Throughout your home and office, you will find various items that are heat resistant, flame proof and fire-retardant. Everything from clothing to oven gloves, the marketplace has produced a wide array of items that are resistant to heat…but that is all.
Unfortunately, heat resistant materials aren’t necessarily resistant to man’s eternal enemy: stains.
With all of these stains, ranging from oil to pasta sauce, you may be wondering if heat resistant materials can ever be washed out. It is true that some measures can really hurt the resistant finish, but with the right methods employed you won’t have that difficult at all. By the end of it, you’ll be pleased that your fire-retardant material is clean.
Here are five tips for cleaning heat resistant materials:
1. Only Wash the Fabrics with Detergent
A common mistake that we all make is that when a stain seeps into our materials, we run to the washroom, grab a little bit of soap and water and mix it on our materials. This should be avoided.
Suffice to say, all heat resistant materials should only be washed in detergent. Never, ever with soap. The soap produces insoluble film as it interacts with other minerals and elements.
2. Refrain from Soaking the Materials
Another common mistake, and it may seem counterintuitive to some, but it is important to refrain from soaking your materials. It is true that we think it will work because it is sitting in soap or detergent and hot water for an extensive period of time, but it will actually do more harm than good. If you wash it by hand, don’t soak it and just dampen it.
3. You May Need to Abide by “Dry Clean Only”
Let’s face it: when we see “dry clean only” on the tags on our clothing, bedding or curtains, we ignore it and simply throw it in the washer and dryer. This can’t be done with fire-retardant cloth. Sorry.
Instead, you will need to abide by the “dry clean only” suggestion and bring it to the local dry cleaners. This will ensure that the stains are removed without having to weaken the integrity of the heat resistant materials in your oven mitts or purple curtains covering your windows.
4. Water Above 40 Degrees Celsius? Bring it Down
Similar to soaking in water, we tend to believe that we can obliterate all stains by plunging the materials into extremely hot water. Nope. In reality, it is best to keep your heat resistant textiles in water that is under 40 degrees Celsius – you may get away with anything up to 50 degrees Celsius but it is up to you if you wish to try your luck.
5. To Use Liquid Fabric Conditioner…Or Not
Experts have not come to a consensus if you can use liquid fabric conditioner for your heat resistant materials. Some say it will help, while others will disagree.
In the end, it is entirely up to you to insert liquid fabric conditioner, but be sure to read any recommendations or tips on the tags.
Heat resistant materials matter, whether they’re used for residential purposes or they’re utilized for commercial practices. They can protect you from excessive heat, fire and anything else that can really pose harm to your skin.
Don’t worry. All of your heat resistant materials will be clean again. You don’t need to concern yourself about having to see mustard stains, alfredo sauce or black tea on your materials ever again. As long as you incorporate the right cleaning measures into your routine, you will have pristine flame proof materials in your grasp once again.
