Workwear Care Guide
Workwear Care Guide
How to wash, dry and store workwear, hi-vis, FR clothing and branded garments so they look good and keep protecting you for longer.
Care by fabric
The basics for the fabrics in most workwear wardrobes. See our Fabric & Materials Guide for what each fibre does.
| Fabric | Washing | Drying | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Wash at the label temperature with similar colours | Line dry or tumble low if the label allows | Shrinkage and fading at high heat |
| Polyester | Usually lower temperatures; quick to wash and dry | Dries fast; tumble low or hang | Heat can damage prints and glaze fabric |
| Poly-cotton | Follow the label; usually easy-care | Tumble low or hang | Pilling if washed with rough items |
| Fleece | Wash inside out, cool, gentle | Hang to dry | Fabric softener and high heat can flatten the pile |
| Softshell & waterproofs | Gentle cycle with a technical wash product if the label says so; no softener | Hang, or tumble low only if the label allows | Detergent residue and softener reduce water repellency |
| Hi-vis | Follow the label and the maximum wash count | As the label says | Fading, soiling and cracked reflective tape |
| FR and arc-rated | Follow the label; industrial laundering only if marked for it | As the label says | Bleach and softener; tears and contamination |
Care symbols decoded
Symbols appear in a fixed order: wash, bleach, dry, iron, professional care [1].
Washing (tub)
The number in the tub is the maximum wash temperature in °C. One bar underneath means a mild process, two bars a very mild process [1].
Bleaching (triangle)
An empty triangle allows any bleach; a triangle with two lines means oxygen/non-chlorine bleach only; a crossed triangle means no bleach [1].
Drying (square)
A circle in the square means tumble drying: two dots for normal temperature (max 80°C), one dot for low (max 60°C) [1][2].
Ironing (iron)
Dots show the maximum iron temperature: more dots, hotter iron. A cross means do not iron.
Professional care (circle)
Letters in a circle are for professional dry cleaning or wet cleaning.
A cross through any symbol
A St Andrew's cross means that treatment is not permitted [1].
Hi-vis wash limits
Check the maximum washes
Hi-vis labels can show the maximum number of washes below the wash-tub symbol [2]. If no maximum is stated, the garment was certified after 5 washes [5].
Keep it clean, keep it bright
Dirt reduces visibility. Wash hi-vis regularly at the label temperature, and don't use bleach unless the label allows it [2].
Rail orange
RIS-3279-TOM garments must stay within a defined orange colour [9]. Faded orange may no longer meet it, so replace worn garments.
FR, arc-rated and ISO 15797
Home or industrial?
ISO 15797 is a test standard for workwear that goes through industrial laundering, with eight wash procedures and two drying procedures (tunnel finisher or tumble drying) [3]. Only use industrial laundering if the label allows it.
FR performance
Manufacturers such as Sioen test FR properties after at least 50 industrial cycles, with some garments tested to 100 [2]. Check your garment's instructions.
Avoid
Avoid bleach and fabric softener on FR and arc-rated clothing unless the manufacturer says otherwise; contamination with oil or grease can affect performance, so clean it off promptly.
Caring for printed and embroidered workwear
Embroidered logos
Wash inside out and don't iron directly on the stitching. Polyester embroidery threads such as Madeira Polyneon are rated for industrial laundry [6][7]; rayon threads are not bleach resistant. Ask us which thread suits your laundry process.
DTF prints
Leave at least 24 hours before the first wash. Wash inside out at up to 60°C, avoid bleach and fabric softener, tumble low or hang to dry, and don't iron over the print [8].
Screen prints and vinyl
Wash inside out at the garment's label temperature and avoid ironing over the print. Check the care advice that comes with your order.
Stains: quick fixes
| Stain | What to do |
|---|---|
| Oil and grease | Blot, don't rub. Pre-treat with a detergent suitable for the fabric, then wash at the label temperature. |
| Mud | Let it dry, brush off, then wash. |
| Paint (water-based) | Rinse in cold water while still wet, then wash. |
| Food and grease (kitchens) | Pre-treat and wash promptly at the label temperature. |
| Blood | Rinse in cold water first; hot water can set it. |
| On hi-vis and FR | Use only products the care label allows; no bleach unless permitted. |
Storage and when to replace
Store it right
Dry garments fully before storing. Keep hi-vis and FR away from direct sunlight and chemicals, and hang waterproofs rather than folding them wet.
Replace when…
- Hi-vis is faded, heavily soiled or the tape is cracked or peeling
- FR or arc-rated garments are torn, holed or contaminated
- Waterproofs leak at seams
- Boots have worn soles or exposed toe caps
- The garment has reached its maximum wash count
Restock
Use AI Kit Out My Team to rebuild a team kit, or reorder from your account.
Shop the range
Ready to kit out?
