Long Sleeve Performance Polo Care for Stripes and Heathers

Quick answer

Turn striped and heathered long sleeve performance polos inside out, wash them in cold water on a gentle cycle with like colors, and skip the dryer—hang or lay flat to dry. That routine protects the color contrast in stripes, the blended look of heathers, and the stretch and UPF that make these polos perform.

Step-by-step care for striped and heathered polos

1. Turn inside out and close fasteners: Before washing, turn the polo inside out and button any placket buttons. This reduces surface abrasion that can fuzz the fabric and dull stripe contrast. Check that no other garments have exposed zippers or hooks that could snag the knit.
2. Sort by color and fabric weight: Wash striped and heather polos with similar colors and lightweight performance fabrics. Avoid mixing with heavy towels or denim, which can cause pilling and uneven wear. Wash new dark-striped polos separately for the first few cycles in case of excess dye.
3. Use cold water and a gentle cycle: Select a cold-water delicate or gentle cycle with a low-spin finish. Hot water and high agitation are the main causes of fading, shrinkage, and stretch loss in performance knits. If your machine has a ‘performance’ or ‘activewear’ setting, use it only if it runs cold.
4. Choose a mild detergent—no bleach or fabric softener: Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Bleach attacks color, and fabric softener coats fibers and can reduce moisture-wicking and stretch recovery. For sweat-heavy polos, pre-treat underarms and collar with a dab of detergent before washing instead of increasing the detergent dose.
5. Skip the dryer and air dry flat or hang: Reshape the polo and lay it flat or hang it to dry away from direct sun and heat. High dryer heat is the fastest way to shrink performance fabric and set wrinkles. If you must use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting and remove the polo while still slightly damp.
6. Store folded, not on a wire hanger: Once fully dry, fold the polo or use a broad hanger. Wire hangers and long-term hanging can stretch the shoulders and distort the collar over time. Keep stored polos away from damp areas to prevent musty odors that are hard to remove from performance fabrics.

Product facts that affect care

• The Whaler Heather Stripe | Long Sleeve Performance Polo | The Whaler Heather Stripe - Big Easy Lavender/White: Breathable fabric with moisture-wicking and four-way stretch, plus UPF sun protection and wrinkle-free material. Heat and harsh detergents can degrade these performance finishes, so cold washing and air drying help preserve stretch, wicking, and UPF.

  

• Heather | Long Sleeve Performance Polo | Heather - Coastal Blue/Potomac Blue: Heather long sleeve performance polo with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, wrinkle-free fabric, and UPF protection. The heathered yarn blend is prone to dulling from high heat, so a gentle, cold routine keeps the color depth and performance intact.