How to Clean Baseball Pants

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Those crisp, white baseball uniform pants don’t tend to stay that way for long. After countless skids, brush-ups and slides into home base, they’re bound to get a little dirty. Trying to launder grass and mud stains out of light-colored fabrics can be an exasperating task, but it doesn’t have to be anymore. With the right tools, you can restore even the most well-worn pair of pants to their prime. All you need are a few special cleaning products and a little elbow grease to strike out stubborn stains inning after inning.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Pretreating Stains

PDF download Download Article
  1. Using a stiff-bristled brush or dry sponge, remove as much dirt from the pants as you can while they’re still dry. Use long, sweeping strokes, being careful to avoid spreading dirt to clean areas. Shake the pants out thoroughly when you’re done. [1]
    • Brush down the pants outdoors to keep from making a mess inside your home.
    • It’s important to treat stains as soon as possible so that they’ll have less time to set up on the fabric. [2]
  2. Mix together roughly two parts hydrogen peroxide and one part liquid dish soap and shake to combine. Both of these ingredients contain active stain-fighting agents and will be instrumental in lifting the worst of the stains prior to laundering. [3]
    • Keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide solution mixed up so that you’ll have a ready supply on hand to treat a dirty uniform after each game.
    Advertisement
  3. Mist the pants liberally on both sides, focusing on areas where dirt and discoloration is the heaviest. Then, use your brush to work the solution further into the fibers of the garment where they can continue working on the stains. [4]
    • Reapply fresh solution after chipping away at the stains with the brush.
    • If the stains are very pronounced, turn the pants inside out and spray and brush the opposite side of the fabric as well. [5]
  4. Give the solution time to take effect before moving on to other deep-cleaning methods. You might be surprised how well the initial treatment can work on ground-in dirt, grass and blood stains. [6]
    • Leave the pants on a flat, dry surface as they sit, like a countertop or the ironing board.
    • The longer you let the stain-fighting solution work, the better the end result will be.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Soaking the Pants

PDF download Download Article
  1. Run enough water to completely submerge the pants. It’s important to use warm or hot water as opposed to cold, as it will be more effective for loosening the most troublesome stains. [7]
    • You can also soak the pants in a bathtub if you’re short on sink space.
    • If necessary, use a small, heavy object to weigh down the pants and keep them underwater. [8]
  2. Add about one cup of bleach-based cleaner like OxiClean or Clorox Oxy Magic to the sink. Whisk the water and cleaner together until they’re evenly distributed. These products are designed to cut tough messes using a mild natural bleaching action, so there’s no need to do a lot of scrubbing. [9]
    • For best results, look for products that are specially formulated for use on white clothing.
    • It’s a good idea to wear cleaning gloves when working with products containing bleach and other harsh chemicals.
  3. Place the pants in the sink with the warm water and bleach cleaner. Ideally, the pants should remain in the solution for a minimum of 2-3 hours. If possible, soak them overnight to ensure that the cleaner has had ample time to work. [10]
    • If you’re short on time, use a slightly higher concentration of cleaner and plunge the pants gently in the water by hand.
    • Soaking is an indispensable step in removing stains from white fabrics.
  4. Remove the pants from the sink and wring out the excess cleaning solution. Drain the sink and run a stream of fresh warm water over the pants. This will help flush away dislodged debris and dirty water. [11]
    • Squeeze all water out of the pants again after rinsing.
    • You should follow up with a regular cycle in the washing machine, even if the stains have mostly disappeared from the pants. [12]
    5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Machine Washing the Pants

