Working as a chef means you are in constant contact with foods, beverages, and ingredients that can stain your clothing. Keeping your chef's uniform clean and presentable in the face of these challenges can be tricky. However, it is imperative to make a good impression on your staff and clients, so knowing how to care for your chef's apparel is important to maintain your reputation. Here are a few simple tips to help you expertly care for your chef apparel.
Purchase Quality Chef's Apparel
First and foremost, purchase your chef's apparel from a quality, reputable distributor. This will ensure that the pieces you buy can withstand the rigorous conditions of a professional kitchen. Higher quality pieces are manufactured from higher quality materials, and they can stand up against multiple cleanings and hours in extreme conditions.
Take Care of Stains Immediately
Being in a kitchen is hectic but if you spill something on your chef's apparel, it is important to step aside and try to treat the stain as quickly as possible. To begin, remove as much of the food or beverage as you can with your hands, a paper towel, or a rag. Blot at the stain instead of rubbing it into your coat, as this will work the material or liquid even further into the fabric.
Next, apply a laundry pretreatment according to the package directions. If possible, keep an extra set of apparel at work, as this will allow you to treat the stain while you go back to work. Make sure to launder the apparel as quickly as possible after you get home.
Launder Your Gear According to the Label's Directions
Before washing and drying your chef's apparel, check the label to determine the manufacturer's suggestions on how to care for the garment. For example, some manufacturers may suggest washing the garments separately, while others will recommend washing the garments in hot water and hanging the apparel up to dry.
Remember that in some cases, if you wash your white chef's apparel with colors, the colors of the other garments can bleed onto your chef's gear.
Store Your Uniforms Correctly
Finally, when you get home from a long shift, it is important to either launder your chef's gear immediately, or if there are no stains and you can wear the apparel for another shift, to hang up the clothing right away. This will help prevent staining and wrinkling.
Caring for your chef's apparel properly can help extend the life of your clothing and protect your investment.
