How to Wash Pesticide-Soiled Clothing

 
 
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      Skin can absorb chemicals from inadequately cleaned clothing and equipment. Safe removal of pesticide demands special care in handling and washing of contaminated clothes:
      • Handle soiled clothing with unlined, nitrile gloves
      • Remove pesticide granules from cuffs and pockets outdoors
      • Discard any garment saturated with chemical concentrate
      • To discard disposables, place in a plastic bag and take to an approved landfill site
      • Wash the clothing daily
      • Wash separately from regular laundry
      • Pre-treat with a stain removal product or pre-rinse on pre-soak cycle of washer if an emulsifiable formulation is used
      • Avoid overcrowding washer
      • Use hot water setting
      • Use full water level and normal cycle
      • Use extra heavy duty detergent
      • Repeat wash
      • After use, clean washer (run empty washer through full cycle with hot water and detergent)
      Drying tip:
      Line dry to prevent contamination of dryer. Line drying also increases the chemical breakdown of pesticide residues.

      Alberta Farm Safety Program
      Email: farm.safety@gov.ab.ca
      or toll-free: 310-FARM (3276)

      Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Farm Safety Staff:
      Janice Donkers, Youth Coordinator: janice.donkers@gov.ab.ca
      Kenda Lubeck, Awareness Coordinator: kenda.lubeck@gov.ab.ca
      Raelyn Peterson, Coordinator: raelyn.d.peterson@gov.ab.ca
      Sharon Stollery, Manager: sharon.stollery@gov.ab.ca
      Blair Takahashi, Specialist: blair.takahashi@gov.ab.ca


     
     
     
     
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    For more information about the content of this document, contact Kenda Lubeck.
    This information published to the web on June 3, 2003.
    Last Reviewed/Revised on November 6, 2018.