How To Get Fiberglass Out of Clothes?

How To Get Fiberglass Out of Clothes? – Sometimes you feel a sensation of pricking or pinching through your outfit. Then most probably, it might be due to fiberglass, which not just acts as an agent causing discomfort but also there’s a risk of cross-contamination if you’ve got clothes with fiberglass on it.

Therefore, removing it is essential, and this might be tricky for a lot of people. You can’t simply wash and rinse fiberglass pieces because the fiberglass fibers are very thin, and they might get deeper into the clothes. You must follow a dedicated and working fiberglass removal process in order to get it out of your clothes.

Since this material is used mostly on construction sites, etc., it does contain harmful chemicals. You should avoid getting in direct contact with such things, and if you’ve got some of it on your clothes, carpets, or furniture, it is high time to get rid of it asap.

Of course, you can remove fiberglass particles from your clothes yourself without needing any help from a professional. But before diving into learning the best ways to get rid of fiberglass out of clothes, you must know what fiberglass particles actually are.

What Is A Fiberglass Substance?

Fiberglass is a synthetic reinforced fibres plastic made up of glass fibres and acts as a great substance which is known for its malleability to mould it into desired shape or size for various purposes. Fiberglass is widely used in the industrial sector from power-based industries, manufacturing industries, food processing, automotive industries and other industries that require packaging, transportation and other tasks.

There are various forms of fiberglass material, such as A Glass, C Glass, E Glass, Fiberglass cloth and other types of fiberglass. They also act as insulators in the electrical field. They are preferred for their high tensile strength, dimensional stability and ability to withstand chemical pressure. It even has a lowered speed of rotting and provides great mechanical strength.

How Does Fiberglass Look Like On Clothes?

Usually, fiberglass insulation is hard to see due to being extremely thin and is pale whitish with a hint of pink and yellow colour to it. As it is light as a feather, it is extremely difficult to brush glass fibers off, and even if you are successful in brushing it off, it will be transferred to the next nearest thing because it is airborne by nature.

One of the easiest yet effective ways to determine the presence of fiberglass in your clothing material is by running down your hands and sensing the presence of anything sharp or prickly textured substance.

If you are wearing the clothing and it causes any pricking sensation while wearing it. In such cases, take immediate action and remove fiberglass from clothes as soon as possible because if you don’t, it might feel painful and even develop into a rash in the upcoming days.

Remember to wear fiberglass-resistant clothing and keep it separate from the rest of the clothes because it might get transferred, and you won’t be able to notice it again. The most plausible situation where you can get fiberglass splinters stuck on your clothing is while working with fiberglass products like sheets and insulation panels. 

Can You Get Fiberglass Out of Clothing?

It is definitely possible to remove fiberglass shards from your clothes. For better results, try washing the contaminated garment as soon as possible, and also prevent it from being in contact with other clothing.

If you are working on any form of a project, such as renovation or other construction or manufacturing tasks, that might make you more susceptible to getting contaminated with those tiny shards of fiberglass. Try taking some preventive measures, such as wearing long sleeves to prevent any rash or skin irritation.

To resolve any other chances of being in contact with fiberglass, try to wear loose clothing to minimize the contact of the shards with your skin by making them stuck on the cloth and incapable of pricking or piercing your skin.

Typically, you can air dry your clothes for some time so the particles can be removed easily. You can then pop them into your washing machine and wash them with cold water, followed by machine drying them.

To remove fiberglass from clothes, you can try the following steps:

1. Put on gloves to protect your hands from the sharp fibers.
2. Gently brush off any loose fibers using a soft-bristled brush.
3. Place the clothing in a laundry bag or a pillowcase to prevent the fibers from spreading.
4. Wash the clothing in cold water using a gentle laundry detergent. Avoid using hot water, as this can cause the fibers to melt and become even more difficult to remove.
5. Dry the clothing on the lowest heat setting or air dry it to prevent the fibers from melting.
6. If any fibers are still stuck to the clothing, you can try using a lint roller or masking tape to remove them.
7. If the fibers are still difficult to remove, you may need to consult a dry cleaner for assistance.

How To Effectively Remove Fiberglass From Clothes?

1. Brushing

The very common method to remove fiberglass from your clothes is by using a dry brush. For this, you need a few things like a soft brush, latex gloves, a basin or a tub and hot water. Perform this process very safely, as you can end up hurting yourself or get the particles poked on the skin. Here’s how you can remove the fiberglass pretty easily:

• Gently brush the cloth that has fibreglass particles to remove them from the clothes.
• Repeat this process twice or thrice until the brush is not able to remove them further.
• Then add 3 cups of warm water in the basin or tub and dump the cloth in it.
• Do not forget to wear latex gloves while doing this to protect your skin from it.
• Leave it undisturbed for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Then wash fiberglass out of clothing to remove the particles.
• Throw away the water and wash the cloth normally as you do. 

