Arc flash clothing and PPE can be expensive, which is why it is important to properly take care of them. The highly engineered materials used to make these products require regular and effective cleaning in order to do their job of protecting the wearer from harm. This is because substances like chemicals, oil, and dirt can impact the effectiveness of the garments.
In addition to this, if numerous employees wear the same arc flash clothing or PPE, they could potentially transmit disease. This is why ensuring proper hygiene and cleanliness is a priority.
How to clean an Arc Flash Face Shield?
If the arc flash face shield has grit or dirt on, then flush it off with room temperature water.
To disinfect the PPE, take a soft cloth with isopropyl alcohol and gently clean both sides. This may leave streaks once dried, so use a clean, soft cloth and gently wipe any away. An alternative way of disinfecting an arc flash face shield is by using a two percent solution of NaOCL or Sodium Hypochlorite and cool water. Gently spray this onto the face shield and allow it to evaporate. Once it has dried, rinse the PPE off with cool water.
How to clean Arc Flash Clothing?
When it comes to keeping your PPE clean, there are some things that you can do to both protect and prolong the life and shape of the garment(s). Our preferred wash method is to launder your FR clothing at home, following the wash guidance on the labels of your clothing.There are two main techniques for cleaning arc flash garments, depending on the level of soiling – hand-washing and machine-washing. Hand-washing is recommended for light or moderate soiling, whilst machine-washing is recommended for heavy soiling.
When washing by hand, the garment(s) should be fully submerged into lukewarm water with a little bit of detergent. A stain remover may be used if stains are present. After scrubbing with a soft brush the arc flash garment(s), should be rinsed with clean, lukewarm water to remove any residue.
When machine washing, follow the directions found on the care tag of the arc flash garment(s). Providing the temperature setting is not too high, most current washing machines should be able to clean the pieces safely. After the washing cycle has finished, the garment(s) should be taken from the washer and hung to dry. It is not advisable to use a tumble dryer since the high heat might damage the fabric.
As different laundries have various approaches to how they launder garments, we prefer to work directly with the laundry where possible, to achieve the optimum cleaning process and to preserve the shape and colour of the garments. Please contact sales@skanwear.com or your account manager to discuss laundry cleaning in more detail.
Note** Different brand will use different wash care instruction - it is very important to check your products internal care label prior to cleaning
How do you clean high voltage/insulated gloves?
Before cleaning your electrical gloves, remove jewellery and any other sharp objects from your hand and wrists that could potentially damage the gloves.
Use warm water and a mild detergent to clean the gloves and rinse them thoroughly. Only soapy water or denatured alcohol should be used to clean the area with the label.
Electrical gloves should either be air dried or dried manually with a soft, clean cloth.
How to clean ESD Boots?
It is important to be aware that Electro Static Dissipative (ESD) boots cannot be cleaned using hot water. Instead they should be washed with warm water of around 40 degrees Celsius and gently scrubbed with a mild detergent. Chemical solvent cleaning products should never be used.
ESD boots cannot be submerged in water for very long, so any leather upper parts should be cleaned with a damp cloth instead. Once cleaned, the footwear should be thoroughly rinsed and then left in a cool place to dry. They should be left exposed to direct sunlight.
To keep the inside of the ESD boots clean, remove the insole and vacuum both the insole and the interior of the footwear.
For for support or recommendation on cleaning clothing and equipment, contact our team of experts today at sales@skanwear.com