PDF download Download Article
  1. After a good soak, it’s important to wash the pants right away before they have time to dry. Be sure to only wash your uniform pants with other white fabrics. If the rest of your uniform needs to be washed, you can throw them in together.
    • Once loose stains dry a second time, they can be even harder to get out. [13]
    • If you wash your uniform with bright colors that have a tendency to run, you could find yourself dealing with a whole new set of difficult stains.
  2. Add the laundry detergent straight to the clothes, rather than to a separate dispenser. You’ll have the most luck with stain-dissolving detergents made specifically for whites. [14]
    • Use a whole capful of detergent to provide the maximum amount of cleaning muscle.
  3. Set the washing machine to a normal wash cycle. Use warm water. Whatever stains are leftover from the first two phases of cleaning should be totally erased following a thorough machine washing. [15]
    • Add a cup of distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Vinegar can brighten and soften light fabrics, making it a great way to provide the finishing touches to hard-wearing garments. [16]
    • Especially dingy pants may need to be laundered on a heavier soil setting.
  4. The intense heat of the dryer may shrink cotton and blended pants. To prevent this, hang the pants vertically in a well-ventilated area overnight. Afterwards, they’ll be clean and ready to go so you can look your best at the big game! [17]
    • Pants made from polyester and other synthetic fabrics are typically dryer safe.
    • If the pants are wrinkled after they dry, give them a few passes with an iron on a low heat setting. [18]
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • To keep your uniform in top condition, treat stains as soon as possible after they're picked up.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Between treating, soaking and drying, cleaning your baseball uniform pants can take a while. Try to tackle the project with plenty of time before you need to wear them again.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Use a clean toothbrush to coax out stuck-on stains after spraying them with hydrogen peroxide solution.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Certain types of stains, like red clay, are particularly resilient and may be impossible to completely remove. In these cases, you may be left with no other choice than to purchase a brand new uniform.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • When using bleach-based cleaning products, always work in a well-ventilated area and avoid breathing fumes or handling cleaners with bare skin.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Hydrogen peroxide
      • Mild liquid dish soap
      • Oxygenated bleach cleaner (OxiClean, Clorox Oxy Magic, etc.)
      • Stain-lifting laundry detergent
      • Stiff-bristled brush or sponge
      • Spray bottle
      • Distilled white vinegar (optional)

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Remove Prints from Clothes
      How to
      Unshrink Your Clothes without Ruining Them
      8 Ways to Remove Pilling from Clothing
      How to
      Shrink a Sweater
      The Best and Easiest Ways to Get Lint Off of Your Clothes
      How to
      Clean Suit Jackets at Home
      How to
      Wash Your Clothes
      How to
      Clean a Puffer Jacket: Machine or Hand Washing?
      How to
      Wash a North Face Jacket
      5 Ways to Remove Vaseline & Petroleum Jelly From Clothes
      How to
      Brighten Faded Black Clothing
      How to
      Remove Urine Smell from Clothes
      How to
      Get Lint off of Your Clothes in the Washing Machine
      How to
      Remove Lint from Black Pants
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      2. ↑ http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=238
      3. ↑ http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2012/06/best-homemade-stain-remover-ever.html
      4. ↑ https://www.ripit.com/blog/how-to-clean-baseball-pants/
      5. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      6. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      7. ↑ https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/how-do-you-remove-the-red-stain-of-baseball-clay-from-white-pants/
      8. ↑ https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/how-do-you-remove-the-red-stain-of-baseball-clay-from-white-pants/
      9. ↑ http://www.extraordinarymommy.com/how-to-clean-baseball-pants-to-perfection/
      1. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      2. ↑ https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/how-do-you-remove-the-red-stain-of-baseball-clay-from-white-pants/
      3. ↑ http://www.extraordinarymommy.com/how-to-clean-baseball-pants-to-perfection/
      4. ↑ http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=238
      5. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      6. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html
      7. ↑ http://www.heinzvinegar.com/tips/laundry-room
      8. ↑ http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/house-home/housekeeping/how-to-clean-a-sports-uniform
      9. ↑ http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Get-White-Baseball-Pants-Clean-/10000000205732757/g.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean baseball pants, start by brushing off excess dirt and debris with a stiff-bristled brush or dry sponge. Next, spray any soiled areas with a stain-fighting pre-treatment solution and let the solution sit for 20-30 minutes. After the solution soaks into the fabric, fill up a large sink or bucket with warm water and add 1 up of an oxygenated bleach cleaner. Then, soak the pants in the solution for at least 2-3 hours. Remove the pants from the sink, wring out the excess cleaning solution, and rinse the fabric with warm water. Finally, run the pants through a regular cycle in the washing machine and hang them up to air-dry. For more tips on treating stains, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 116,740 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Windy

        Aug 2, 2022

        "I'm just searching for info for my daughter right now. The info sounds useful."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement