HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR EQUIPMENT
Buying protective waterjetting and HPC clothing and equipment is a lifesaving but also a costly investment. Our protective clothing is designed with comfort, functionality, and safety in mind and is made to last in extremely tough environments. But nothing lasts forever, not even our products. Luckily there are ways to extend their longevity. Below we’ve collected some tips and tricks to help you care for your PPE to increase their lifespan and keep you protected longer.
KEEP YOUR EQUIPMENT CLEAN
The most important thing you can do to increase the longevity of your clothing is to simply clean them thoroughly after every use. Clean them by hand using a brush and lukewarm water, and if needed, use TST Grease Remover or a soap solution. Make sure to pay extra attention to zippers and hooks & loops. Since they are sensitive to dirt, it’s a good idea to take an extra minute to ensure they’re always clean. Once all the grease is removed thoroughly rinse the garment in clean lukewarm water and then allow it to dry hanging in a well-ventilated area. When the garment is dry, store it hanging in a dry environment and out of direct sunlight.
Please note that none of our waterjet protection garments can be washed in a washing machine as they have not been certified for it and therefore, we cannot guarantee their full protection afterwards.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Wearing your PPE properly is of utmost importance, first and foremost for your safety but it also helps the longevity of your clothing. Make sure to use clothes in the right size, that fits your body well. Before you put on your PPE, look through them to check that there are no tears in them. Once the garment is on, fit the clothing by adjusting braces, hooks & loops, belts, drawstrings and/or straps, depending on the garment type. Always close the overlapping flaps, to protect the hooks & loops and zippers.
We know that PPE often is shared between operators, but we strongly recommend you have your own. When the protective clothing fits properly you are both fully protected and can also easily and safely move around your workplace.
For full information on how to put on and wear your specific PPE properly, please read the complete user instructions here.
PROTECT YOUR PPE
We know it might sound odd to protect your protective clothing but to extend the garments’ lifespan it can be a great action to take. We recommend rain protection and/or chemical protection on the outside of the garments in exposed environments. If your garments are exposed to chemicals, make sure to rinse them right away with clean water and check that the garment has not been affected.
REPAIR OR RETIRE?
If your garment gets a tear in a non-protective area*, you can attempt to fix it either by thread or tape. But, if your garment gets a tear in a protective area*, is exposed to a high pressure waterjet, or is too worn out it’s important that you dispose of them and replace them with new PPE. We know PPE is a costly investment and therefore can be hard to let go of, but damaged garments won’t keep you fully protected, and if an accident were to occur you could get hurt.
Recycling your TST clothing is unfortunately not an option due to the risk that they are contaminated. Instead, please dispose of your used or damaged equipment as combustible waste.
In need of new equipment? Find your distributor here.
* Not sure if it is a protective area or not? See our Q&A below.
Hope this article helped you to care for and expand the lifespan of your PPE. If you have further questions about the care and wear of your PPE, please look at our Q&A or view complete user instructions here.
Q&A
How often should I clean my protective clothing?
We recommend that you clean your PPE after every use. Clean clothes last longer!
How do I clean my protective clothing?
Hand-clean the clothes with a brush and lukewarm water. If needed, use TST Grease Remover or a soap solution. Rinse with clean water. Allow to dry in a well-ventilated area before you store your clothing.
Please note that you can’t put any of our waterjet protection equipment in the washing machine.
How should I store my clothing?
Your clothes are best stored hanging in a dry environment and not in direct sunlight.
What can I do to extend the lifespan of my garments?
The most important thing is to clean your clothing after every use. Take extra care of zippers and hooks & loops as they are sensitive to dirt. We also recommend using rain and/or chemical protection on the outside of the garments when working in exposed environments.
My garment has been exposed to a high pressure water jet. It didn’t go all the way through the textile, can I still use it?
If a garment is exposed to a high pressure water jet, we can’t guarantee its full protection. Therefore, we recommend that you dispose of it and replace it with a new one.
How do I recycle my equipment?
Since we can’t be sure that your PPE hasn’t been contaminated, we advise everyone to dispose of their old equipment as combustible waste.
I have a tear in my garment, how can I fix it?
If the tear is on the protective areas, consider the garment damaged and dispose of it. If the tear occurred in a non-protective area, you could attempt to repair it with thread or tape.
If the garment is high visibility classed, make sure the fluorescent fabric and reflective material remain unchanged.
Attn. if you don’t know how the damage occurred, it could be a waterjet tear which means the garment shall be disposed of.
Which parts of the garment are protective areas?
The protective areas are indicated with striped fabric on the ProOperator and 10/28 products, and glossy fabric on EliteOperator products. Still not sure? Have a look at the “striped areas are protected” pictogram for the product in question at our webpage, or in our catalog.