Guide · 9 min read
How to Wash FR Clothing Without Losing Protection
To wash FR clothing, turn it inside out, wash it separately from regular clothes with a liquid detergent at the temperature on the care label, and dry it on low heat. Never use chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, fabric softener, dryer sheets or starch, because they can weaken FR fibers or leave flammable residue. Heavily oil-soaked garments need professional cleaning, and anything that stays contaminated or damaged should be retired.
Why FR clothing care matters
Flame-resistant (FR) and arc-rated (AR) workwear protects in two ways: it does not ignite and keep burning, and it insulates the skin for the few seconds of a flash fire or arc flash. Washing affects both. Clean, intact fabric performs as tested. Fabric loaded with oil, softener residue or hard-water minerals, or worn thin, may not.
Care is not just a laundry preference; it is part of the standards:
- NFPA 2113, the companion to NFPA 2112, sets requirements for the selection, care, use and maintenance of flame-resistant garments.
- NFPA 70E requires PPE, including arc-rated clothing, to be maintained in a safe, reliable condition and inspected before each use. See our NFPA 70E guide.
- OSHA’s PPE rule, 29 CFR 1910.132, requires employers to provide PPE that is maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition.
The garment’s own care label and user information guide always take priority. The guidance below reflects what major FR garment and fabric makers consistently recommend.
FR clothing care: do’s and don’ts
| Do | Why |
|---|---|
| Wash FR garments separately from regular clothing | Prevents lint and residue from flammable fibers transferring onto FR fabric (Bulwark) |
| Turn garments inside out | Reduces surface wear and color loss |
| Use liquid detergent | Rinses out more completely and is less likely to leave residue |
| Pre-treat heavy soiling with detergent or a non-bleach stain remover | Removes oil and grease that would otherwise act as fuel |
| Wash and dry at moderate temperatures, as the label allows | Limits shrinkage, which affects fit and coverage |
| Use soft water, or a detergent made for hard water | Mineral buildup over many washes can reduce FR performance (Bulwark oil and gas care guide) |
| Rewash if odors or stains persist | A lingering petroleum smell signals contamination still in the fabric |
| Don’t | Why |
|---|---|
| Use chlorine bleach | Can break down FR fibers and treatments, and fades color |
| Use hydrogen peroxide or peroxide-based boosters | Bulwark lists peroxide alongside chlorine bleach as damaging to FR fibers |
| Use fabric softener or dryer sheets | Leaves a coating that can interfere with flame resistance and add fuel |
| Use starch or sizing | Adds flammable residue to the fabric surface |
| Over-dry or use the hottest dryer setting | Causes shrinkage and stresses the fabric |
| Wash with heavily oil-soaked rags or garments | Spreads flammable contamination to the whole load |
Tip: Many “all-in-one” detergents and pods include softeners or oxygen bleach. Read the ingredient list and choose a plain liquid detergent for your FR loads.
How to wash FR clothing at home, step by step
- Check the care label for maximum wash and dry temperatures and any special instructions.
- Empty pockets and close zippers, snaps and hook-and-loop closures so they do not snag the fabric.
- Pre-treat oil, grease and heavy stains with liquid detergent or a non-bleach stain remover. Let it sit briefly before washing.
- Turn garments inside out and load only FR items, leaving room for water to circulate.
- Add liquid detergent in the amount the maker recommends. Overdosing leaves residue; use a detergent formulated for hard water if your supply is hard.
- Wash at the label temperature. Use the hottest the label allows for heavily soiled work clothes, and moderate settings for lightly worn garments.
- Run an extra rinse if the load was heavily soiled, so residues do not remain.
- Tumble dry on low or medium and remove promptly while slightly damp, or line dry out of direct sun.
- Inspect each garment before it goes back in the locker (see below).
Handling oil, grease and flammable contamination
Contamination is the biggest real-world threat to FR protection. Fabric maker DuPont notes that flammable contaminants reduce the thermal protection of any FR fabric, and garment user guides such as PIP’s FR user information guide say garments that are heavily soiled, or smell of petroleum-based substances, should be removed from service for cleaning or replacement.
