Tips for washing WORK CLOTHES
Keep your work clothes clean to ensure they meet standards and to increase the life of the product. By Snickers Workwear.
Your work clothes and PPE garments must always be clean to be safe and to meet the standard. Dirt-covered garments will significantly decrease visibility and other properties and therefore can put you in danger. Frequent washing will also help the materials last much longer, since dust and dirt can destroy the fibers through abrasion.
A longer product life is good for both your finances and the environment. Flame and heat protection in protective clothing made from fabrics with inherent flame resistant properties cannot be washed or worn. In fact, regular washing ensures that the garments do not contain dirt or flammable particles that compromise the protective properties.
Washing machine
- Read and follow the washing instructions on the garment’s care label.
- Be sure to close all zippers, (press) buttons, Velcro fasteners, etc. and turn the garment inside out before placing it in the washing machine to avoid damaging the fabric.
- When washing garments with reflective details (reflective stripes, etc.), you should always wash the garment inside out. The reflectivity of any reflective material will be reduced each time garments are washed without turning them inside out. Please note that damage to the material’s fire retardant, visibility or reflective properties may not be visible to the naked eye.
- Fill the washer to reduce the number of wash cycles.
Make your outerwear last longer by renewing its waterproofing qualities. Our OrganoTex® 9912 Washable Textile Waterproofer is easy to use.
- Following the care instructions, wash the garments and rinse them well.
- Do not use fabric softener.
- Shake the bottle of 9912 well. Pour 100 ml of the bottle’s contents into your detergent compartment. This is enough for one garment. For each additional garment add 50 ml. Maximum three items.
- Run a short program from 30° to 40° C, rinsing well.
- Tumble dry or use a drying cabinet for best results. Alternatively, air dry for 24 hours.
Please note that OrganoTex® treatment should not be used on flame retardant protective garments or other garments certified to PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 category III.
Detergents
- Use organic detergent that is friendly to the environment and your skin to avoid skin irritation.
- Use special wool detergent for woolen garments.
- Do not use more detergent than necessary to protect the environment and fabrics and prevent detergent clumps from forming on clothes.
- Do not use fabric softener, as it can reduce the performance of the fabric and contain many dangerous chemicals that are not always listed on the label.
- Soap-based fabric softeners and detergents should always be avoided when washing PPE garments, as they leave behind traces of soap grease or chemicals that could counteract the properties of the fabrics.
Temperature
If the laundry is slightly soiled, use lower temperatures to save energy and protect the fabrics. Washing at 104 degrees instead of 140 degrees saves almost 50% energy.
Drying
- As far as possible, dry in the open air or on a clothesline. However, certain garments need to be tumble dried on high heat to retain their properties; read the label carefully.
- When using a tumble dryer, do not use a higher temperature than necessary to save energy, prevent shrinkage and protect fabrics.
- Do not allow garments to remain in the washing machine after washing, hang them immediately on a clothesline to avoid wrinkles.
Materials
- To protect fabrics, reflective tapes and prints, turn garments inside out before washing.
- Wool is a natural product that can be kept clean; it does not need to be washed as often as cotton or synthetic materials.
- Garment care instructions should be followed with particular care when washing waterproof clothing. Some waterproof clothing has taped tapes that can be damaged during wash and dry cycles, and other waterproof clothing must be tumble dried or ironed to renew water resistance.