Shop kit that is built to last, or read how the fabrics behave.
Workwear care questions
Washing basics
What temperature should I wash workwear at?
Use the maximum temperature in the wash-tub symbol on the care label. Washing hotter can shrink cotton, damage prints and reduce protective performance.
Can I use fabric softener on workwear?
Avoid it on hi-vis, FR, waterproof and softshell garments, as it can affect their performance. It's also best avoided on DTF prints.
Should I wash workwear inside out?
Yes, especially branded garments. It protects logos, prints and reflective tape from abrasion.
Can I tumble dry workwear?
Only if the label shows the tumble-dry symbol. Two dots means normal heat, one dot means low heat; a cross means do not tumble dry.
How do I wash a softshell jacket?
Follow the label, use a gentle cycle and no softener. Detergent residue can reduce water repellency, so rinse well.
How do I stop fleece pilling?
Wash inside out on a gentle cycle, away from rough items like Velcro and denim, and skip the softener.
Hi-vis, FR and rail kit
How many times can I wash hi-vis?
Check the label: the maximum number of washes can be shown below the wash-tub symbol. If none is stated, the garment was certified after 5 washes.
Can I bleach hi-vis?
Not unless the label allows it. Bleach can fade the fluorescent colour and damage reflective tape.
What is ISO 15797?
A test standard for workwear that is laundered industrially, setting out eight wash and two drying procedures. Only send garments to industrial laundry if the label allows it.
Can FR clothing be washed at home?
Many FR garments can be home-washed, but follow the care label exactly. Some are designed for industrial laundering.
How do I clean oil off FR clothing?
Clean contamination off promptly using only the methods and products the care label allows, as oil and grease can affect FR performance.
How do I keep rail orange hi-vis compliant?
Keep it clean and replace it when faded or damaged, because RIS-3279-TOM sets a specific orange colour. See our RIS-3279-TOM range.
When should I replace hi-vis?
When it is faded, heavily soiled or has cracked or peeling tape, or has reached its maximum wash count.
Branded and printed garments
How do I wash an embroidered polo?
Wash inside out at the label temperature, and don't iron directly over the embroidery.
How do I look after a DTF printed logo?
Wait at least 24 hours before the first wash, wash inside out at up to 60°C, avoid bleach and softener, and tumble low or hang dry. Don't iron over the print.
Can branded workwear go to an industrial laundry?
It depends on the garment and the branding method. Tell us about your laundry process before ordering so we can advise.
My print is peeling. What should I do?
Check the care instructions were followed. If you think the print is faulty, contact us with your order number and photos.
Storage and replacement
How should I store workwear?
Make sure it's fully dry, then hang or fold it away from direct sunlight, heat and chemicals.
How long does workwear last?
It depends on use, washing and the job. Replace garments when they are damaged, faded or no longer protect you.
Where can I buy replacement kit?
Shop workwear or rebuild your team kit with AI Kit Out My Team.
Time to replace worn kit?
Reorder from your account, or tell us what your team needs and we'll help.
Related guides
- Ordering from IrelandEuro prices, delivery times and no customs or import duty.Read guide →
- Logo Printing & EmbroideryEmbroidery, DTF, screen print and vinyl compared.Read guide →
- Fabric & Materials GuideFibres, GSM and standards in plain English.Read guide →
- Our BrandsThe brands we stock and what each does best.Read guide →
- Choose Workwear by JobKit lists for rail, scaffolding, trades and more.Read guide →
- Compare workwearSide-by-side: boots, hi-vis classes, gloves, layers and brands.Read guide →
Sources
Numbers in square brackets on this page refer to these sources. Standards and site rules change, so always check the current version and your own risk assessment.
- GINETEX, Care symbols – https://www.ginetex.net/article/care-symbols
- Sioen Protective Wear, Wash care – https://www.sioenpro.com/en/product-facts/wash-care
- Kübler Workwear, EN ISO 15797 industrial laundering – https://www.kuebler.eu/en/service/protection-standards/en-iso-15797/
- Kübler Workwear, EN ISO 20471 classes – https://www.kuebler.eu/en/service/protection-standards/en-iso-20471/
- The Workwear Co, Help & FAQs (hi-vis wash cycles) – https://www.theworkwearco.com/pages/help
- Madeira, Polyneon No.40 data sheet – https://www.madeira.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads/Data_Sheets/Data_Sheet_POLYNEON_40__EN.pdf
- Madeira, Embroidery supplies for workwear – https://www.madeira.com/embroidery-solutions/applications/embroidery-supplies-for-workwear
- StickerApp, Care instructions for DTF transfers – https://stickerapp.com/support/dtf-heat-transfers/what-care-instructions-should-i-follow-for-dtf-transfers
- ProGARM, RIS-3279-TOM explained – https://www.progarm.com/en-standards/ris-3279-tom/