How To Wash Hi-Vis Clothing
As hi-vis clothing is an important piece of PPE, special considerations must be taken during laundry to maintain its protective qualities. Here we discuss how to wash hi vis clothing properly.
Potential issues when washing hi-vis:
As high visibility clothing is prone to persistent stains such as oils, greases, bitumen and tar the cleaning process needs to be highly effective. However retro reflective tape and fluorescent coloured material are very sensitive to multiple factors including temperature, pH and alkalinity levels. Standard washes with high temperatures and large volumes of detergents are not the most effective in removing industrial soiling and protecting the properties of the garment.
- Temperature – Excessive temperatures during the washing or drying process can cause degradation to the integrity of the retro reflective tape. Thus causing the adhesive that holds the glass beads on the tape to be destroyed leading to a loss of reflectance over the lifetime of the garment. There is a careful balance between keeping the temperature high enough for effective stain removal, but not too high as to cause damage. Knowledge and use of industrial wash processes will guarantee the right results.
- pH – As with temperature, although alkalinity is required for effective cleaning, excessive or prolonged alkalinity can cause damage to reflective tape. Normal maximum pH levels of 11 should not be exceeded.
- Mechanical action can also be a cause of significant damage to the tape over time. This is caused by repeated washing or from abrasion caused by the of work the wearer. This particularly affects garments on the knees, elbows and midriff.
When processing hi-vis due to the above potential issues, hi-vis programs tend to be lengthy with several washes. This allows any alkaline wash products to be added gradually in a controlled manner rather than together in a ‘one-shot’ wash – which would be more likely to cause damage to the garments. This method of processing also allows more opportunities for soil removal, often a necessity on heavily soiled garments.
The reflective and fluorescent elements of the PPE have specific life cycle performances laid down by the manufacturers. These specific performances are affected by number of factors. The retro reflective tape may lose the glass beads in the wash or drying cycle and will greatly degrade the performance cycle after cycle. The longer the glass beads remain in the same spot on the carrier the longer the reflective tape will maintain performance.
The wash chemistry, the wash and the drying temperature and the type of drying have the strongest influence over the bond of the glass beads in the carrier. The effect of reducing temperature has a great effect on the life cycle of the performance of the tape. The advantages of the professional laundry mean the wash process is kept close to neutral ph, protecting the fluorescent fabric and the glass technology is kept intact for longer.