Practical rules:
- Light soil and sweat: normal home wash.
- Grease and oil spots: pre-treat and wash hot (within label limits); rewash if needed.
- Soaked with fuel, oil, solvent or flammable chemicals: remove the garment immediately, keep it away from ignition sources, and send it to an industrial laundry or dry cleaner experienced with FR garments. Do not put it in a home washer or dryer.
- Contamination that will not come out: retire the garment.
Home laundering vs industrial laundering vs dry cleaning
| Method | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Home laundering | Daily-wear shirts, pants and coveralls with normal soil | Hard water, overuse of detergent, additives in “all-in-one” products |
| Industrial laundering | Programs with many garments, heavy soil, oil and grease | Use a laundry experienced with FR; NFPA 2112 durability tests use industrial-style laundering with a sour rinse (Apparel Solutions summary) |
| Dry cleaning | Removing heavy oily soil from fabrics whose label allows it | Confirm the label permits dry cleaning; not every FR fabric does |
Tip: If your crews work in oil, grease or solvents every day, an industrial laundry program is often safer than relying on home washing, because it gives you consistent cleaning and a regular chance to inspect and replace garments.
Treated vs inherent FR fabrics: care differences
| Treated FR (usually cotton or cotton/nylon) | Inherent FR (for example aramid or modacrylic blends) | |
|---|---|---|
| Source of protection | FR chemistry bonded to the fibers | Built into the fiber |
| Chlorine bleach | Never: it can compromise the FR treatment | Avoid: it can damage fibers and color |
| Softener and starch | Never | Never |
| Hard water | Mineral buildup is a known concern; use soft water or hard-water detergent | Still advisable to avoid residue |
| Shrinkage | Cotton-rich fabrics can shrink with high heat | Generally more dimensionally stable, but follow the label |
Both types are certified only for the fabric as tested. Neither tolerates flammable residue or contamination.
How many washes does FR clothing last?
There is no fixed wash count after which FR clothing stops working. Inherent FR fibers keep their flame resistance for the life of the fiber, and certified treated fabrics are tested for flame resistance after repeated laundering as part of NFPA 2112. In practice, FR garments are retired for the same reasons other workwear is: abrasion, holes, thin spots, fading, shrinkage and contamination. A garment that is clean, intact and still fits correctly is generally still serviceable; one that fails the inspection checklist below is not, no matter how new it is. Some fabric makers publish their own durability claims; rely on the garment’s user information rather than general rules of thumb.
Caring for FR outerwear, rainwear and FR hi-vis
- FR jackets, parkas and insulated garments: follow the label closely; insulated items often need gentler cycles and longer, low-heat drying to dry fully without shrinking.
- FR rainwear: flame-resistant rainwear is covered by its own specification, ASTM F2733. Coated fabrics usually should not be machine dried on high heat; wipe off contamination and follow the maker’s instructions.
- FR hi-vis garments: treat them as both FR and hi-vis. Avoid bleach and softener, keep heat moderate to protect reflective tape, and retire them when either the FR fabric or the fluorescent and reflective materials fail inspection. Our ANSI 107 guide lists hi-vis retirement signs.
Who is responsible for FR clothing care?
| Task | Employer | Wearer |
|---|---|---|
| Choose garments that match the hazard assessment | Yes | |
| Provide care instructions and training (NFPA 2113) | Yes | |
| Decide home vs industrial laundering | Yes | |
| Wash according to the label | Ensures it happens | Yes, if home laundering |
| Inspect before each wear | Sets the process | Yes |
| Report damage or contamination | Acts on reports | Yes |
| Replace retired garments | Yes |
Drying and storing FR clothing
Dry on low to medium heat and remove garments promptly; over-drying shrinks cotton-rich fabrics and can pull sleeves and hems above the wrist or ankle, exposing skin. Line drying is fine, out of direct sun to limit fading. Store clean FR garments away from oily rags, solvents and chemicals. If you use FR hi-vis garments, frequent hot drying also shortens the life of reflective tape.
