How to Properly Launder Pesticide Contaminated Clothing

Written collaboratively by Adam Varenhorst, Stephen Robertson, Patrick Wagner, Amanda Bachmann, Eric Jones, Madalyn Shires, and Philip Rozeboom.

When working with pesticides, always follow label instructions and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Many types of PPE are intended for single use only and should be discarded after use. But how do you wash reusable PPE and clothing contaminated with pesticide residue? Fortunately, the pesticide label provides information on how to, if possible, properly handle and launder contaminated clothing and PPE.

PPE (reusable or not) and clothing that is heavily contaminated with pesticide product should be properly discarded. Laundering these items would not sufficiently remove the pesticide residues and would contaminate your washing machine.

Removing, Storing, and Laundering

Below are the steps for removing, storing, and laundering reusable PPE and clothing contaminated with pesticide residue:

Step 1: Check the pesticide label to ensure that contaminated clothing can be laundered.

Step 2: Wear chemical resistant gloves whenever handling contaminated clothing, such as removing, storing, and laundering contaminated PPE.

Step 3: Shake, brush, or dust off clothing outdoors to remove residues from dry products. You should pay special attention to cuffs, hems, and pockets as these areas can collect residues.

Step 4: Remove clothing outside of the home in a designated changing area that can easily be decontaminated.

Step 5: Store contaminated clothing in a plastic storage bin with a sealable lid that is clearly marked that it contains clothing with pesticide residues (Figure 1).

Blue container with lid visible that has a label indicating it is only for pesticide contaminated clothing/PPE.
Figure 1. Plastic storage bin with sealable lid that is marked for pesticide contaminated clothes. (Credit: Stephen Robertson, SDSU Extension)
 

Step 6: Launder contaminated clothing as soon as possible. The efficiency of removing the residues decreases after 24 hours. If you need to store the clothes before washing them, place the container holding the clothes in a facility outside of the home.

Step 7: Wash contaminated clothing separately (in a washer designated for pesticide-contaminated clothing, if possible) and never with non-contaminated clothing. See Table 1 below for washing machine setting recommendations.

Step 8: Dry clothes outside, if possible. Research shows contaminated clothes dried outside retain less residual pesticide. We do not recommend using a dryer unless it is used ONLY for washed PPE. Even freshly washed PPE can lead to a contaminated dryer.

A pair of well-worn work gloves and sturdy denim coveralls hang drying on a rustic clothesline against a backdrop of a sun-drenched countryside landscape.
Research shows contaminated clothes dried outside retain less residual pesticide. (Courtesy: Juniper Canales, Pixabay)
 

Washing Machine Settings

The following steps outline the recommended washing machine settings for contaminated clothes.

Step 1: Read the product label to evaluate for washing/detergent recommendations

Step 2: Load the washing machine but limit to 50-75% capacity to ensure the best agitation of the clothes and dilution of the residues.

Step 3: Use the maximum amount of detergent that is recommended for your machine.

Step 4: If available, choose the heavy-duty setting (Figure 2)

Washing machine console with a yellow circle around the heavy-duty cycle option.
Figure 2. A washing machine control console with the heavy-duty preset cycle highlighted. (Credit: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)
 

Step 5: Use the hottest water setting, the largest load setting, and the heaviest soil level on the machine (Figure 3)

Washing machine console with a yellow circle around the selections for water temperature, load size, and soil level.
Figure 3. A washing machine control console with the water temperature, load size, and soil level options highlighted. (Credit: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)
 

Step 6: Select the pre-rinse/soak setting and second rinse options before initiating the wash cycle (Figure 4).

Washing machine console with a yellow circle around the pre-wash and second rinse options.
Figure 4. A washing machine control console with the pre-wash and second rinse settings highlighted. (Credit: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)
 

Step 7: When the washing cycle is complete, run the spin cycle to remove as much water as possible (Figure 5).

Washing machine console with a yellow circle around spin cycle.
Figure 5. A washing machine control console with the spin cycle highlighted. (Credit: Adam Varenhorst, SDSU Extension)
 

Step 8: Remove the clothes and line dry

Step 9: Run the washing machine empty with detergent using the heavy-duty option with the hottest water and largest load size to rinse any remaining residues from the washing machine.

Step 10: Decontaminate the clothes storage bin using hot, soapy water and rinse outdoors.

For additional information, see NDSU Extension’s Laundering Pesticide-contaminated Work Clothes publication.

Related Topics

Chemical Safety, Crop Treatments

Related Content

Left: Kochia growing abundantly in an untreated soybean field. Right: Kochia weeds burned down in a soybean field managed with an herbicide mixture.

Glufosinate + lactofen is likely an effective mixture to manage kochia postemergence in soybean

Kochia is a difficult to manage weed that infests crops across South Dakota. Mixing effective herbicides is a tactic that can reduce selection pressure on resistant weeds and increase the effectiveness of weed management.

Green plant with bright yellow flowers throughout.

Leafy Spurge: Do I spray now or wait until fall?

In June, leafy spurge is one of our most problematic rangeland, pasture, and roadside weeds. It is also one of South Dakota’s noxious weeds that landowners are required by law to control. So should you spray it now or wait until fall?

Young sunflower plants emerged in a vast field.

Overlapping Residual Herbicides May Be Necessary for Effective Weed Management

Weed management in sunflowers poses unique challenges. Compared with many other crops, there is a limited number of herbicides selections, especially postemergence herbicides.