WASHING AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAINTAINED FUNCTION AND LONGEVITY

Correct and regular care and storage of your workwear are essential to ensure the garment can be used for as long as possible while maintaining comfort and functionality. This is essential to guarantee the protective properties of the clothing. For example, the visibility of high-vis clothing is reduced if it gets dirty and flame protection properties may be compromised if the garment is contaminated with grease, oil, or other flammable substances.  

Even though the washing process causes wear on a garment, dirty textiles degrade faster than those that are kept clean. Washing and drying are part of the usage phase of a garment, that can be simulated in a lab environment. The washing process is used to evaluate how the garment’s protective functions are affected over time; a type of aging simulation, to ensure that protection remains effective both when new and after use. Therefore, aging simulation is included in many protective standards.

Some protection parameters are more negatively affected by washing and drying than others, such as the visibility properties of high-visibility garments, while other parameters remain more or less unaffected by multiple wash cycles. An example of the latter is the flame protection of flame-resistant materials, whether inherently flame-resistant or chemically treated.

Both in actual use and laboratory environments, there are generally three washing processes: household wash (EN ISO 6330), industrial wash (EN ISO 15797), and dry cleaning (EN ISO 3175). Regardless of the process, it is equally important to follow the care instructions to avoid jeopardizing the protective properties of the garment and to minimize unnecessary wear. If the care instructions for a protective garment are not followed, this practically means that the garment certification is no longer valid, and the garment should not be used.