You’ve invested in high-quality UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) clothing to protect yourself and your family from harmful UV rays—but how do you make sure it continues to provide the sun protection you rely on? Whether you're a parent making sure your child stays protected at the playground or an outdoor enthusiast gearing up for a full day of exploring, proper care is key to maintaining the effectiveness of your UPF apparel.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps for washing, storing, and maintaining your UPF clothing so that you can keep it as effective as the day you bought it.
Why Proper Care Matters for UPF Clothing
You count on your UPF clothing to protect you from the UVA and UVB rays, but did you know that improper care can reduce its effectiveness over time? Exposure to harsh detergents, high heat, and improper storage can degrade its UV-blocking qualities. By following a few easy care steps, you can keep your clothing performing at its best and ensure it continues to provide reliable sun protection wear after wear.
How to Wash UPF Clothing
To preserve the UV-blocking properties of your UPF clothing, it’s important to follow the recommended washing instructions. Here’s how to wash your UPF apparel to ensure its longevity:
1. Use Cold Water
- Washing UPF clothing in cold water is ideal for maintaining fabric integrity. Hot water can cause the fabric fibers to break down faster, potentially reducing their ability to block UV rays.
- Cold water is gentle on the fabric and helps prevent shrinking, which can also affect the clothing's coverage and protection.
2. Choose a Mild Detergent
- Use a gentle detergent without harsh chemicals, like bleach. These additives can degrade the fabric’s UV-blocking properties.
- Look for detergents labeled as “mild” or “delicate,” as they are less likely to damage the fibers.
3. Avoid Fabric Softeners
- Fabric softeners can coat the fibers of UPF fabrics, making them less effective at blocking UV rays. They can also make the fabric feel heavier and less breathable.
- Skip the fabric softener to preserve the breathability and protection of your UPF clothing.
4. Wash on a Gentle Cycle
- If using a washing machine, set it to a gentle cycle to minimize wear and tear on the fabric. This reduces friction, which can cause the fibers to loosen over time, leading to reduced UV protection.
Pro Tip: To maintain UPF effectiveness, consider washing your UPF clothing in a mesh laundry bag to reduce friction and fabric wear over time.
Does UPF Wash Out of Clothing?
UPF clothing is designed to provide long-lasting sun protection, but its durability depends on proper care. UPF does not “wash out” of high-quality clothing, as the UV-blocking properties are typically woven into the fabric or achieved through special treatments. However, factors like repeated washing, use of harsh detergents, or fabric wear can reduce UPF effectiveness over time. To ensure your UPF clothing maintains its protection:
Follow Care Instructions
Use mild detergents without bleach, wash on a gentle cycle with cold water, and avoid fabric softeners to preserve UV protection.
Inspect for Wear and Tear
Regularly check your UPF clothing for signs of damage, such as thinning fabric, stretched areas, or small tears. Damaged spots may allow more UV rays to pass through, reducing the clothing's overall protection. Replace items showing excessive wear to maintain optimal sun protection.
Rotate Your UPF Apparel
To extend the lifespan of your UPF clothing, rotate your apparel regularly. This helps prevent overuse of individual items, allowing each piece to maintain its UPF rating and provide consistent protection.
How to Dry Your UPF Clothing
Proper drying techniques are just as important as washing. Here’s the best way to dry UPF clothing:
Air Dry Whenever Possible
The ideal way to dry UPF clothing is by air drying. Lay the UV-rated clothing flat or hang them in a shaded area to protect the fabric from direct sunlight, which helps preserve its UV-blocking properties. If needed, a low-heat tumble dry setting can be used, but avoid high heat, as it may weaken the fabric and reduce its effectiveness.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
Drying UPF clothing in direct sunlight can cause the material to degrade more quickly, diminishing its ability to block harmful UV rays. To extend the lifespan of your apparel, opt for drying them in shaded or indoor spaces, where they are protected from intense sunlight exposure.
How to Store Your UPF Clothing
When storing UPF clothing, it’s important to keep it in a way that maintains the fabric’s integrity. Here are a few tips for proper storage:
Store in a Cool, Dry Place
- Avoid storing your UPF clothing in hot, humid environments, as this can cause mold or mildew to grow on the fabric. Store your apparel in a cool, dry place.
Avoid Folding for Long Periods
- If possible, hang your UPF clothing to avoid creases that could stretch or wear down the fabric over time. Folding the same way repeatedly can weaken the fabric in specific areas.
Keep Away from Chemicals
- Store your UPF clothing away from chemical cleaners, pesticides, and other harsh substances that could break down the fabric. Chemicals in storage environments can degrade the material and reduce its UPF rating.
How Long Does UPF Clothing Last?
With regular wear and proper care, most UPF clothing is expected to provide reliable sun protection for about two years. However, this doesn’t always mean the fabric maintains its full UV-blocking ability for that entire period. For example, a shirt rated UPF 50 at purchase may degrade to UPF 30 or lower if not properly cared for. Choosing UPF clothing tested for durability ensures long-term protection, so you can rely on your garments for consistent UV defense.
Essuntials’ UPF clothing is lab-tested to maintain UPF 50+ for 40 washes, giving you consistent protection for many years, depending on wear frequency. Following the recommended care instructions is important to maintaining its effectiveness. Regularly inspect your UPF apparel for signs of wear and replace them as needed to ensure optimal sun protection.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your UPF Clothing
After many, many wears, UPF clothing eventually needs replacing. Watch for these signs:
- Fading or thinning fabric – If the material starts looking worn or see-through, UV protection may be compromised.
- Stretched-out fibers – Over time, fabric can lose its density, reducing its UV-blocking capabilities.
- Excessive wear in high-friction areas – If certain areas, like elbows or shoulders, feel noticeably different, it may be time for a new UPF piece.
Pro Tip: Want to check if your UPF clothing is still effective? Try these simple at-home tests: hold your UPF clothing up to a bright light—if more light passes through than before, its UV protection may be reduced, or use a UV test card to check if UV is being blocked and determine if it’s time for a replacement.
The Bottom Line: Proper Care Extends the Life of Your UPF Clothing
UPF clothing is an essential part of your sun protection routine, and with the right care, it can provide long-lasting protection against harmful UV rays. By following these simple steps for washing, drying, storing, and maintaining your UPF apparel, you’ll help ensure that they continue to block UV radiation effectively.
Whether you're playing tennis or pickleball, spending the day at an amusement park with the kids, or simply enjoying time outdoors, well-maintained UPF clothing helps keep your skin protected from the sun.
Live well under the sun!
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