Work dirt should only be handled at home when the applicable procedure allows it. Identify substances and garment requirements; removing odor or stains does not prove decontamination.
Decide before transporting or sorting
Distinguish everyday dirt from exposure to hazardous dusts, fuels, solvents, pesticides, or other chemicals. Check the employer’s instructions, the label or safety data sheet for the substance, and the protective equipment manufacturer. Do not take unknown contamination into the family laundry just to test an intense cycle.
Protective finishes may have limits on products and on the number or type of treatments. The care of a protective garment cannot be inferred from its main fiber.
Example: pesticide exposure
The NPIC advises checking the pesticide label and keeping that clothing separate from the family laundry; it also notes that soaked garments should be discarded rather than washed. That disposal must be carried out in accordance with local instructions and regulations, without donating or reusing the contaminated clothing.
These guidelines do not apply to solvents, metals, or other contaminants. Common additives also do not guarantee the removal of hazardous residues.
When authorized washing exists
- Confirm who may handle the clothing and with what protection.
- Follow the indicated preparation, separation, and transport steps.
- Verify that the washer is suitable for that use and run only the authorized cycle.
- Complete the required follow-up equipment care and drying for the contaminant and the garment.
For ordinary stains, use a compatible pre-treatment. If a hazardous substance has already entered the machine, follow the appliance contamination assessment before using it again.
If the substance or authorized procedure has not been identified, keep that clothing out of the home laundry.