If there’s one sign that really tells us how much people love their Overtime Outfitters wristbands, it’s how often we hear that some of you never take them off.

Predictably, that means they can get a little grimy.

Caring for your wristband

Far be it from us to tell you when and where to wear your Overtime drip. We made these wristbands so that you can support for your favorite teams wherever you want.

But if you want to keep your wristband looking like the first day you got it in the mail, you can take these preventative measures to extend the life of your wristband.

• Minimize wearing it in water.
  It’s perfectly safe to wear your Overtime Outfitters wristband in the water. The colors won’t run or bleed onto your skin or clothing. But doing so, especially repeatedly, can cause the wristband to stretch and discolor. This can be particularly true if you wear it regularly in the shower, ocean, or lakes.
• Refrain from over-stretching.
  These things are literally made to stretch over you hand – they’re made of elastic, after all. But just like with a rubber band, the more you stretch your wristband, the less ability it has to regain its original shape. Unnecessary tugging or taking it on and off repeatedly can cause permanent stretching.
• Reduce its exposure to sweat.
  We often see pictures of our wristbands on wrists at gyms, out at practice, or on the field itself. But just like your favorite workout hat or training gear, your Overtime gear is going to soak up all the oils and dirt that sweat brings with it. And the extra exposure to moisture will make it more susceptible to stretching, too.
• Don’t get it dirty.
  I mean, this should be a bit obvious. But if you wear your wristband while playing on a muddy football field, or in a dusty baseball diamond, or while cutting the grass – it’s gonna get dirty.
• Take it off from time to time.
  Look, if you want to wear this thing all the time, more power to you. But know that doing so will expose it to more dirt, sweat, oils… and hopefully showers, too. And all those things can cause discoloration or excessive stretching.
• Give it an occasional wash.
  You know how you’re supposed to wash your clothes so that they don’t smell or have stains on them? Our wristbands are no different, and we’ll explain how to do that in detail below.

Cleaning your wristband

So your Overtime wristband is looking a little… well loved. You’re probably wondering how you should go about cleaning it.

We’ve spent a lot of time researching the answer, too. And below are several methods we’ve found most successful for cleaning your wristband.

• Throw it in the wash.
  If you have access to a washing machine, it’s certainly the easiest way to wash your Added Time wristband – if not the preferred. To prevent them from being gobbled up by the laundry monster, we recommend washing them in a garment bag or tied up in a sock, with like colors, and in hot water if you’re looking to work on something particularly well-loved or when looking to restore a white design. Hitting it with a pre-treatment or stain remover first has proven successful at removing some heavier stains, too. After finishing up in the wash cycle, avoid the dryer and allow your wristbands to air dry instead.
• Hand wash it.
  A little elbow grease can go a long way when cleaning your Added Time wristband, and a hand wash can be just as effective as running them through a machine. First, run your wristband under hot water to wash away excess dirt and grime. Then, away from the water, apply either a small amount of laundry or dish soap to the wristband and massage it into the wristband – ideally with a small brush or with a wash cloth. Get it nice and foamy, then rinse the soap away in warm water. Repeat as necessary, and air dry after you’re done.
• Soak it.
  Similar to the hand washing method, soaking your Added Time Wristband can be effective against lighter stains and soiling. Add a dab of dish soap or laundry detergent to a bowl and then add hot water. Place your wristbands in the soapy water and then proceed to massage soapy water into the wristband. Then allow the wristband to soak in the bowl for 3-4 hours. Repeat as necessary, and then dry by air.

If none of that worked, reach out to us with any specific questions about caring for your Overtime gear and we’ll be happy to help out.