How to Clean Hi-Vis Jackets and Reflective Workwear

High-visibility jackets and reflective workwear need to stay clean enough to remain visible while also protecting the fluorescent fabric, reflective tape and technical materials they are built with.

The safest approach is to follow the care label on the individual garment, remove heavy dirt before washing and avoid cleaning methods that can damage reflective trim, waterproof membranes or high-visibility fabrics.

Why Cleaning Hi-Vis Clothing Correctly Matters

High-visibility clothing works by making the wearer easier to identify against the surrounding environment.

Depending on the garment, this can involve:

• Fluorescent background fabric for daytime visibility
• Retroreflective tape for visibility when light is directed toward the wearer
• Waterproof or breathable membranes
• Protective outer-shell materials
• Seam sealing

Heavy dirt can reduce the visual contrast of the garment, while inappropriate washing or drying can damage reflective materials or the outer shell.

Always Check the Care Label First

There is no single washing method that applies to every hi-vis jacket.

Different garments can use different combinations of:

• Polyester shells
• Waterproof membranes
• DWR treatments
• Reflective tape
• Insulated liners
• Seam-sealed construction
• Reversible outer layers

The care label on the individual garment should therefore take priority over general washing advice.

For workplace garments, you should also follow your employer's PPE maintenance and replacement procedures.

How to Wash a Hi-Vis Jacket Step by Step

Step 1: Inspect the Jacket Before Washing

Before putting the garment into a washing machine, check for:

• Heavy mud or dirt
• Oil or chemical contamination
• Damaged reflective tape
• Torn fabric
• Loose seams
• Damaged zippers or fasteners
• Areas where the fluorescent fabric has noticeably faded

If a garment is being used as PPE and its condition appears compromised, cleaning may not be enough. Follow your workplace procedure for inspection or replacement.

Step 2: Remove Loose Dirt

Brush or gently wipe away loose dust, dried mud and debris before washing.

This reduces the amount of abrasive material moving around against the garment and reflective trim during the wash cycle.

Step 3: Prepare the Jacket

Follow the garment instructions for preparing it for washing.

Depending on the jacket, this may include:

• Closing main zippers
• Securing hook-and-loop fasteners
• Emptying pockets
• Removing detachable components where the care label instructs you to
• Separating removable liners if they have different washing instructions

Step 4: Wash According to the Care Label

Use the wash temperature and cycle specified on the garment.

A mild detergent is generally preferable for technical outerwear, but the product label should determine what can and cannot be used.

Step 5: Avoid Unnecessary Abrasion

Reflective tape and high-visibility fabrics can be damaged by repeated abrasion.

Where practical, avoid washing hi-vis jackets alongside heavily abrasive garments or equipment containing exposed fasteners that may repeatedly scrape against reflective areas.

Step 6: Dry the Jacket According to the Label

Check whether the individual garment should be line dried, tumble dried or treated another way.

Do not assume every reflective jacket should be tumble dried at the same temperature.

Excessive heat can affect some technical fabrics, adhesives and reflective constructions.

How to Remove Stains From Hi-Vis Clothing

Work environments can expose high-visibility clothing to mud, grease, food, dust and other stains.

The objective is to remove the contamination without damaging the visible background fabric or reflective trim.

Deal With Stains Early

When practical, deal with a stain before it becomes heavily embedded in the material.

Use the Mildest Suitable Method First

Start with the cleaning method permitted by the garment label.

Avoid aggressive scrubbing across reflective tape or fluorescent fabric.

Spot-Test Stain Products

If a stain treatment is allowed, test it on an inconspicuous area first.

A product that removes a stain but noticeably changes the fluorescent colour or damages the fabric is not a successful cleaning method.

Can You Use Bleach on Hi-Vis Jackets?

Do not use bleach unless the garment care instructions specifically allow it.

Can You Use Fabric Softener on Reflective Clothing?

Again, check the care label.

Fabric softeners can leave coatings on technical materials and may not be appropriate for waterproof, breathable or performance outerwear.

If the individual garment says not to use fabric softener, follow that instruction.

Can You Put Hi-Vis Jackets in the Washing Machine?

Many hi-vis jackets can be machine washed, but the individual care label determines the correct cycle, temperature and detergent.

Do not assume that because one reflective jacket can be machine washed, every high-visibility garment can be treated identically.

