Maintain Your High Visibility Workwear: Tips For Lasting Long
High visibility workwear is very important safety clothing among professionals who work in hazardous environments such as a construction site, a road work zone, or warehouses. Like any other protective equipment, its effectiveness wears off without proper care. Keeping your high-visibility workwear ensures it stays sturdy, reflective, and safe throughout the years.
Here are a few handy tips to maximise its efficiency and longevity.
1. Understand Your Workwear Material
Such garments are usually made of fluorescent materials with reflective strips. The fluorescent colour is yellow, orange, or lime, and increases the visibility during the day, whereas reflective strips are visible at night. Different materials might have specific washing and handling requirements set by the manufacturer. Care labels must always be checked to prevent damage to the fabric or loss of reflectivity.
2. Follow Proper Washing Guidelines
Regular cleaning is needed to remove dirt, grease, or grime that may obscure visibility. However, improper washing methods can degrade reflective properties. Here are some tips:
a). Use Mild Detergent: Fluorescent dyes and reflective coatings may break down from some chemicals. Mild, non-bleach detergents work well.
b). Cold or Warm Water Only: Hot water may weaken the reflective tape and shrink the fabric. Use cold or warm cycles only.
c). Wash Separately: High visibility workwear should be kept separate from standard laundry to avoid lint or dirt contamination.
d). Turn Inside Out: This helps minimise wear and tear of reflective strips during the washing process.
3. Avoid Damaging Practices
a). Avoid Fabric Softeners: They can deposit residues that dim the fluorescent finish.
b). Air Dry Whenever Possible: High heat from dryers can warp reflective strips. Instead, hang garments to dry.
c). Steer clear of Dry Cleaning: Dry cleaning liquids can harm the reflective material.
4. Inspect for Damage
Before and after each use, inspect your hi-visibility clothing for signs of wear, such as:
a). Faded fluorescent fabric
b). Peeling or damaged reflective strips
c). Tears or holes in the fabric
Deteriorated workwear should be mended immediately or replaced if tending cannot bring it back to standard in safety.
5. Store Properly When Not in Use
a). Keep it in a Cool, Dry Place: Direct sunlight can fade colours and weaken textiles.
b). Avoid Folding Reflective Strips: Store the clothes flat or on hangers, so that reflective tape would not crack or peel from folding.
6. Know When to Replace Your Workwear
Even if perfectly taken care of, high-visibility workwear does have a limited lifespan. Signs that it is due for replacement include:
- Loss of reflectivity, so the strips seem dull or faded.
- The fluorescent material has significantly faded.
- Persistent stains that cannot be removed and reduce visibility.
7. Invest in High-Quality Workwear
Quality is always a key concern when it comes to high-visibility clothing. Buying high-end brands will ensure durability and safety compliance. Many quality options offer improved features, such as stain resistance and reinforced seams for longer use.
Check out the high-visibility workwear collection from us at Unito
Maintenance of high-visibility workwear is an easy, yet important process. Proper cleaning, handling, and storage will prolong its life while keeping you safe and visible on the job. If you follow these tips, you will be able to use the most out of your high-visibility gear without unnecessary replacements.
It all starts with buying proper high-visibility workwear, so invest in our collection; it's an investment in safety for yourself, your colleagues, and the workplace at large. Be visible, be safe!