PRODUCTS| 24.09.2021
Dickies work trousers are known for their durability, but are also built for tradesmen working in testing conditions and environments that can sometimes cause garments to become dirty, worn down or damaged.
What’s the best way to keep your Dickies work trousers smart and in-tact for longer? We know it’s a bit boring, but think of it like brushing your teeth - it needs to be done! We’ll start off with the basics of caring for and washing your work trousers, then give advice on how to remove stains and repair damages, before rounding off with aftercare tips and the best cleaning products. Let’s go through it, step by step.
You should treat your work trousers with great care to ensure their durability lasts, whether that means washing them gently or avoiding rips and tears to the material. If you look after your work pants they’ll look after you! Frequent washing will help the material last much longer as dust and dirt may destroy fibres by abrasion.
Caring for your work trousers is mostly common sense - always make sure to check the garment care label inside each pair of your work trousers, as different materials have different care instructions. It’s not a one size fits all approach!
For example, the Multi-Pocket Trousers are made from a mixture of polyester and cotton, with knee pad pockets reinforced with CORDURA. CORDURA is durable and easy to care for, but must be washed on a low temperature with mild detergent and air dried.
The Lightweight FLEX Trousers are made with Dickies FLEX technology, which contains elastane in the fabric therefore needs to be hand-washed or machine washed on a lukewarm permanent press cycle.
The least damaging way to wash your work trousers would be to hand wash them of course, but who’s really got time for that? If you machine wash your trousers, make sure you do so on a low temperature and gentle spin cycle. Cold water ensures the material of the work trouser does not get damaged or shrink, and the slower spin cycle goes easy on the worn down sections of the trouser, not making them bigger or worse.
The optimum temperature to wash your work trousers is 30°C, up to a maximum of 40°C. Use a small amount of liquid detergent, not powder detergents. Avoid using fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance. Softener and soap-based detergents should always be avoided when washing workwear garments as they leave traces of fat or grease from soap or chemicals that can counteract the properties of the fabrics.
Any work trousers with reflective sections, velcro fasteners, buttons or zips - for example our Holster Universal Flex Trousers - always turn them inside-out and close all zips and fastenings before washing. This reduces wear on the garment and thereby extends its life, as well as preventing those components from breaking in the wash. Knee pads must be removed before washing, unless they are specifically designed to be washed together with the trousers.
And it goes without saying, but the belts and braces approach doesn’t apply to washing your work trousers, so make sure you remove both before washing! Also remember to empty all pockets of loose objects, as these can make holes in the clothing and damage the washing machine.
If your work trousers get dirty or have smelly stains on them, for example oil stains, make sure you use the correct products to treat these stains that don’t affect the colour or material of the trouser. Bleach is hugely effective at removing tough, stubborn stains but it’s very powerful and can be very damaging, breaking down the fibres in the fabric.
Oil or grease should first be treated with a dry cleaning solvent followed by a spray cleaner or detergent and water. Avoid chlorine or bleach-based cleansers. Flame retardant trousers should be washed very gently, using a mild detergent and a low/medium setting.
If the worst happens and you tear or rip your work trousers, don’t panic! Small holes are easy to stitch up and larger tears can be remedied with fabric patches. If the trousers have been exposed to chemicals or heat/flame, they must be carefully examined to make sure that the fabric is undamaged.
It’s also worth noting that when repairing damaged trousers, you must only use approved/certified materials and fabrics, otherwise the performance of the garment will be reduced. For example, replacing a CORDURA knee pad pocket with a standard cotton fabric patch would make for very sore knees!
Cleaning and caring for your work trousers doesn’t just stop after washing them! After you have carefully washed, removed stains and/or repaired your work trousers, they still need some TLC. To give them adequate aftercare, you should dry them outside in the air or on a drying rack after washing, if possible.
Do not let your trousers stay in the washing machine after washing - hang them on a drying rack immediately in order to prevent creases. NEVER tumble dry your work trousers, as tumble drying could result in garment shrinkage and fabric damage.
So what products should you use to keep your work trousers clean and fresh? Gentle liquid laundry detergents are ideal, especially if plant-based and formulated without fragrance and enzymes to minimise the risk of allergies on sensitive skin. For any stubborn dirt or grime, Stain Removers are your answer. Seek out products proven to remove heavy duty stains from clothing including grease, paint and odours.
All in all, cleaning your work trousers is not rocket science - wash them regularly on cool temperatures and gentle spin cycles, turn them inside out and remove anything from the pockets, and make sure you air dry them after washing. Protect your work trousers as they’re made to protect you!
You can check out the whole Dickies workwear collection here.
In the 90’s Dickies were made popular by Julien Stranger and the Anti-Hero team and SF Based skaters, as well as the Zero Team/ Toy Machine Team (1996) Donny Barley, Jamie Thomas, and Adrian Lopez. They made it cool, and by skating in it, the influence started...
Read more
Our Italian flow riders were planning a skate trip for a long time this last year, but due to covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the plan just never happened for obvious reasons… However, in September the situation seemed to improve a bit and we found the opportunity to reunite part of the team to hit the road around the North-West coast of Italy.
Read more
Our Italian flow riders were planning a skate trip for a long time this last year, but due to covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the plan just never happened for obvious reasons… However, in September the situation seemed to improve a bit and we found the opportunity to reunite part of the team to hit the road around the North-West coast of Italy.
Read more
