So, my employer instituted a mandatory uniform a couple years back. FR rated uniform pants and collared shirts that feel like their made out of cheap canvas that's been starched. Until then, and the 30 years prior, I wore jeans and t-shirts exclusively. Last collared shirt I owned was for my grandfather's funeral in 06, so I'll freely admit to thinking these uniforms are fucking stupid and more than a little of my discomfort is in how a button up shirt is supposed to fit. It never feels like there is enough room in the shoulders or torso. I've also gained some weight since they fit us for these things.

Anyway, by the time I've worn them long enough to be comfortable, they're about to come apart at the seams. I figure we have a lot of people here who wear a uniform daily and my current shirts are staring to wear thin in several spots...

Is there a way to break in FR uniforms without having to wear and launder them for 6 months? Can I launder them repeatedly and throw them in a low/no heat dryer with some poker chips like the !movies do for aging counterfeit currency. Different detergent, fabric softener, dryer balls...?

I cant say if this will help with FR stuff, but when I had clothing that needed softening before you could wear, my Ex would put them into the dryer with a clean kids tennis shoe. After a couple of no heat cycles the shoe kicked out the stiffness! YMMV.

Fabric softener and FR clothing is a no go. All the FR I used had warnings about using softener on them. FR clothing has come a long way in feel. Maybe purchasing can look at various manufacturers to see what they offer.?

I find the western cut shirts have more room in the shoulders. Need to get measured for the shirts I used to fit in a 54-R 2xlg-rg but have put on some weight and had to move up to a 58-R

You can’t use any detergent with brightener or fabric softener. It leaves a flammable coating on the fabric. In fact you need to run a cycle with nothing but water and a little bleach to remove any residue from the washer before washing your FR clothing. Dryer sheets are also a big NoNo

When new My wife washes just a couple of shirts at a time for about 3 cycles in cold water and it helps with the shirts but the FR jeans just have to wear for awhile to soften up

I use FR when I visit oil and gas customers. I buy the Ariat brand stuff and it's fairly soft. In fact, my FR zipper sweatshirt is the softest thing I own. I admit the jeans can be a bit stiff.

When you say collared, do you mean like a dress shirt style? Many of the guys I work with use FR long sleeve with high neck tshirt style collars. Maybe the collared requirement is for welding to give the exposed neck more cover.
Ariat FR long sleeve tshirt

Follow the manufacturer's washing instructions for best results. Don't use fabric softners though. I believe it defeats the FR purpose or adds chemicals to the material.

I've used Work Wear brick and motor stores (Midland, TX). I'd guess they have an online presence.

I've been through several different brands for FR button down shirts and pants and none of them are what I would call comfortable. When they start to get comfortable is right about when they need to be retired. The only comfortable FR I have is a Dragonwear hoodie.

The way I see it is that if I'm ever involved in an incident where my FR is really needed, I won't be too worried about how comfortable it was.

Carhart FR jeans feel like regular jeans although I find them too thick. Coveralls seem to be more tolerable since they are thinner material. I have worn Wrsngler FR jeans and those held up well. I have not tried Ariat yet.

I lived thru a few different variations of FR and insect repellant uniforms in the Army. Pretty much the same complaints you have and fabric softener was also a no-go. Keeping in mind that stuff exists for a reason... And consider carefully reducing its effectiveness

It was common, myself included, to run it thru multiple cold/low wash/dry cycles in order to break them in to some kind of level of comfort. Worked pretty good, recommend using the name brand of your choice "Free and Clear" detergent and extra rinse cycle.

A) Could you wear some kind of silk liner layer underneath it?

B) Wash it in a strong vinegar solution, using some of the 45% industrial vinegar - maybe wash it in a 5% vinegar solution?

Can you get some test swatch’s to try different washing techniques?

Been a long time since I wore flame-resistant (FR) uniform every day. I wore them nearly every work day '97 to '00 and it was in the Texas heat. I remember a cotton v-neck T-shirt helping with the FR shirt comfort. Our vendor had the most uncomfortable cut in their pants and we called them "small hotel pants" because they had no ball room.

FR makes hot weather hotter and cold weather colder. I also used to have a FR winter jacket and remember freezing my ass off in it on a trip to Illinois.

I'm still in oil & gas but in a corporate office. I only get to wear my FR coveralls a day or two a year. Sorry I can't be more help.

Thank you, TatorTodd, for explaining what 'FR' stands for.

Appreciate the info. Some of my own I guess... the company mandated the uniforms and is providing them to us. No option for brand. The pants are actually the better part of the deal. More room than the jeans I used to wear. The shirts are just unpleasant and shrink enough to be nearly too small. Sleeves now stop above my watch. Yes, button or dress style with a collar like would be for a neck tie. It's totally unnecessary to be FR in my mind in our environment. We are a steel mill, but not a hot mill, so we really only have 3 hot areas and they're just large ovens. Fr mandated for ease of corporate purchasing. One uniform for everybody I guess...

I will give the newest batch couple cycles thru the washer and give the shoe idea a try.

Just be aware that some of the methods suggested may remove the fire retardant property of the fabric.
Just follow the instructions on the tag for laundering.

I do wear undershirts and it makes FR more comfortable. You are not supposed to wear synthetics under FR (obviously since it will melt if you are in a fire) and should wear cotton. Carhart makes FR t-shirts that work well ion winter under FR shirts. It sucks you are tied to one brand, I get them issued but still by my own.

Wolfe

As discussed the more washes the more they loosen up, not a lot but some

As discussed if washing yourself no soap with animal fat in it, with an Arc Flash it burns, the manufacture should have a list of recommended soaps on their site.


Take your existing new shirts back to what ever dept supplied them to you

Tell them , you gave them your normal shirt size and these shirts shrunk up.

To provide proper protection the sleeves need to extend down further. With the sleeves the way they are now you are not protected and you are giving them notice to this fact , that it is a safety issue.

In addition, layering on thinner FR clothing to meet the calories needed for protection is also an option. Thinner FR can be more comfortable. But again, your safety section will have to allow that. And wearing anything but 100% cotton under the clothing is kind of risky.

Appreciate the advice. I will look into the soap, but am currently using the generic free and clear because of skin irritation from chemicals. Why I'm washing my own uniforms instead of having the service clean them.
RC, I've had 3 go arounds with sizing for these things already in time we've had them. First set were shirt tails to my knees and we're required to be tucked in. Looked like a full diaper and was about as comfortable. Second time was barely long enough to tuck, but I wore them out before trying again and getting the shrinkers. These are now a new brand as well and made from a rougher, cheaper feeling material. But, at least the torso length is right now. Just not enough room for my fat body build in the torso and shoulders.
My last interaction with my boss about sizing issues involved a wisecrack about Slim-Fast and me basically saying fuck it. My current 3 shirts are from a coworker that was quitting. I just do laundry twice a week and will wear them until they are literally fucking rags before I make another trip to talk to those assholes.

Unless they are doing uniform inspections, you may find a look alike shirt and just buy your own.

Same color and style just a higher quality, different brand.