Ultimate Guide: How to Clean Baseball Pants

If you’ve ever spent more time scrubbing baseball pants than watching the game, you’re not alone. Between clay, grass, and mystery stains, cleaning a uniform can feel like a full-time job. At Midstoppers, we’ve designed our baseball pants with easy-to-clean materials that outshine the competition—so you spend less time battling stains and more time on what matters.

Still, even the best pants need a little help after sliding into home plate. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to get your Midstoppers gear (or any brand) looking game-ready again.

Whether you're a team parent, coach, or player, this quick guide will walk you through pre-treating, soaking, washing, and drying—plus a few bonus tips pros swear by.

🧢 Let’s keep those pants clean and your game sharp.

Pre-Treat Stains Immediately

• Apply a stain remover spray or gel (e.g., OxiClean MaxForce, Shout, Spray 'n Wash) directly to the harshest stains.
  
• Let it sit for 15–30 minutes to break down dirt and grime.
  
  

2. Soak in a Cleaning Solution

• Mix cool water with Zote Flakes, OxiClean or The Pink Stuff made specifically for whites. We recommend Zote Flakes because they are not harsh but work extra hard. 
  
• Soak the pants for a few hours or overnight to loosen tough stains. If you're using a gentle but effective product like Zote Flakes, we recommend soaking overnight.
• Be careful with intense stain removers like "Iron Out" which some people swear by because it can easily ruin the metal on the zipper or buttons if left soaking too long and create new stains from the metals. Pro tip: set a timer if you prefer to use this. 
  
  

3. Scrub Problem Areas

• Use a soft laundry brush or toothbrush to gently scrub stained areas.
  
• For red clay or dirt, try Fels-Naptha bar soap, rubbing it directly into the stain.
  
  

4. Wash Separately in Cold or Warm Water

• Use a heavy-duty detergent (like Tide or Persil).
  
• Wash the pants alone or with other uniforms to avoid dye transfer.
  
  

5. Dry Carefully

• Air dry by hanging the pants on a rust-proof hanger or drying rack in a well-ventilated area.
  
• If using a dryer, select the lowest heat, gentle cycle or "air only" setting.
  
• Avoid overloading the dryer to ensure proper air circulation.
• Keep in mind if you place pants in the dryer with stains on them they will likely be set into the fabric.

We certainly hope this guide helps keep your baller's baseball pants as white as can be! Here's an example of one of our customers and her exact method:

Here's what Shamber did to get her player's Midstoppers as white as the day they got them:

1. Used a Fels-Naptha soap bar to completely scrub and saturate the stains
2. Soaked in Iron-Out powder for a couple of hours
3. Washed with normal detergent

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