How to remove glass wool stains from clothes?

Glass wool is a complex material, requiring clothing specifically designed for this purpose. The fiber doesn't stick to it, so there's no need to wash the item after each wear. However, many people neglect this rule and then wonder: how to remove glass wool from clothing without further damaging it?

Removing glass wool from the fabric

The first thing that comes to mind when fiberglass gets on your clothing is to wet it with water. This is absolutely not recommended. Removing fiberglass from a wet surface is completely impossible. You'll only make the task more difficult. Crumpling, rubbing, or subjecting the clothing to any mechanical stress is also not recommended.

Before you begin cleaning your item, put on rubber household gloves! Glass wool can damage your skin much more than your clothing.

1. The first and most important rule: clothes must be dry. To ensure complete dehydration, use a regular vacuum cleaner and run the hose or small nozzle over the clothes. This will speed up the drying process and also remove any glass particles that could accidentally get into your eyes or inhale. If possible, wear a mask and goggles.
2. Continue to dry the clothes as much as possible using any available methods. Keep them near a radiator, blow dry, and vacuum again. Moisture acts as a binder for glass fragments and fabric fibers, so the less moisture, the better.

Only after thorough drying, when the primary glass layer has been removed, can you proceed directly to washing the item. It must be done strictly by hand, separately from any other clothing and under no circumstances exposing your arms!

Repeat the procedure 4-5 times, there is no need to rub or crush anything, just rinse the item in clean water, and between washes, direct a powerful stream of running water onto it.

After cleaning, dry the garment thoroughly. Once dry, vacuum it a couple more times. You've done everything you can. All that's left to do is evaluate the results. If you're not satisfied, you can try dry cleaning the item or, as a last resort, throw it away.

Important! If glass wool stains a wool item, it will be irreparable. Removing glass particles from wool fibers is virtually impossible.

Glass wool got on my skin: what should I do?

If you're unfortunate enough to get glass wool on your skin, you'll immediately experience intense itching. It's important to take action as soon as possible. First, close your eyes, hold your breath, and shake your hair, as there may be a lot of glass particles left in your hair.

Now you need to take a shower with a strong stream of water. The water should be cool, preferably no warmer than body temperature. This is because hot showers open up the skin's pores, which can allow particles to get inside. For the same reason, avoid rubbing your skin with your hands or a washcloth to avoid causing micro-damage.

After showering, dry yourself off without rubbing yourself dry, and then repeat the shower, this time using toiletries such as soap or shower gel. Sometimes, even after completely removing the fiberglass from your skin, itching can persist for a while. There are several ways to relieve this unpleasant symptom:

• Wet a towel with cold water or wrap it in ice and apply it to the inflamed area. The low temperature relieves itching well;
• If cooling doesn't help, apply ointment to the affected area. Aloe, fermented milk products, or calendula tincture are all good options; they not only soothe irritation but also disinfect the skin.

A similar situation can arise after wallpapering walls with fiberglass wallpaper, as it's made from the same materials as fiberglass. In any case, try to protect vulnerable areas as much as possible while working.

   

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