›

Strange as it might seem, however, N.F.L. players do not protect — in any way, apparently — perhaps their most sensitive possession. “In my life, at every level, I have never worn a cup,” Giants tight end Martellus Bennett said this week.

Is Persil better than Tide? ›

Tide has been one of the go-to brands in this space since it launched in 1946. While this more modern formulation lagged slightly behind Persil in our stain-fighting test, it stood toe-to-toe or bested it in all other categories. We tested Tide Original, a product that's for high-efficiency washers.

Do NFL players get new helmets every game? ›

NFL players are provided with new helmets every season. The league has strict protocols in place to ensure that players have the most up-to-date and safest equipment available.

Do NFL players still shower together? ›

Each team has communal showers and players just use them when they need too. Do professional athletes change or shower during halftime? His answer confirmed mine. NO - He says that it takes him at least 30 minutes to put on his pads, gear, uniform because he wants it to feel "just right".

Do NFL players get free clothes? ›

NFL teams furnish players with a seemingly unlimited supply of shorts, t-shirts, sweats, hoodies and jackets. That's great … until a player leaves the team.

Does an NFL Waterboy make? ›

NFL waterboys actually make a fairly decent salary. Typically speaking individuals earn around $35,000 per year. Those who have been in the game for an extended period of time, however, can earn significantly more, with some even reported to be starting well above $50,000.

Do football players wear a new kit every match? ›

Most professional footballers do receive new club or national team jerseys for each game. Professional teams typically have the finances to allow for new gear every game, which cuts back on the time and effort needed to wash jerseys after every single match.

Do football players wear a cup? ›

Football players' thighs are naturally large due to the amount of weightlifting they do. When a player wears cups, their inner thighs may experience chafing and irritation. A cup is not required as an item of equipment in football. It's optional, just like rib guards or knee stockings.

Do NFL jerseys bleed in the wash? ›

Remember, cold water can help prevent color bleed and shrinkage that hot water may cause. Before placing the jersey in the wash bag, it's wise to apply stain remover to any evident stains — remember the extra messy BBQ sauce from halftime? Now's the time to tackle it!

Do NFL players pay for team apparel? ›

Conclusion. In the NFL, the cost of player jerseys and uniforms is the responsibility of the team. Each team has a commitment to players' performance and safety, which includes supplying uniforms. This setup equips players for success and provides them with professional-looking uniforms that match.

Do football shirts run in the wash? ›

Yes, football kits can be put into the washing machine however, due to the delicate material most kits are made from, hand washing is preferred.

Who washes the professional football uniforms? ›

That's because each team has an equipment manager who, in addition to maintaining all of the other gear, makes sure a team's uniforms are spotless throughout the season.

Do NFL teams wear white at home or away? ›

Kansas City will wear its red home jerseys, while the San Francisco 49ers will wear white. For the most part, NFL teams wear a darker jersey at home and road teams wear a white one.

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