How Should Cleanroom Garments Be Washed?
Updated: Oct 12
Cleanroom garments are not ordinary workwear. They are worn in controlled environments where dust, particles, and contamination can affect products and production quality. For this reason, cleanroom garment washing is just as important as choosing the right fabric and garment design.
A cleanroom coverall, hood, or cleanroom shoe may look clean after normal washing, but that does not necessarily mean it is clean enough for a controlled environment. Proper cleaning requires a controlled process, from garment collection and inspection to washing, drying, final inspection, packaging, and testing.
So, how should cleanroom garments be washed? Below is a practical cleanroom garment cleaning process based on a 1000-class cleanroom washing procedure.
Why Is Proper Cleanroom Garment Washing Important?
During use, cleanroom garments can collect dust, particles, skin flakes, and other contaminants. If they are returned to the cleanroom without proper cleaning, these particles can be released again and affect the working environment.
For ESD cleanroom garments, washing also needs to be handled carefully. Repeated washing with unsuitable methods may affect the fabric, conductive yarn, seams, or other functional features.
A proper washing process helps cleanroom clothing maintain its cleanliness and performance over repeated use.
Step 1: Collect Used Cleanroom Garments
The process starts with the recovery of used garments.
Used cleanroom garments should be collected from the designated areas according to a fixed schedule. They should not simply be mixed with ordinary workwear. Proper collection helps prevent cross-contamination before the washing process even begins.
Cleanroom garments and cleanroom shoes should then be transferred to the designated washing area.
Step 2: Sort and Inspect 100% of the Garments
Before washing, every garment should be checked.
The sorting operator performs a 100% visual inspection to identify obvious problems such as stains, damage, broken closures, loose parts, or other defects.
Sorting before washing is useful because heavily contaminated or damaged garments may require additional treatment.
This step is particularly important for reusable cleanroom coveralls, because small tears or damaged seams may become more serious during washing.
Step 3: Repair Damaged Garments
After inspection, garments requiring repair should be separated and repaired before continuing.
The purpose is simple: do not put a damaged garment back into service just because it has been washed.
Repairs should be carried out according to the garment's original construction and cleanroom requirements. After repair, the garment can continue through the cleaning process.
Step 4: Soak the Garments
Before hand washing, the garments are soaked.
According to the cleaning process, the garments are soaked for approximately 30 minutes, while work shoes are soaked separately for 30 minutes.
The washing solution is prepared according to the specified washing procedure. Keeping the soaking time consistent helps make the cleaning process more controlled from batch to batch.
Please note: clothes should be washed at temperatures below 40°C
Step 5: Hand Wash
After soaking, the garments are manually cleaned.
A soft brush can be used for areas that require additional attention, while operators also gently rub and clean the fabric by hand. This step is especially useful for areas where dirt or stains may remain after soaking.
The cleaning process should be gentle enough to avoid unnecessary damage to the fabric and garment construction.
After hand washing, the garments are placed into the washing machine for the next stage.
Step 6: Initial Rinse
The garments then go through the initial washing and rinsing stage.
This helps remove the washing solution and loosened contaminants from the fabric before the final cleanroom cleaning process.
At this stage, it is important to follow the established washing procedure rather than simply increasing washing intensity. Excessive mechanical action may shorten the service life of cleanroom garments.
Step 7: Clean with Pure Water
After the initial washing stage, the garments enter the clean washing process.
According to the 1000-class cleanroom procedure, pure water is used for two cleaning cycles, with each cycle lasting approximately 10 minutes.
Using pure water at this stage helps reduce residues and contaminants that could otherwise remain on the garments.
This is one of the key differences between professional cleanroom garment cleaning and ordinary industrial laundry.
Step 8: Tumble Dry at 70°C
After cleaning, the garments are tumble dried.
The specified drying condition is approximately 70°C for 20 minutes.
Controlled drying helps remove moisture while reducing the risk of leaving the garments damp during the following inspection and packaging stages.
For garments with special materials or functional properties, the manufacturer's recommended washing and drying conditions should always be followed.
Step 9: 100% Final Inspection
Drying is not the final step.
Every garment is inspected again to check whether it is properly cleaned and whether there are visible defects or damage. This 100% inspection helps ensure that garments meet the required condition before they move to packaging.
If a garment does not pass inspection, it should not simply be packaged and returned to use.
Step 10: Folding and Packaging
Qualified cleanroom garments are carefully folded and placed into clean packaging.
The folding process should be controlled to avoid unnecessary contact with contaminated surfaces. Clean packaging also helps protect the garments after washing and before they are delivered back to the cleanroom.
For reusable cleanroom clothing, good packaging is part of contamination control—not just presentation.
Step 11: Cleanliness Testing
After packaging, the garments can be tested according to the required cleanroom standard.
The cleaning process shown here includes testing with an APC particle counter according to a 1000-class cleanroom standard.
Testing provides an additional quality-control step and helps verify that the cleaning process is working as expected.
For ESD garments, other performance checks may also be required depending on the product and application.
Step 12: Store Properly
After passing inspection and testing, the clean garments are placed into the designated storage area.
Cleanroom garments should be kept in a clean and controlled environment until they are ready for use. Proper storage prevents newly cleaned garments from becoming contaminated again.
In other words, cleaning is only effective if cleanliness is maintained after washing.
Common Mistakes When Washing Cleanroom Garments
Several simple mistakes can reduce the effectiveness of a cleanroom garment washing program:
Washing cleanroom clothing together with ordinary workwear
Skipping the pre-wash inspection
Using unsuitable detergents or excessive chemicals
Ignoring the specified soaking time
Using uncontrolled water quality during final cleaning
Overheating garments during drying
Packing garments before final inspection
Storing cleaned garments in an unsuitable environment
For ESD cleanroom garments, it is also important to consider whether the washing method may affect their antistatic performance.
How Can You Extend the Life of Cleanroom Garments?
A professional washing process can help, but garment selection also matters.
Choose fabrics designed for repeated industrial laundering and select the garment construction according to the working environment. For example, lightweight cleanroom clothing may be suitable for certain applications, while heavier fabrics may be preferred where greater durability is required.
Regular inspection is also important. A garment that is visibly damaged, heavily worn, or no longer meets the required performance should be repaired, retested, or replaced.
Choose JSJM for Cleanroom Garments
A reliable cleanroom garment supplier should provide more than a finished garment. Fabric selection, sewing quality, washing requirements, inspection, and packaging all influence the garment's performance in actual use.
JSJM provides a range of cleanroom and ESD workwear for different industrial applications, including cleanroom coveralls, ESD garments, hoods, shoes, and other protective products. We focus on practical fabric selection, garment construction, quality inspection, and customization to meet different customer requirements.
Whether you need reusable cleanroom garments for electronics, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, or other controlled environments, JSJM can help you choose the right garment and cleaning solution for your application.
Looking for reliable cleanroom garments for your production line? Contact JSJM to discuss your requirements and find the right solution for your team.
