Whether a dad to the quarterback of the Pee Wee football team, or a soccer mom to a rising star, one thing is for certain: nothing a little athlete meets on the field compares to what has to be tackled post-game in the laundry room.

Experts from the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science (InstituteOfFabricScience.com), the hub for everything laundry, offer the following tips so parents of the next sports superstar can have a winning record in the laundry room.

• Playing on the away team? Make sure the car is the laundry room away from home. Keep a stain removal pen or other stain treatment in the car to treat light stains before they set as well as a laundry bag to hold dirty uniforms. This way, shorts and jerseys won't get lost in the duffel bag and miss the wash.

• Grass stains caused by a soccer slide-tackle? First, check the care label on the garment. Soak the garment in a mixture of detergent and water before washing in the warmest water safe for the garment. Air dry and check for remaining stains.

• Friday night football game in the rain? To remove mud, check the care label on the garment first and brush off any excess dirt. Rinse in cold water to flush out the soils and then wash in the warmest water safe for the garment. Air dry and check for remaining stains.

• Did perspiration leave its mark? Check the care label on the garment and then soak in a mixture of detergent and water for up to 30 minutes before washing in warmest water safe for the garment. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain.