Workwear earns its keep when it lasts. Kit that fades, bobbles or loses its logo after a few months looks tired and ends up costing more to replace. The good news is that most workwear lasts far longer with a little care, and none of it is complicated. Here is how to get the most out of your team's kit.
1. Read the care label first
It sounds obvious, but the care label is the manufacturer telling you exactly how to keep the garment at its best: the maximum wash temperature, whether it can be tumble dried, and how to iron it. When in doubt, the label wins. It is worth a quick look before the first wash, especially on technical fabrics, softshells and anything with a special finish.
2. Washing: temperature and detergent
Hotter is not better. Washing at the lowest effective temperature, often 30 or 40 degrees, cleans everyday workwear well while protecting colour and fabric.
- Wash similar colours together so dark navies and brights do not dull lighter garments.
- Use a normal amount of detergent and avoid bleach on coloured or branded kit.
- Skip the heavy fabric softener, which can coat fibres and, over time, dull printed logos.
3. Protect the embroidery and print
Your logo is the part you most want to protect, and it is the easiest to look after.
- Turn garments inside out before washing to shield the logo from rubbing against zips and other items.
- Embroidery is naturally durable and rarely an issue, but inside-out washing keeps the stitches looking crisp.
- Printed logos prefer cooler washes and a cool iron. Never iron directly over a print; press around it or use a cloth.
If you are choosing branding for new kit, it is worth knowing which finish lasts longest in a wash. Our embroidery vs print guide compares them.
4. Drying and ironing
High heat is the enemy of most workwear. Drying on a line or a low tumble setting is gentler on fabric and elastic, and it reduces shrinkage. Take garments out while still very slightly damp and they will need little or no ironing. When you do iron, match the heat to the fabric and avoid pressing straight onto logos or reflective tape.
5. Caring for hi-vis
High-visibility clothing needs extra attention because its job is to be seen. The fluorescent background fabric fades and the reflective tape dulls with washing and wear, which reduces how visible the garment is.
Hi-vis garments often state a maximum number of wash cycles on the label. Follow it, wash them separately from heavily soiled kit, and replace any hi-vis that has faded, become stained or has cracked tape, in line with your risk assessment. See our guide to hi-vis regulations for what each class is for.
6. Make kit last across the team
A few habits keep a whole team's workwear going longer:
- Give everyone two or three sets so garments are not washed daily and can dry properly between wears.
- Keep a few spares on the shelf in common sizes so a damaged garment is swapped, not limped along.
- Reorder like-for-like when something wears out. With your logo on file, replacements match the rest of the team exactly.
7. A quick checklist
- Checked the care label before the first wash
- Washing at the lowest effective temperature with similar colours
- Turning garments inside out to protect the logo
- Drying on low heat and ironing around prints, not over them
- Replacing hi-vis once it fades or the tape dulls
- Keeping spares and reordering like-for-like
Look after kit this way and it will stay looking professional for far longer, which is better for your budget and your brand. When it is time to top up, our branded workwear range keeps your logo on file for a perfect match.
