In many industries, you need to purchase and wear flame-resistant clothes as part of the safety procedure for the industry you work in. For example, many welders and industrial workers need to wear flame-resistant coveralls. With flame-resistant clothing, you need to be careful with how you take care of it for the clothing to maintain its flame-resistant properties.
Washing Your Flame-Resistant Clothing
You need to carefully wash your flame-resistant clothes so you don't compromise their flame-resistant properties. When it comes to cleaning your clothing, the one big rule you need to keep in mind is to never use anything that has bleach in it.
Many detergents contain a little bit of bleach, so you need to carefully read the ingredient lists before you choose what type of detergent you use on your clothing. Stick to natural detergents and soaps which tend to not use bleach. It is smart to also avoid peroxides and starches as well in your detergent.
You also need to be careful with fabric softeners. Generally, you should avoid using fabric softeners on your clothing. Fabric softeners can leave behind material that coats your clothing with flammable material, compromising its flame-resistant properties.
You also need to avoid any soaps that have lots of fat in them. For example, bar soaps often have high-fat content in them. If that fat gets onto your clothing, the flame-resistant properties will be compromised.
Most flame-resistant clothes must be washed in either warm or hot water. Check the tags on your garments to determine what water temperature is best for your clothing.
Replacing Your Flame-Resistant Clothing
With flame-resistant clothes, it is important to know when to replace them. You should carefully inspect your clothes before you put them on. If you notice any holes or defects in the clothing, you need to replace that clothing.
You also need to keep track of how often you wash your clothing. Flame-resistant clothing is chemically treated and can only be washed so many times before the protective coating wears off the clothing. Your flame-resistant clothing needs to be replaced on a regular basis.
If you must wear flame-resistant clothing for your job, you need to make sure you take care of the clothing properly. Use liquid detergents that are free of bleach, peroxide, and starches and stay away from fabric softeners. Keep track of how often you wash your clothes and replace them on an appropriate schedule so you have the protection you need. For more information, contact a company like Oil & Gas Safety Supply.