LAUNDERING CARE FOR FLAME RESISTIVE CLOTHING
Clothing fires produce serious burns and can be fatal. The Brunswick Fire Department says to help prevent such fires and burns in children, purchase flame retardant sleepwear and clothing. Take care in laundering such fabrics because the flame resistance can be lost, if laundered improperly.
Follow label instructions carefully:Detergents:
If the label says to use phosphate detergents, be aware that some health departments restrict their use since some are pollutants. Use a heavy-duty liquid detergent instead.
Soaps:
If labels say to not use soap, this does not refer to detergents. Some soaps leave fat deposits which build up on the fabric. This results in loss of resistance and stiffness.
Bleaches:
Chlorine bleach may be used for synthetic fabrics but not for flame retardant treated cotton.
Commercial Laundering:
The use of strong chemicals in commercial washing may cause the loss of retardants.
Hard Water:
Use detergents at least 8.7 percent phosphate in hard water.
Machine Wash Warm:
Water temperature between 105°-120°F is safe for flame retardant fabrics. Hot water of 140°F causes shrinking and wrinkling.
Tumble Dry, Low Heat:
Avoid shrinking and stiffness by using low heat