2. By Using Washing Machine | How To Get Fiberglass Out of Clothes

Machine washing is an easier and less time-consuming way to do this. This process will give the best results in the end, and the clothes will be free from fiberglass particles pretty easily. Remember that when you are going to wash clothes with fiberglass particles in the machine, make sure there are no other clothes in it. You’ll need cold water and mild detergent for this method, as we are not going to deal with any type of stain.

• First, put an optimal amount of water and laundry detergent in the washing machine.
• For every four cups of water, one tablespoon of detergent is required.
• Do not forget to check the care label of the clothes so that it doesn’t get damaged.
• After putting the cloth in the washing machine, wash it like you normally do.
• You can even do double or triple washes, depending on the number of fiberglasses you are dealing with.
• Once the washing part is done, dry the cloth in the dryer or under the sun.

Is It Possible To Dissolve Fiberglass Shards?

When an item of clothing is contaminated with fiberglass, it is very hard to clean it just by rinsing, brushing or washing it in the washing machine. Fiberglass is made up of two components: plastic resin and glass filament. The plastic resin gets held into one solid piece, which makes it difficult to remove fiberglass fibers from the clothes.

So various chemicals and solutions are used which dissolve the resin and the fiberglass particles so they can be removed easily. If you work in an open area with fiberglass stuck very often to your clothes, then you can take the help of the things we’ve mentioned below to remove those particles easily.

1.) Alcohol

Alcohol or ethanol is the most effective chemical used to remove fiberglass particles that have polyester resin in them. It is necessary to keep in mind that pure ethanol should be used while dissolving fiberglass pieces, and it must not be mixed with anything as it can reduce the chances of effective fiberglass dissolution.

Simply pour some of the solutions on the fiberglass-contaminated clothing and wait for a couple of minutes. You will start seeing the results right after pouring these solutions, so just wait for them to completely dissolve the fiberglass stuck on your clothing.

2.) Apple Cider vinegar

It is the safest chemical or household product that can be used to remove fiberglass particles. This easily dissolves the particles and does not destroy the clothes as other chemicals might do. Even if you have rubbed your hands over your clothes, then you can use cider vinegar to wash your hands.

The smell might remain on the body, so washing them with cold or normal water will remove it. Once you’ve used the vinegar on the clothing, use laundry detergent to rinse your clothes to remove the odor.

How To Get Fiberglass Out of Clothes Without Itch?

One of the easiest remedies is to take a hot shower and rinse your body thoroughly, which will help you first soften your skin and remove any existing particles from your skin. Another way that you can do this is using any adhesive substance like duct tape or other to pull out the stuck shards from the skin surface.

Does Fiberglass Eventually Come Out of Your Skin?

No need to worry, it does eventually come out, but it might take some time. However, try avoiding any physical contact which can cause the transfer of the fiberglass shard to another surface. Also, avoid rubbing your hands over the affected area as the glass particles are able to penetrate the skin and might go deeper in there.

What Are The Risks of Fiberglass?

Fiberglass exposure might cause irritation in the eyes, skin, and nose and even cause irritation and discomfort in the lungs as well. People who work with fiberglass products should always wash out of clothes after working with such products to avoid further spreading and contamination of these fiber particles.

What Should I Wear To Protect Myself From Fiberglass?

For protecting your hair, remember to wear a cap or shower cap. There are different types of fiberglass resistant clothing available in the market, and you can buy some of them. If you work with fiberglass often, don’t forget to wear long sleeves clothing or carry a plastic bag to bring back those clothes for washing before wearing that again.

Tips To Remember While Removing Fiberglass Without Washing Machine

Although fiberglass particles do not pose serious health hazards but is always better to be careful while working or removing such materials from your clothes; not only will it help you in keeping your clothes clean, but you will be able to work better than before without worrying about getting dirty. Below we have shared some important keynotes that everyone must remember while dealing with fiberglass.

• For machine washing, use empty washing machines and do not wash other clothes with fiberglass-infected clothes.
• Brush away your garments in a place where the particles don’t land on other clothes.
• Keep a laundry or plastic bag nearby and dump your clothes in it.
• Take the help of a professional dry cleaner if you don’t know how to wash off clothes properly.
• If your clothes have fiberglass particles, soak them in warm water before rinsing them with cold water.
• Keep your full body covered while working with fiberglass products.

Final Words

We hope you’ve liked our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of fiberglass from clothes. The above-mentioned methods of washing fiberglass shards are very simple and effective techniques that can be performed by all, and that too with ease. Just make sure to take necessary precautions while handling any form of fiberglass material which can help you avoid all this work.

If you deal with residual fiberglass often, then maintain a proper wash and rinse cycles of your clothes. Although we have shared the working methods to get fiberglass out of your clothes, if you know about some additional methods, then do let us know about them too. Also, do connect with us if you want assistance in removing fiberglass.