How to Wash Your Race Suit

To ensure you race suit and safety gear maintains its fire resistant properties and stays looking good, it is important to clean it properly.

One of the best ways to keep your safety gear clean is to take it off when your session is done and before you start wrenching on the car. No matter how clean the racecar is, there will always be dirt, oil, grease and grime that you want to avoid getting on your suit. Trust me I learned the hard way.

Washing Your Race Suit & Safety Gear

Always follow manufactures recommend care instructions for your safety gear.

Keep your safety gear out of direct sunlight and away from ultra violet rays which can cause fading and break down the fibers reducing their effectiveness in a fire. 

Dry cleaning is an option but unless they are familiar with fire retardant clothing and use the correct chemicals you can potentially reduce the fire retardant capability.

You can machine wash your safety gear. Use cold water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent like woolite. You can also use specially formulated detergents for race gear like Molecule. Molecule even makes a specific Wash and Spot Cleaner product for those hard to clean stains.

Spot cleaning small stains can be achieved using Molecule's spot cleaner or lightly rubbing in a mild detergent directly on the affect area.

Before starting the washer, make sure all zippers are closed and the velcro straps are securely fastened, otherwise these elements can rub and abrade the fabrics.

Drying Your Race Suit

Once the clothes have been run through the delicate cycle you will need to air dry them in a shady spot. Do not dry them in sunlight. I hang mine in a room with the shades drawn.

For my race suit I hang it inside out overnight to dry and then turn it right side and hang until dry. 

Store you clean safety gear in your gear bag or hang it in a closet away from sunlight.

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