Can You Put Hi-Vis Jackets in the Dryer?

Some can be tumble dried and others may require different drying conditions.

Check the garment label before using a dryer.

If tumble drying is permitted:

• Use only the permitted heat setting
• Remove the garment when the cycle is finished
• Inspect reflective areas after drying

Avoid repeatedly exposing technical outerwear to more heat than the care instructions require.

How to Care for Reflective Tape

Retroreflective tape works by returning light toward its source, which can help make a wearer more visible at night or in low-light situations when illuminated.

To help protect reflective trim:

• Remove abrasive dirt before washing
• Avoid aggressive scrubbing
• Avoid damaging the tape with exposed fasteners
• Follow the permitted wash and drying conditions
• Inspect for cracking, peeling, separation or heavy abrasion

Current 5.11 hi-vis outerwear such as the Responder Hi-Vis Parka™ 2.0 uses 3M® Scotchlite® reflective tape alongside a waterproof/breathable hard shell, demonstrating why reflective care and technical outerwear care need to be considered together.

How to Clean Waterproof Hi-Vis Jackets

A waterproof hi-vis jacket performs more than one job, so its care needs to protect both visibility and weather performance.

The current Responder Hi-Vis Parka™ 2.0, for example, combines 3M® Scotchlite® reflective tape with a 10K/10K waterproof and breathable 2-layer shell and DWR finish.

For waterproof hi-vis outerwear:

• Follow the product care label precisely
• Avoid harsh cleaning products
• Keep reflective tape free from heavy dirt
• Do not treat the garment as ordinary cotton workwear
• Inspect seam sealing and shell condition periodically

5.11 Hi-Vis Jackets Available in Australia

The current Australian outerwear range includes several high-visibility designs built around different work and response requirements.

5.11 Jacket	Key Construction	Care Consideration
Responder Hi-Vis Parka™ 2.0	Waterproof/breathable shell with 3M® Scotchlite® reflective tape	Care must protect both the shell system and reflective trim
Reversible Hi-Vis Jacket	Waterproof, windproof reversible construction with 3M® Scotchlite® reflective tape	Both sides of the reversible garment need to remain clean and serviceable
Responder High-Visibility Parka	Waterproof professional-response outerwear with reflective high-visibility construction	Follow the product label and inspect the garment as PPE where applicable

The Reversible Hi-Vis Jacket combines waterproof and windproof construction with 3M® Scotchlite® reflective tape and a fully reversible design.

High-Visibility Clothing and Australian Workplaces

High-visibility clothing is treated as personal protective equipment in many Australian workplaces.

Safe Work Australia states that PPE needs to be suitable for the worker and task and that workers should receive information, training and instructions about its use and maintenance.

Australian high-visibility requirements can reference standards such as AS/NZS 4602.1 or the newer AS 4602.1 in particular applications. The required class depends on the environment and use.

This matters with current 5.11 products because some hi-vis jackets sold in Australia are labelled to ANSI/ISEA standards. For example, the Responder Hi-Vis Parka™ 2.0 is certified to ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R & P, Class 2. Confirm whether that certification meets your organisation's Australian requirements before using the garment as required workplace PPE.

Day Visibility vs Night Visibility

High-visibility clothing can use different materials for different visibility conditions.

Fluorescent fabric improves conspicuity in daylight, while retroreflective material is intended to reflect directed light, such as vehicle headlights, in darker conditions.

That means fading fluorescent fabric and damaged reflective tape are different problems, but both can affect the garment's intended performance.

How Often Should You Wash Hi-Vis Clothing?

There is no universal schedule.

Wash the garment when dirt or contamination begins affecting cleanliness or visibility, while staying within the garment manufacturer's care limits.

Very frequent unnecessary washing can also create wear, so the aim is to keep the garment serviceable rather than washing it automatically after every use regardless of condition.

Does Washing Reduce Reflectivity?

Reflective materials can degrade with repeated wear, washing and abrasion.

The exact service life depends on the reflective material, garment construction, washing process and manufacturer's limits.

Do not rely on an arbitrary number of washes unless that number is specified for the individual garment.

Instead, follow the care label and regularly inspect the reflective trim.

When Should a Hi-Vis Jacket Be Replaced?

Cleaning cannot restore a garment that is no longer fit for its intended purpose.

