"Give this jersey to your woman. IT'S HER JOB," Salvo Sports printed on a label inside shirts designed for a local football club.
The "offensive" washing instruction provoked a torrent of criticism on social media, with many lambasting Salvo before the company was forced to issue an unreserved apology.
"I don't know if it's meant to be a joke or anything but that's offensive to women," wrote one Twitter user.
"The message is simply 'rather than fussing and washing wrongly, it is better to let the women do it as they understand the problem better'," it posted.
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"Not all men understand or know how to take care of their clothing, women are experts in such matters."
"Dear @SALVO_ID Your apology oh women are better at cleaning clothes - sexism as a COMPLIMENT?" another Twitter user posted.