How to Clean A Hi Vis Jacket
Can you wash hi vis vests, hi vis shirts and more hi vis gear?
There is no way to easily measure how many lives have been saved by hi-vis clothing on workers, pedestrians, cyclists, and first responders. While some individuals may choose to purchase their own hi vis shirts and hi vis uniform wear, in many work environments involving a high degree of risk the wearing of hi-vis gear extends beyond personal choice and is even required by law. In either case, we do know that highlighting and enhancing the form with fluorescence and light-reactive materials greatly enhances visibility and safety in dark or unclear environments. So how do you keep high visibility clothing and jackets clean, and how do you know when to replace them? Read below to learn more.
When should I replace my hi vis clothing?
The American National Standards Institute (or ANSI) regularly updates the safety requirements and standards of hi visibility clothing every 5 years to address emerging challenges and reflect the latest industry best practices, so we recommend checking your hi vis clothing at least every 5 years (but more often as needed) to make sure issued items still meet the basic requirements of the current standard. At time of publishing, the current standard is the ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Standard with the next revision to be published in 2025. Easily discover which standard your hi vis apparel adheres to by looking at the inside labels which should reference the year of the standard, i.e. “ANSI 2020 Type P Class 3.”
If they do still meet the current standard, then a visual inspection may be in order. Ask yourself…
- How do the items in the field compare to a new, similar item?
- Are they bright even in the low light of dusk or dawn, or on cloudy days (when more UV is present?)
To test these, take a flashlight into a darkened room and point it towards your current hi vis outerwear or uniform item with the back end of the flashlight next to your eyes. Is the reflectiveness on the older item still as bright as the new one? If the answer is yes, then the items are still serviceable. If the visibility has faded badly or the reflective tape has dullness in some areas from abrasion or wear, they should be replaced.
How do I clean my hi vis clothing?
· Offensive spots or staining on your hi vis shirt or hi vis jacket can be treated with a stain stick or with spraying or soaking with a citrus fabric cleaner such as Simple Green. Like any stain on clothing, it is best to deal with it as soon as possible. When grease and dirt are ground into the fabric, they will be more difficult to remove and can compromise the reflectivity if unaddressed.
· Wash and dry your hi vis clothes according to what is recommended on the label. In the case of our SuperLight™️ Hi Vis Shell Jacket we recommend on our label that the jacket be washed on a gentle cycle using cold water before being tumble dried in low heat which can help restore the water repellency (beading) on the surface of the jacket. Be aware that long exposed high heat as well as chemicals found in fabric softeners and dry-cleaning operations may damage the reflectiveness of your hi visibility garment, as well as any seam-sealed waterproof pockets or features often found in hi vis raincoats.
· Lastly, hang up wet items to air dry before storing them as black mold and mildew will begin to grow quickly on the surface (mold, for example, is almost impossible to remove entirely from Hi-Vis fabrics and can cause health issues). Your hi vis vests or clothing should be completely dry before use and stored in a low heat area. If you’re wet on the road as police officers or first responders often are, hang it up in the vehicle until a drier spot can be found. After many years of service, we have occasionally seen the pigments in certain older fluorescent fabrics “let go” and start to bleed out reducing their brightness (not a problem with newer hi vis vest technology.) This could be caused by such things as storing a raincoat in a hot car trunk, or from long exposed oxidation caused by ozone in the air.
How To: Build Your Perfect 3-in-1 Jacket
1. Start with your Inner Liner.
Before considering the endless combinations available, start by thinking of the inner liner as your standalone lightweight or midweight jacket for every-day wear in moderate conditions. Are you looking for breathable warmth without overheating? Or an ANSI certified HI-Vis option? Our popular Softshell Fleece Jackets feature microfleece lining with lightweight stretch and water-resistance for adaptable warmth, indoors and out. As the leader in innovative technology, count on Blauer inner liners to provide the perfect level of warmth and light element resistance.
Explore more Inner Liner Jackets.
· Offensive spots or staining on your hi vis shirt or hi vis jacket can be treated with a stain stick or with spraying or soaking with a citrus fabric cleaner such as Simple Green. Like any stain on clothing, it is best to deal with it as soon as possible. When grease and dirt are ground into the fabric, they will be more difficult to remove and can compromise the reflectivity if unaddressed.
· Wash and dry your hi vis clothes according to what is recommended on the label. In the case of our Blauer Hi Vis Bomber Jacket we recommend on our label that the jacket be washed on a gentle cycle using cold water before being tumble dried in low heat which can help restore the water repellency (beading) on the surface of the jacket. Be aware that long exposed high heat as well as chemicals found in fabric softeners and dry-cleaning operations may damage the reflectiveness of your hi visibility garment, as well as any seam-sealed waterproof pockets or features often found in hi vis raincoats.
· Lastly, hang up wet items to air dry before storing them as black mold and mildew will begin to grow quickly on the surface (mold, for example, is almost impossible to remove entirely from Hi-Vis fabrics and can cause health issues). Your hi vis vests or clothing should be completely dry before use and stored in a low heat area. If you’re wet on the road as police officers or first responders often are, hang it up in the vehicle until a drier spot can be found. After many years of service, we have occasionally seen the pigments in certain older fluorescent fabrics “let go” and start to bleed out reducing their brightness (not a problem with newer hi vis vest technology.) This could be caused by such things as storing a raincoat in a hot car trunk, or from long exposed oxidation caused by ozone in the air.
3. Zip-In to Combine & Customize.
The right combination will provide long lasting protection against extremes in wet or bone chilling cold. The secret is the matching inner zipper which mates with the liner zippers making every System Outerwear inner liner compatible with every Blauer outer shell jacket. In extreme cold-weather conditions, the addition of the insulated inner liner to the outer shell jacket will provide superior warmth with breathability. During intense storms, the addition of your outer shell to your softshell fleece offers full weather-proofing against wind and wind driven rain.
Explore All System Outerwear Jackets.
Learn more about Blauer Hi Vis Jackets + Gear for First Responders
Overall, it’s critical to take care of your high visibility garments so that they can maintain their effectiveness in keeping you safer on the road. We’ve all seen public safety pros wearing outdated, faded, or dirty hi vis apparel, and they no longer stand out visually to drivers. Keep yourself visible by keeping them clean, and you’ll stand a much better chance of drivers seeing, and avoiding you, as you serve your community.
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