Repairs: what is allowed
- Repair only with FR thread, fabric and components equal to the original construction. Duluth Trading’s FR user guide states that non-FR fabric or components make the garment non-compliant.
- Do not add regular cotton or polyester patches, iron-on patches or non-FR zippers.
- Significant alterations can reduce protection; check with the manufacturer first.
- Some user guides set repair limits, such as retiring garments with holes or tears beyond a certain size or too extensive to repair. Follow the guide for your garments.
Inspection and retirement checklist
Inspect before each wear and after every wash. Retire the garment when:
- It has holes, tears, burns or worn-thin areas that cannot be properly repaired.
- Contamination or a petroleum odor remains after cleaning.
- It was repaired with non-FR materials.
- The label is missing or unreadable, so the FR or arc rating cannot be confirmed.
- It was exposed to an actual flash fire or arc flash.
- It has shrunk or no longer fits, leaving gaps at wrists, ankles, neck or waist.
- It was washed with chlorine bleach; some user guides advise removing such garments from service.
Common FR laundry mistakes
- Using pods or detergents with built-in softener or oxygen bleach.
- Adding a dryer sheet “just this once.”
- Washing FR clothing with greasy shop rags.
- Spraying starch on shirt collars for a crisp look.
- Hot-washing and hot-drying lightly soiled garments every time, which shrinks them.
- Letting workers decide care on their own without training. NFPA 2113 expects employers to train wearers on use and care.
Building care into your FR uniform program
Care is easiest to get right when it is designed in. When you set up a program, decide who launders (employees, an industrial laundry, or a mix), include written care rules in onboarding, keep enough garments per worker that nobody wears a contaminated set because the clean one is still in the wash, and budget for replacement.
Our fire resistant clothing page covers garment styles for these programs, including FR shirts, pants and coveralls for welding, oil and gas crews and electricians. Custom Uniform Factory sews workwear in our Los Angeles factory with a minimum of about 50 pieces per style, and we confirm fabric options, certification documentation and care labeling at quote stage.
Always follow the care label and user information supplied with your garments. This guide is general information, not a substitute for the manufacturer’s instructions or NFPA 2113.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wash FR clothing at home?
Yes. Most FR and arc-rated garment makers allow home laundering when you follow the care label: wash separately, use liquid detergent, skip bleach, softener and starch, and dry on low. Garments heavily soaked in oil, grease or other flammable contaminants should go to an industrial laundry or dry cleaner, because a home machine may not remove them.
Why can't you use fabric softener on FR clothing?
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets leave a coating on the fabric. That residue can interfere with flame resistance, mask the fabric's protective properties and act as fuel. Garment makers such as Bulwark warn against softeners and starch for this reason. If you want softer garments, choose a softer FR fabric rather than adding chemicals.
Does washing remove the flame resistance from FR clothing?
Proper washing does not. Inherent FR fibers are flame resistant by chemistry, and certified treated fabrics are tested after repeated laundering. What reduces protection is misuse: chlorine bleach, peroxide, softener or starch residue, hard-water mineral buildup, flammable contamination left in the fabric, and physical wear such as holes and thin spots.
How do I get oil and grease out of FR clothing?
Pre-treat the area with liquid detergent or a non-bleach stain remover, then wash at the hottest temperature the care label allows. If the stain or a petroleum smell remains after washing, rewash or send the garment to an industrial laundry. If contamination still cannot be removed, take the garment out of service.
Can I use OxiClean or hydrogen peroxide on FR clothing?
Avoid it unless the garment maker specifically allows it. Bulwark's care guidance says not to use chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide because they can break down flame-resistant fibers. Many oxygen-based stain removers contain peroxide compounds, so check the ingredients and the care label first.
Can I iron FR clothing?
Follow the care label. If ironing is allowed, use the setting it lists and never use spray starch or sizing, which add flammable residue. Excess heat from ironing or over-drying can also cause shrinkage, which affects fit and coverage.
Need garments made?
Custom Uniform Factory cuts and sews scrubs and workwear in Los Angeles from 50 pieces per style, with your logo or label. Get a quote or request samples.
