Laundering your hood after every exposure to products of combustion is important – but so is doing it in accordance with the NFPA 1851 standard and the manufacturer’s instructions.

The particulate-blocking hood is the most delicate element of your protective ensemble and should only be laundered with other hoods (and possibly the detached liners from your PPE coat and pants). Laundering your hood together with the outer shell of coats or pants outfitted with hook-and-loop fasteners, hook snaps and zippers can cause damage to the hood’s outer layer and particulate-blocking layer.

When possible, wash heavily contaminated hoods separately from those that may be less soiled to help reduce the risk for cross-contamination.

Read the full article to learn how to clean your hood by hand and by machine, as well as how to dry your hood and inspect it after drying.