Wooden pins on a clothesline

Stop That Wash!

By Sitex Corp   /    Monday, May 4, 2015   /   , , , , , ,

Washing your work uniforms at home could be putting you in danger!

If you have a uniform for work, you know that when the going gets tough, even the toughest uniforms get torn, ragged and worn out. If you have a new uniform that gets dirty, should you try to wash it at home? For the good of your employees (and employees, for your employers) the answer is NO!

Why Shouldn’t I Wash My Uniform at Home?

Employers are legally responsible for the health and safety of their employees, which is why many of them got uniforms in the first place. Uniforms let the public know you’re affiliated with a certain company, and keep you safe and visible working in tough jobs. Because of the nature of these work environments, it’s imperative that your clothing stays as protective as the day you got it. A slight fade on your reflective vest could be the difference between being seen and being in an accident. One of the best ways to prematurely wear out your clothing is to wash it yourself,  because home laundry isn’t subject to the same quality-assurance standards that a commercial launderer has to uphold.

All SITEX garments are subject to inspection upon pickup and are monitored throughout the washing process. Our SITRAX system is up-to-date with the frequency of wash for that garment and how many times it’s been repaired or mended, which lets us know when that garment is no longer effective and needs to be replaced. If your clothing is instrumental to keeping you safe at work, then not keeping it looking like new could put your life in danger.

The types of garments where this care matters most are with high-visibility and flame-resistant garments.

For example, flame-resistant uniforms are treated with gaseous ammonia to resist flames and high heat. Each garment comes with an ARC rating, HRC level and ATPV which indicate their level of protectiveness. Washing these garments at home in the average household washer can damage the protective coating, which impacts all their ratings and make them less effective.

However, not washing your clothing can also harm their effectiveness! This is easily shown with a high-visibility uniform. When dust and dirt build up on high-visibility clothing, it makes them less visible, and therefore less effective.

While sending these garments to someone who is especially equipped to handle them is the best idea, if you must wash your garment at home, be sure to follow these rules to make sure you aren’t damaging the clothing’s protective properties:

  • Only tumble-dry high-visibility clothing on low heat. Preferably, they should be hung to air dry.
  • Do not iron high-visibility or flame-resistant garments.
  • Avoid washing them with other rough fabrics.
  • Avoid all contact with bleach, fabric softener and dryer sheets.

If you do wash your uniform at home and find they no longer protect you as well as they should, SITEX carries garments with the latest protection technologies and knows how to best care for them. Call us today to get started.

We are equipped to handle even the most specific washing instructions and keep your garments as safe and clean as possible.



Essential Guide to Uniform Programs