Professional Laundry vs. Dry Cleaning: What’s Best for Workwear?
Workwear serves an important function for your staff, but it can take a beating. Proper garment care isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential for safety, comfort and durability. If you want specialist workwear to last and remain fit for purpose, there’s more to it than a quick wash and dry.
It’s important to know that your hi-vis and fire-resistant garments are being cleaned properly for compliance. But which is best to meet your laundry needs: an industrial dry cleaner or a commercial laundry service?
Can you take industrial workwear to a high street dry cleaner?
Basic workwear (shirts, trousers, polos, and sweatshirts) can be professionally dry-cleaned. But specialised PPE and industrial workwear should never be taken to a high street dry cleaner.
Here’s why. Industrial dry cleaners use harsh solvents rather than high temperatures to clean garments. The process can destroy specialised coatings and damage materials without killing bacteria. The result? Your workwear loses compliance, leaving you liable and your workforce at risk. On top of that, you’ll need to replace costly specialised garments in advance, leaving you out of pocket.
What is the best way to clean hi-vis workwear?
Hi-vis garments can typically be machine-washed 20-25 times before they need replacing. To clean hi-vis without compromising the reflective strips:
- Hang the garment up and brush away any loose dirt.
- Submerge hi-vis in lukewarm water and leave to soak for 30 minutes. Rub away any stains with a cloth.
- Rinse in cold water and leave to dry on a hanger in the shade.
If you must use a washing machine, always use the coolest setting. Wash with similar coloured items to avoid dye bleeding into the reflective strips and making them dull and ineffective.
Finally, never put hi-vis garments in the dryer, as the heat will warp the reflective strips and melt the glue.
What are the benefits of a commercial laundry service for workwear?
If your business depends on industrial workwear or PPE, a commercial laundry service is indispensable. There are multiple benefits to trusting the professionals to keep your workwear clean and compliant:
- Superior hygiene: A commercial laundry service uses industrial machines designed to reach much higher temperatures than a home wash. Combined with specialised detergents, a professional laundry service removes viruses, bacteria, and heavy-duty stains.
- Convenience and compliance: Using a convenient commercial laundry service is key to HSE compliance. Your staff will always have clean workwear thanks to convenient pickups and drop-offs.
- Proactive maintenance: By spotting and repairing any damage, a laundry service extends the lifespan of your workwear. Proper garment care also extends the lifespan of your protective clothing, reducing the need for premature replacements.
- Save time and money: Outsourcing your laundry reduces utility bills, equipment maintenance and administrative costs.
- Professional image: Clean, well-maintained uniforms can boost staff morale and present a professional image to potential service users.
UK workwear suppliers should specify comfortable, role-appropriate garments made from durable, high-quality fabric that can better withstand wear and tear.
How does phs Besafe’s commercial laundry service work?
At phs Besafe, we manage your workwear laundry with a 7-day turnaround on all garments. We’ll collect your garments from your chosen pickup place and clean them using specialised products to protect the integrity of flameproof coatings and hi-vis.
We’ll inspect all garments and make any repairs to ensure safety standards are maintained.
Each garment is barcoded and tracked throughout the process, reducing loss and ensuring the right garment reaches the right employee. To make doubly sure, we even deliver directly to employee lockers.
Our commercial laundry service is tailored to sectors including construction, manufacturing, utilities, and transport. And when your workwear has reached the end of its lifecycle, we’ll collect your garments and dispose of them using our garment destruction service.
To find out more, take a look inside our commercial laundry service.
Keep your workwear clean and compliant with phs Besafe
With over 50 years of providing high-quality workwear and laundry services phs Besafe is your trusted partner. We provide clean, hygienic and comfortable clothing for your teams so your business maintains compliance and the confidence of your staff and customers.
We offer a Laundry service package to meet your needs. Contact us today to discuss a plan that’s right for you.