Why Proper FR Clothing Care Matters

FR clothing is classified as personal protective equipment (PPE), meaning its performance is directly tied to worker safety.

Improper laundering—such as failing to follow the garment’s care label instructions or allowing flammable contaminants to remain in the fabric—can reduce its ability to self-extinguish. Over time, this increases the risk of injury in arc flash or flash fire incidents.

Consistent, compliant care helps ensure your FR garments continue to perform as designed.

Is Home Laundering Safe for FR Clothing?

Home laundry is a safe, cost-effective alternative to industrial laundering. Washing your FR clothing at home helps extend garment life and maintains protective performance. Proper laundering removes contaminants, minimizes shrinkage, and supports compliance with industry safety standards such as ASTM F2757: Standard Guide for Home Laundering Care and Maintenance of Flame Resistant or Arc-Rated Clothing.

It’s important to note that the high-quality, American-made fibers and fabrics sold by Tyndale are all guaranteed flame resistant for the useful life of the garment so long as home laundering instructions are followed, and bleach is not used during laundering.

FR Clothing Care Instructions

First and foremost, you should always follow the instructions on the garment label. Additionally, Tyndale provides the following guidelines—included with every shipment containing AR/FR clothing and vetted by industry leaders—on garment care and maintenance.

• Wash in warm water. For heavily soiled garments, wash in the hottest temperature allowed on the care label (generally a warm setting) to remove dirt.

• Use small wash loads if possible to help reduce abrasion and allow proper agitation and rinsing.
• Wash FR clothing inside out to help reduce wear.
• Wash FR garments separately from household laundry to prevent the transfer of workplace contaminants.
• Tumble dry on low or permanent press, or the “less dry” setting. Drying a garment on high heat can cause excessive shrinkage. Most shrinkage is caused by over drying, which occurs when a dry garment continues to be heated.
• Remove from dryer when damp or line dry to minimize shrinkage. Two-thirds of a garment’s shrinkage often takes place within the first five washings.

• Dry-cleaning is recommended for difficult stains or try spot-treating stains with detergent prior to washing.
• Make sure that all flammable substances are removed before the garment is worn again. This includes oil, gas, and grease. These types of stains can ignite during an arc flash or flash fire and cause injury even though the FR garment will self-extinguish. Garments with permanent flammable-substance stains should be retired from service.

Recommended Laundry Detergent for FR Clothing

Tyndale worked with Proctor and Gamble to select the best detergent to use when washing your FR clothing. Liquid Tide (for top-loading machines) and Liquid Tide HE (for front-loading machines) offer excellent cleaning performance.

What NOT to Do When Washing FR Clothing

Perhaps equally as important as knowing what you should do is knowing what you should not do when home laundering AR/FR clothing. 

DO NOT USE:

• Liquid chlorine bleach
• Oxidative bleach
• Starch
• Fabric softener
• Detergent with fabric softener

While starch does not erode the flame resistance of the garment, it is a flammable substance—like many insect repellents, especially ones containing DEET. Any flammable substance deposited on top of the AR/FR fabric can contribute to body burn and should not be used on flame resistant products.

When to Retire FR Clothing

Even with proper care, AR/FR garments don’t last forever. You should remove garments from service if you notice:

• Persistent contamination (oil, grease, flammable substances)
• Unrepaired holes, tears, or excessive wear
• Thinning fabric or weak spots
• Frayed seams
• Damaged closures

If a garment’s integrity is compromised, it should be replaced to maintain protection. If damage is minor, contact Tyndale to request a repair or a complimentary repair kit. Stop wearing the garment until it is properly repaired using FR materials.

For more information on the care and maintenance of AR/FR clothing, please see ASTM F2757, Standard Guide for Home Laundering Care and Maintenance of Flame, Thermal and Arc Resistant Clothing. You can also visit our Care and Maintenance FAQ page.