ProtecWork Catalogue 1
Care and maintenance. Washing machine. • Read the
wash instructions on the garment’s care label. • Make sure to fasten all zips, (press) buttons, hook and loop fasteners, etc. and turn the garment inside out before putting it in the washing machine to prevent damage to the fabric. • Reflective strips (e.g. on highvisibility clothes) are particularly sensitive to scratches from zips and other sharp trims. Such scratches may harm the reflective properties of the strips and therefore reduce the safety of the worker. • Fill the machine up with a full load to reduce the number of washing cycles. Softener & detergents. As a general rule, softener and soapbased detergents should always be avoided as they leave traces of either fat/grease from soap or chemicals that could counteract the properties of the fabrics. Temperature. If the clothes are only slightly dirty, use lower temperatures to save energy and protect the fabrics. Washing at 40 degrees instead of 60 degrees uses almost half the energy. Materials. You should never mix certified garments with non-certified garments in the same wash – this creates a high risk of non-certified garments bleeding colours or chemicals ruining certified garments. Success. The key to success and being fully protected by your PPE garment is keeping the garment clean. Dirt, dust, grease or oil stains not only reduce protection, but may also create hazards. It’s important to understand and follow the care instructions given for the garment and the chosen material. When washing garments with reflective details, it’s always recommended that you wash the garments inside out. The reflectivity of any reflective material will be reduced every time garments are washed right side out. Note that damage to the flameretardant, visibility or reflective properties of the material may not be visible to the naked eye. 56 CARE AND MAINTENANCE