How to properly wash an elastic bandage - can it be done in a washing machine?

Few people know how to wash an elastic bandage according to all the rules. The reason for this lies in inattention to the instructions supplied with the product. Some people who use such bandages for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes generally consider them disposable and change them as needed.

In fact, if you know how to properly care for the material, specialized items can be used for quite a long time. At the same time, their functionality will not suffer at all compared to their original state.

When and how is the best time to wash elastic bandages?

Regardless of the purpose for which the elastic bandage is used, it should be cleaned when it gets dirty. There is no point in subjecting fragile elements of the material to aggressive processing once again. If you wash the products after each use, the thin rubber threads will quickly stretch and become unusable. If you neglect regular care, then these same parts will dry out and begin to tear.

The service life of bandages can be significantly extended if the following conditions are met:

1. Washing is carried out only in lukewarm water. Washing powders and soap are prohibited. It is better to initially prepare a soap solution (from liquid soap, shampoo, detergent), foam it and use it for soaking.
2. After very careful and careful washing without intensive action, the bandages should be rinsed in the same cool water.
3. You cannot twist the material; it is better to fold it several times and squeeze it slightly, stretching the fibers.
4. It is best to dry the bandage in a dryer, away from direct sunlight and artificial heat sources, otherwise the rubber will dry out and burst, and the fibers will quickly wear out. It is not recommended to hang elastic material; it must be laid out in a horizontal plane.

Tip: An elastic bandage in its texture and properties is no different from most existing types of compression garments, so all of the recommendations given for caring for the device can be used in relation to other specialized products.

If everything was done correctly, but even after such careful actions the quality of the material has deteriorated, then it is better not to use it in the future, and to abandon the specific brand in the future. By trying to apply stretched bandages more tightly, you can inadvertently tighten the blood vessels, causing a blockage of tissue nutrition. This will not only not give the desired preventive effect, but can also provoke the development of pathological conditions.

The nuances of using a washing machine

If we are talking about a modern device with the ability to select and disable functions, then the elastic bandage can be washed in this way. In this case, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• Do not place bandages in the drum straightened out. Roll them into a loose ring and place them in a laundry bag.
• Again, only cool water can be used; its temperature should not exceed 30ºC.

Advice: Considering the fact that such a bandage takes quite a long time to dry, it is better to initially purchase an additional product (or a pair). Then there will be no temptation to use prohibited methods to dry the material.

• It is best to wash using liquid enzyme powders; they will not spoil the texture of the material, and all dirt will be easily removed.
• We turn off the spinning and drying, otherwise the bandages will certainly stretch, get damaged, and the rubber threads will partially burst. We select the most gentle washing mode. If serious concerns arise, you can turn off rinsing. In this case, you will be able to rinse the items yourself correctly and in water of a suitable temperature after pre-treatment.

Even if all of the above recommendations are followed, the bandage will gradually wear out, losing its original density. Compliance with the conditions of proper and regular care guarantees the products 2.5-3 months of service, sometimes even a little longer. After this, the devices will have to be replaced.