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The Hi Vis clothing is a specialized type of clothing that refers to the high visibility of a wearer from the distance, in day and night particularly in the sector of health service and security. The construction, mining and electronic industries also include them as a part of their specialized uniform known as PPE, personal protective equipment. There are specialized standards for industry and service to use hi-vis clothing provided by the Australian government uniform authorities.
Similarly, for the same reason of uniform purpose and functionality, the washing of the hi vis workwear becomes a particular and a specialized process. In the following article, we will explain how to wash a Hi vis uniform and what are the best practices to keep it clean and vibrant for a longer time.
Suggested Read: Hi-Vis Clothing & its Benefits at Work
What to Consider When Cleaning Hi-Vis Clothing
The hi-vis clothing comes in fluorescent colours, mostly in yellow, orange or green base with the reflective tape stripes on the arms, waist and knees. So the most important thing to consider while washing the hi-vis uniform is to retain the vibrancy of the base fabric and protect the reflective stripes from chipping or losing the gloss. Usually, the hi-vis jackets and trousers labels have special instructions for washing and cleaning the piece of clothing. Also, the trustworthy brands suggest the number of washes for a hi-vis uniform and after that must discard it and buy a new one for safety sake.
So the instructions need to be followed. Other than that, three main factors can keep a uniform usable and fast in colours for a long time, i.e. multiple washes, the temperature of the water and PH value of the detergent you are using for washing and cleaning. So here we are sharing some tips to maintain your hi-vis uniform well.
Before a Wash
Many people take off their hi-vis uniform after long work hours and throw it in the washing bucket. The first tip is not to roll your jacket or trouser, and the preferable idea is to hang them properly. The benefit of doing so is seeing any dust or mud stains on the apparel. You should dust it immediately and wipe it with soft linen. Hanging clothes also neatly smooth out the crease from the clothes.
Temperature Of Water
The water temperature for the hi-vis clothing wash must be lukewarm to help remove the stains effectively. But high-temperature washing is not recommended because the rapid temperature change weakens the fabric and the layer of reflective tape, and it loses its gloss soon.
pH Level of Detergent
The detergent and washing soap should not exceed PH level 11 in any condition because it erodes the fabric threads and decolours the reflective tape due to excessive and prolonged alkalinity.
Also Read: Your Guide To Australian PPE Standards & Requirements
Multiple Washes
Multiple washes are inevitable, but the main reason is that the colours of base fabric and the brightness of reflective tape fades away. Try to reduce the washing and instead wipe and dust the uniform regularly to stretch the life of your hi-vis apparel.
Round Off
The hi-vis uniform is specialized and considered an essential part of PPE for the health, safety and security service providers. They are designed to be highly visible at night, in the crowd, or any hazardous situation. This article provides tips about washing a hi-vis uniform and consider some essential points that extend the vibrancy and life of your apparel.
Reference: Australian/New Zealand Standard™ for High visibility safety garments
Image Source: Shutterstock
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