How to Launder Workwear

removal of Grease Stains

How to Launder Workwear

Workwear is made to be durable, to be comfortable, to help you get the job done, and it should be made to launder well. It’s a fact of life: work clothes get dirty. Whether you are changing oil in a car, or mopping floors, or cooking in the deep fryer, there are numerous ways for your workwear to attract dirt, grease, grime, etc. Fortunately, Red Kap work wear provides a stain resistant finish on relevant items, such as work pants and work shirts, which helps in the laundering process. Different items of workwear might be recommended for different washes–whether it’s industrial or home. This article will look at how to clean your workwear at home in three easy steps.

  1. Check for stains. When you’re an automotive technician, or a chef, or in the maintenance field, you shouldn’t have to worry about your clothes, which is why Red Kap makes the most durable and comfortable clothes for the job with a stain resistant technology. However, sometimes stains happen. Dealing with a stain quickly will keep it from sinking into the fabric and making it hard to remove later–but who has time to catch a stain immediately, while on the job? Instead, learn the trick of removing stains before laundering. If you see a stain, blot to remove any excess, and then apply a good stain remover. You may need to work the stain remover into the fabric with a brush. Directions for stain removers vary, so it may suggest you wash the item immediately, or wait anywhere from 5-30 minutes.
  2. Wash. After checking your work pants and work shirts for stains and treating them, put your work wear in the wash. Steer clear of any detergents that use bleach. Wash your workwear according to the care tag on the item. Usually home wash is completely acceptable.
  3. Re-check for stains, and dry. If you have treated your garments for stains, do not put the item into the dryer without first checking to be sure the stain was actually removed. Drying a garment will set the stain, making it impossible to remove later. Hang the workwear item to dry, and check to see if the stain has been completely removed. If it is still visible, repeat the stain removal process. Make sure you are using a really good stain removal product, like Resolve, Dreft, or Wisk. Repeat the process as needed until the stain is completely removed. A professional appearance with clean, neat workwear is appreciated in every job.


Keeping your workwear clean and stain-free is easy to do when you get into the swing of it. Maintain a habit of checking your work wear for stains as soon as you remove the garments, and then treating the stains and tossing the items into the laundry before bed. Your work pants, work shirts, coveralls, jackets, etc., will stay fresh and neat looking, while keeping you professionally attired and well dressed for your job. Remember to shop Red Kap for the best work wear that is durable and comfortable, and will launder well.

Workwear – Measuring for a Good Fit

Measuring for a Good Fit Made Easy

Measuring yourself to ensure that your workwear fits well is important to maintaining a professional appearance. Maintaining your professional appearance can be a stepping stone to new job opportunities with your company, and even raises. When measuring yourself for work wear, it’s best to enlist the help of a family member, friend, or tailor. It can be hard to properly reach the tape measure around yourself and get the correct measurement, so having help ensures that you will get correct measurements for your work pants, work shirts, coveralls, and/or jackets. Before you begin, you will need a tape measure, assistant, and a pencil and paper to take down your measurements.

Men’s Measurement Guidelines

Measuring for men’s Red Kap workwear consists of taking five measurements: neck, chest, sleeve, waist, and inseam as seen in our measuring chart.
1. Measuring for neck size. Have your assistant stand to the side, and measure lightly around your neck with the tape measure. The tape measure should not be tight, or overly loose. The number of inches shown is the proper neck size for work shirts.

2. Measuring for chest size. Your assistant should stand in front of you, and reach the tape measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and around your shoulder blades. The number of inches shown will be your chest size. If your stomach is bigger than your chest size, you will want to use the larger number when ordering work shirts or jackets.

3. Measuring for sleeve length. With your assistant standing behind you, reach your arm out to the side, and then touch your nose. Your assistant should measure the length from the center back of your neck, out to your elbow, and then back up to your wrist. The number of inches shown is your sleeve length.

4. Measuring for waist size. Your assistant should stand in front, and wrap the tape measure around your natural waist, just above your hip bones. Measure over a shirt, but not over pants, to ensure a proper fit. The number of inches shown is your waist measurement for ordering work pants.

5. Measuring for inseam. Your inseam is the length of pants from crotch to hem. Stand with legs straight and slightly apart. You should hold the tape measure at the base of your crotch seam, and your assistant should measure down the inside of your leg to the top of your shoe. The number of inches shown is your inseam measurement for work pants and coveralls. Continue reading