How to launder and care for ESD garments correctly

Why is laundering ESD garments so critical?

An ESD garment dissipates charge because conductive carbon or stainless-steel threads are woven into the fabric on a grid of roughly 5 to 10 mm. These threads form a continuous mesh that shields the wearer's ordinary clothing and channels static charge to earth through the body. Every wash cycle stresses this fine mesh both mechanically and chemically.

Unlike ordinary workwear, function is not judged by appearance but by electrical resistance. Fabric softener, bleach and limescale deposit an insulating layer on the fibres and interrupt dissipation. Correct laundering is therefore not a comfort question but part of the ESD control programme under DIN EN 61340‑5‑1.

• Grid fabric: conductive threads on a 5‑10 mm pitch create the Faraday-cage effect.
• The garment shields the everyday clothing beneath it rather than replacing it.
• The function is invisible - only a measurement shows whether the garment still protects.

How often and with what may ESD garments be washed?

Wash ESD garments at 30 to a maximum of 40 °C with a mild, phosphate-free liquid detergent free of optical brighteners. Strictly avoid fabric softener, bleach and chlorine-based stain removers. For normal office use a cycle every one to two weeks is enough; in cleanrooms the local protocol applies.

• Use no fabric softener, no bleach, no chlorine cleaners.
• Choose liquid detergent over powder - powder residues can build up.
• Air-dry at low temperature or use a gentle dryer setting.
• Wash garments separately from linting cotton.

How many washes does an ESD garment survive?

Depending on quality, manufacturers rate a cycle life of around 50 to 100 industrial washes. After that it is not the cloth that wears out but the conductivity that measurably declines. A garment can look perfectly fine and still have lost its ESD protection.

Record the number of washes, for instance with a wash counter or a fixed rotation. Garments with stainless-steel thread are more wash-resistant than pure carbon versions but cost more. For frequent cleanroom laundering a professional ESD laundry service that validates temperature and detergent is worthwhile.

When is re-verification required?

DIN EN 61340‑5‑1 requires regular verification of all ESD control items. For garments this means measuring resistance point to point and point to groundable point, typically at an interval of around twelve months or after a defined number of washes. If the value stays in the dissipative range, the garment remains fit for use.

• Use a tester to EN 61340 with defined electrodes.
• Record values per garment and compare against the limits.
• Retire garments outside the range rather than reworking them.
• Integrate the check into the site's ESD control programme.

Frequently asked questions