Caring For Your Flame-Resistant Garments

There are many people that will have to work in conditions that could put their clothing at risk of catching on fire. For these individuals, it will be essential to wear flame-resistant clothing, but individuals that are new to these professions may not know what is needed to care for these clothing items.

Should Flame-Resistant Clothing Be Washed?

As with any other type of clothing, flame-resistant items will also need to be periodically washed and cleaned. Luckily, these garments are designed to be safely washed using a standard washing machine. However, you will want to review the care instructions for the type of detergent that is needed. Using the wrong detergent can weaken the flame-resistant coating, but this information should be easily accessible on the care label.

What Can Be Done To Prevent The Flame-Resistant Clothing From Shrinking?

It is common for clothing items to shrink some after they have been washed. Luckily, this typically passes after the first couple of times that the garment is washed. You can minimize this amount of shrinkage by allowing the garment to air dry. These garments are extremely thick, which can take them longer to dry. Having a fan blow on the garment can help to accelerate the drying process without contributing to it shrinking.

How Should Your Flame-Resistant Clothing Be Stored?

When you are not using your fire-resistant garments, they will need to be safely stored to prevent them from degrading. In particular, you should be sure to store these items in an extremely dry area. This will reduce the risk of condensation forming and degrading the flame-resistant coating that may be on the fabric. Also, you should treat the area where the garments are stored to prevent rodents or insects from damaging the fabric.

Can Rips Or Tears In Flame-Resistant Clothing Be Repaired?

Sadly, there can be instances where the flame-resistant garment suffers a rip or tear. While it is normally possible to stitch these rips together on traditional clothing, this may not be the best option for flame-resistant items. This is due to the fact that the portion of the garment that is stitched together will likely be less flame-resistant, which can represent a major safety problem. For this reason, you may want to opt to replace any flame-resistant garments that have suffered rips or tears. Even seemingly minor rips could be enough to allow flames to reach your skin or undergarments.

For more information on flame-resistant clothing, contact a company such as Oil & Gas Safety Supply.

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