FR Clothing Care: When to Repair, Replace and Wash

Caring for flame-resistant clothing isn’t a lot different from laundering and maintaining everyday apparel. Did you know that FR clothing maintenance can actually affect the overall performance of each garment and your safety at work? Improper care of FR clothing can lead to premature wear and tear, and accidental transfer of flammable materials that impact the FR protection you’re depending on at work.

See the best practices for FR clothing care and maintenance so you can ensure your workwear stays in top-notch condition for as long as possible.

From men’s FR shirts to arc-rated coveralls, every piece of FR clothing you own has special laundering and care requirements. You can prolong the wearability period of your FR workwear and avoid the need for unnecessary replacements by following these FR clothing care instructions. They’re the same directions we include with every FR garment we offer at MWG Apparel.

• Wash garments inside out. Washing FR clothing inside-out helps preserve the integrity of the reflective material.
• Launder at home for best results, whenever possible.
• Do not dry clean. 
• Machine-wash with warm water. Warm, not hot, water is the most effective to loosen and remove dirt and grime from FR clothing.
• Tumble dry on low heat. Once again, drying your clothing at home is the way to go since some industrial dryers reach high temperatures that can potentially damage garments.
• Avoid harsh chemicals. Strong detergents, laundry soaps, and bleach might be commonly used in your household laundry, but they can be damaging.
• Avoid laundry additives. Scented and conditioning laundry additives, like scent beads and fabric softeners, should be avoided.
• Don’t use DEET. Just like fabric softeners and laundry scents can interfere with FR protection by coating the fibers, DEET clings to clothing fibers and could make them flammable.

FR Clothing Care Frequently Asked Questions
How long should FR clothing last?

How long FR clothing lasts depends on how often you wash it. If you have multiple sets or uniforms and alternate wear, you can wash each set on a rotating basis to help the garments last longer. Inherently flame-resistant garments will never lose their flame-resistant properties as they are in the fibers of the fabric.

You may need to repair FR clothing if you notice a rip or tear at any time. Any damage to the structure of the garment means it’s no longer protecting your skin, so inspect garments carefully after each wear. At MWG Apparel, we back every purchase with an extended warranty and offer repair or replacement for rips and tears.