5 Tips on How to Care for Your Workwear
When you choose TuffStuff workwear, you’re not just buying your new favourite work clothes; you’re buying reliability. It fits right, feels great, and handles a beating like a champ. But we all know that long shifts and tough jobs can wear even the best workwear down.
If you’ve found your perfect pair of TuffStuff trousers or a work jacket you can’t do without, here’s how to keep them going strong. All the simple, effective workwear care tips we've gathered along the way that won't have you wasting time fussing over your clothes.
1. Wash Smart
It's easy to think just chucking your work clothes in the washing machine will be enough, but it's not always about quantity, rather quality. Washing workwear correctly and intentionally is one of the easiest ways you can get it to last longer.
A few of our top tips here are:
- Check Care Labels: Before you do anything, check the care instructions on the label. This will give you the ideal temperature to wash at, as well as any specific guidance like whether you can use the tumble dryer and/or iron.
- Spot Clean Stains: Over-washing can weaken fabrics, especially those designed for heavy-duty use. So sometimes shaking out dirt and spot cleaning stains is a better option, though this depends on the overall state of the clothing.
- Protect the Fabrics: Cold water and mild detergent are usually your best bet, as they help protect reinforced stitching and delicate fabrics, but follow the washing instructions guidance on the labels.
- Skip Fabric Softeners: They might make your clothes smell nicer, but they don't help standard workwear features like reflective strips (as these tend to be a different material) or waterproof fabrics.
2. Rotate Your Workwear
We all have our go-to work clothes - the trusty work trousers, that perfectly worn-in fleece. But if you’re wearing the same gear day after day, it’s going to show signs of wear fast.
Rotating your workwear can help. Try alternating between two pairs of trousers, a few shirts, and a couple of jackets during the week. This gives each item a regular break, reducing daily wear and tear and allowing for proper cleaning and drying.
Think of it like giving your workwear a much-needed day off.
3. Store It Properly After Work
End-of-day habits can make or break your workwear. Throwing your gear into a pile on the van floor is a quick way to wreck it.
Proper storage is straightforward, and we've rounded up a few easy pointers below:
- Hang jackets and shackets: This keeps their shape intact and avoids unnecessary creases that weaken fabrics.
- Keep it dry: Moisture is the enemy. If your gear is wet, hang it somewhere ventilated to dry before you put it away.
- Fold trousers neatly: A tidy fold or a hanger keeps the fabric from stretching or warping, especially around the waistband and knees.
4. Protect It on the Job
Sometimes it’s not the job itself that damages your gear, it’s what you’re not wearing over it. Investing in some protective clothing is a simple way to help your work clothes last longer.
For example:
- Use knee pads: If you’re spending the day kneeling on rough surfaces, built-in or external knee pads take the strain off your trousers (and your knees).
- Throw on an apron or coveralls: For messy jobs like painting or plastering, extra layers keep dirt, grease, and stains off your main workwear.
- Wear gloves for abrasive materials: Handling sharp tools or rough materials? Gloves protect your hands and stop cuffs and sleeves from wearing out prematurely.
Your hi visibility clothing actually does some additional protection here. Of course, you're wearing it for safety reasons, but a hi vis vest or jacket slung around you means you've got another outer layer taking some of the brunt of the elements.
5. Choose the Right Gear for Your Work
There is such a wide range of workwear out there. We know you're choosing TuffStuff as we get the job done, but even within our collections, there is different kit for different styles of work.
We've got your cargo work trousers for those in the trades, and your waterproof overtrousers for those who head outdoors to put in a day's graft. Windbreakers for the colder months, softshell jackets if you've got an active job. The list goes on.
It's all about giving you choice, and making sure you have what you need for the type of work you do. The main reason being because it matters. Wearing the wrong gear means you put more strain on it. It might hang on for a while, but, to get the best out of them, you've got to play your players in their best position.
We suggest:
- Opt for waterproof fabrics in bad weather: Rain, mud, and grit are no problem for proper waterproof jackets and trousers. Don’t rely on standard fabrics, as they’ll soak through and wear out.
- Go breathable when it’s hot: Sweat is a killer for workwear garments. Lightweight, breathable materials reduce the need for frequent washing, which keeps fabrics intact for longer.
- Reinforced features for high-impact jobs: For tasks like kneeling or crawling, go for trousers with reinforced knees and heavy-duty stitching. They’re designed to handle more punishment.
Summary
Proper care, rotating your favourites, storing it well, adding protective layers, and choosing the right work clothes for the job are small changes that make a big impact. With these tips, you’ll get more life out of your kit, and more shifts before you have to say goodbye to your favourite trousers or jacket.
But if you’re ready to upgrade (or admit defeat on a few pieces), check out the full TuffStuff workwear collection. The hardest-working gear is just a click away - and now you know how to treat it right.
