Caring For Your Fire Retardant Garments: Maintenance Tips

You know what no one talks about enough?
How to care for fire retardant garments once they leave the packaging.

Sure, we talk a lot about how essential they are for your safety. But what happens after the first wear? After the 10th wash? Or when you spill oil on them during a 12-hour shift?

Let’s clear the air today—no technical fluff, no robotic tone. Just real talk from our side at UNITO, where we know that protective gear is only as good as how you treat it.

What If You Wash It Like Normal Clothes?

Short answer? Don’t.

Washing fire-retardant garments like your everyday jeans can strip away their protective properties faster than you think. And guess what? 

You see, FR garments aren’t just stitched differently. They’re built with engineered protection woven into every thread. If you throw in bleach, or fabric softener, or wash it on the wrong cycle—you’re silently turning your shield into a regular shirt.

How Should You Wash Them Then?

Let’s break it down. This is how we recommend washing your FR garments:

• Skip the bleach. It messes with the fabric. And forget about softeners. They leave behind residue.
• Mild detergent only. Think baby shampoo but for clothing.
• Inside-out is the way to go. This reduces surface wear and tear.
• Wash separately. Don’t mix with oily or dirty regular workwear.
• Use cold or warm water. Not hot. You’re not boiling tea—just washing clothes.

One of our long-term clients, Rajesh, once told us how he accidentally washed his FR coverall with some engine-greased clothes. The result? It stank, shrunk, and worse—lost its resistance. His next call? A rush order from us.

How Often Should You Wash FR Clothing?

Great question.
The answer? Every time it gets dirty or comes into contact with flammable substances.
Fire retardant garments aren’t like fancy dinner jackets—you can’t dry-clean them and move on. Every exposure matters.
So yes, regular washing is good—as long as you do it right.

Can You Iron or Dry These?

Yes, But lets not go Wild.

• If you can, air dry. It's gentle and keeps the garment in shape.
• Ironing? Only if it’s needed. On a low setting. And never use starch.
• Dry on low heat only. No high-heat tumble drying. We’ve seen FR jackets warp and twist like ribbon noodles.

What Should You Look for Before Every Wear?

Think of it as a mini-safety ritual.

Before putting it on:

• Feel the fabric. If it’s thinning out, it may not protect like it used to.
• Smell it. If you catch a whiff of fuel, grease, or chemicals—don’t wear it. Wash it first.
• Check for cuts, holes, or burn marks.

A customer once called us saying his coverall caught a spark even though it looked fine. Turned out, it had absorbed engine oil the night before. And that was enough to ignite.

How Long Do Fire Retardant Garments Last?

It depends. If you’re following these tips religiously, you’re good for up to 3 years or 100 washes, whichever comes first.

• But it boils down to how you use them and how you care for them.
• Washing them the right way? That’s adding months to their life.
• Skipping inspections? That’s shaving months off.

How UNITO Makes It Easier for You

We get it—fire retardant garment care can feel like one more thing on your list. But here’s the thing: at UNITO, we don’t believe in handing over a product and walking away.
We manufacture long-lasting equipment and stand behind it.

That’s why:

• We design garments that don’t lose their flame resistance, even after many washes.
• And we’re always a call away when you’re unsure about something.
• We educate every buyer on how to care for their gear.

One of our industrial clients, Pooja, told us that UNITO is the only brand they’ve stuck with for five years because our post-sale guidance helped them reduce replacements by 40%.

Bottom Line: Don’t Just Wear It. Respect It.

Your fire retardant garments are your frontline armour. Treat them like it.

You wouldn’t leave a safety helmet in the rain. So don’t wash your FR jacket with bleach. Don’t iron it on max heat. And definitely don’t toss it into a heap of oily rags.

And remember, UNITO’s got your back.

Every stitch, every button, and every piece we deliver comes from years of experience, tested protection, and one golden rule—we don’t mess things up.

Need New Gear or Have Questions?

We’re here to help. Whether it’s maintenance questions or finding the perfect FR fit—we speak your language.
Reach out to UNITO today. Because "almost" is not an option when it comes to your safety.

Read more: The Science Behind Fire Retardant Fabrics: How Do They Work?