Inspect hi-vis PPE for:

• Significant fading
• Reflective tape that is peeling or separating
• Cracked or heavily abraded reflective trim
• Tears or holes
• Damaged closures
• Permanent contamination
• Damage to waterproof or protective layers
• Loss of required compliance markings or identification

How Should You Store Hi-Vis Jackets?

Once clean and dry, store high-visibility outerwear in a way that reduces unnecessary damage.

Good practice includes:

• Make sure the jacket is completely dry before storage
• Avoid storing it heavily compressed where reflective tape remains sharply folded
• Keep it away from contaminants
• Protect it from unnecessary prolonged UV exposure
• Hang structured jackets where practical

Cleaning Hi-Vis Jackets for Australian Conditions

Australian working conditions can expose outerwear to strong UV, dust, rain, mud and long periods of outdoor use.

Dust and Dry Conditions

Remove loose dirt regularly rather than allowing abrasive particles to remain embedded around reflective trim and seams.

Rain and Wet Conditions

Allow the jacket to dry according to the care label before storing it.

For waterproof outerwear, inspect the shell and seams as well as the reflective material.

Strong Sun Exposure

UV exposure can contribute to fading over time. Store the garment away from unnecessary direct sunlight when it is not being used.

Dirty Work Environments

Where the jacket is used as workplace PPE, keep it clean enough to remain visible and inspect it regularly for physical damage or contamination.

Common Hi-Vis Jacket Cleaning Mistakes

Ignoring the Care Label

The individual garment instructions should take priority over generic online washing advice.

Using Bleach Automatically

Bleach can affect fluorescent colours and technical materials and should only be used where expressly permitted.

Aggressively Scrubbing Reflective Tape

Abrasion can damage the reflective surface. Clean it gently.

Using Too Much Heat

Excessive drying temperatures can affect technical fabrics and reflective constructions.

Washing With Abrasive Equipment

Exposed hook-and-loop fasteners, hard hardware and rough garments can repeatedly scrape reflective areas during washing.

Treating Visibility Damage as a Cosmetic Issue

When high-visibility clothing is required PPE, damage to fluorescent or reflective components can be a performance issue rather than simply an appearance issue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning Hi-Vis Jackets

How do you wash a hi-vis jacket?

Check the garment care label, remove loose dirt, prepare fasteners as instructed and wash using the permitted temperature, detergent and cycle. Dry it according to the garment instructions.

Can you machine wash hi-vis clothing?

Many garments can be machine washed, but the individual label determines the correct process. Do not assume every reflective jacket has the same washing limits.

Can you use bleach on hi-vis clothing?

Only if the garment care instructions permit it. Bleach can affect fluorescent colours and technical fabrics.

Can you tumble dry a reflective jacket?

Only where the care label permits tumble drying. Use the specified heat setting and avoid unnecessary high heat.

How do you remove stains from hi-vis clothing?

Use the mildest method allowed by the garment instructions and avoid aggressive scrubbing across fluorescent fabric or reflective tape.

Does washing damage reflective tape?

Reflective materials can gradually wear through repeated washing and abrasion. Follow the garment's specified care process and inspect the tape regularly.

How often should high-visibility workwear be washed?

Wash it when required to remove dirt and contamination while following the garment manufacturer's limits. There is no universal washing frequency for every hi-vis garment.

When should you replace a hi-vis jacket?

Replace or professionally assess workplace hi-vis PPE when fading, contamination, damaged reflective tape, tears or other wear means it may no longer provide the required visibility or protection.

Are all hi-vis jackets compliant for Australian workplaces?

No. Different garments can be certified to different standards and classes. Confirm the specific requirements of your employer, site or activity and check the compliance label on the garment.

Keep Hi-Vis Outerwear Clean and Serviceable

Cleaning high-visibility clothing is about maintaining performance as well as appearance.

Follow the individual care label, remove heavy dirt before washing, protect reflective tape from unnecessary abrasion and use only cleaning products appropriate to the garment.

After cleaning, inspect the fluorescent fabric, reflective trim, closures and shell before returning the garment to professional use.

Explore the current 5.11 Jackets & Parkas, browse the wider 5.11 Tactical Outerwear range, or compare the Responder Hi-Vis Parka™ 2.0 and Reversible Hi-Vis Jacket.

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