How To Wash Reflective Clothing

Machine wash with like colors in cold water on a delicate cycle.
You may use a mild detergent.

No Bleach or Fabric Softener!

Tumble Dry on low heat. Remove immediately.

block Do not Iron.
block Do not Dry Clean.

Good options: OxiClean, Shout, Zout, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, Fels Naptha Soap
All good for spot cleaning and helpful with grease

We Do Have Some Suggestions for Extending the Life of Your Garments By Correct Cleaning And Washing!

When you machine launder your garments, try to avoid adding garments with a rough finish to the wash. The microscopic glass beads on the retroreflective tape and materials can be worn off by the rough treatment. Avoid throwing your safety vests, jackets, and shirts in the wash with your work jeans!

Where it is easily possible, you should wash reflective clothing inside out.

Similarly, to protect the reflective tape, avoid Fabric softener. One wash with a fabric softener may significantly damage the reflective ability of the tape.

If you line dry your garments you will extend the life of the reflective tape. If you choose to machine dry, try to remove the garment immediately. The added heat of the garment against the drum, with other hot clothes piled on can damage the reflective tape.

Our polyester garments do not bleed, but other dark garments may. This may cause a slight reduction in the intensity of fluorescent color. Try to wash the garments with other light color fabrics.

Do not forget to wash your safety vests! We know you love to throw them in the truck and forget about them. The dirt from workwear can diminish the intensity of the fluorescent color. You want the color to be as visible as possible so the vest can be an effective safety work vest.

  • Hand Wash icon

  • Do not bleach icon

  • Machine Wash icon

  • Do not dry icon

  • Do not tumble dry icon

  • Drip dry icon

  • Dry in the shade icon

  • Dry laying flat icon

  • Line dry icon

  • Do not dry clean icon

  • Do not iron icon

  • Iron icon

  • Machine Wash icon

    Usually inside is a temperature. Sometimes the temperature is represented by dots to represent (1) low, (2) medium, (3) high heat.

  • Tumble dry icon

    Usually with dots inside to represent low, medium, high heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Wash Safety Vests

Washing reflective clothing like high-visibility safety vests is the same as detailed above. Machine wash safety vests with like colors in cold water on a delicate cycle. You may use mild detergents.  

This is the simplest way to clean reflective safety vests and high visibility vests. Avoid adding additional apparel with a rough finish with your reflective vest or reflective clothes. Otherwise, washing high-visibility safety vests is the same as washing high visibility clothing, reflective jackets, and other reflective gear.

Do Not Wash Safety Vests With Bleach or Fabric Softener!

It is critical to not wash safety hi-vis jackets, reflective vests, coats, or other reflective clothing with bleach or fabric softener. Do not use bleach or fabric softener when washing hi-vis clothing.

How To Wash Safety Jackets

Washing reflective clothing and laundry like high-visibility jackets and coats is the same as other types of hi-vis clothes. Machine wash safety jackets with like colors in cold water temperature on a delicate cycle. You may use mild detergents.

How To Remove Stains On High Visibility Vests and Reflective Clothing

If there are persistent stains after cleaning high visibility vests, jackets, or other garments, you may use a stain remover.  Fels-Naptha laundry soap has been a stain solution for years.

How To Dry High-Visibility Clothing

Dry on low-heat. If you line dry, you will extend the life of your reflective clothing. If you use a machine dryer, try to remove it immediately once the drying process is complete to avoid extended hot temperatures which may hurt reflective tape.

Will Washing Reflective Clothing Remove Logo?

No, washing reflective clothes should not remove the brand logos, fluorescent dyes, or reflective tapes.  As long as you follow the washing instructions and washing process outlined here, your safety vest and safety clothing should be completely intact. We can’t speak for all brands, but our reflective clothing customization and corporate identity logos will not be affected by washing reflective clothes.

Are There Any Additional High Visibility Clothing And Safety Vest Cleaning Tips?

Our safety vest cleaning tips (and hi-vis clothes):

  • Do not add garments or apparel with rough finish to your wash.
  • Wash the garment inside out.
  • Wash high visibility vests and clothing with other light color fabrics. Our polyester vests and clothes do not bleed, but cotton cloth or lower quality hi-vis apparel may bleed.  
  • If you are using a machine dryer, remove your clothing immediately once it’s done drying as to not expose it to too much heat which will provide additional protection for the reflective tape.

The washing machine should not hurt the reflective properties or the logo on your high visibility clothing as long as you follow the above care instructions. Your safety gear can withstand strong environments as workers know.

We hope this guide was helpful to learn to wash clothes and wash jackets with reflective material and properties.  We hope you wear clothing that is durable and lasts many washes in the future.  If you are looking for new high-visibility vests or clothes, we are a manufacturer that provides safety clothing and vests for people and companies of all sizes.

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