Flex badges are a great uniform alternative to direct embroidery or traditional patches. They have a professional appearance, can swap garments, and are flexible to endure washing, movement, and other wear and tear.
How do you care for a flex badge? It’s easier than you might think!
To keep your flex badge looking professional, in good shape, and attached properly, check out our 7 easy tips to care for your flex badge. Everything from washing your uniform, shining your badge, to swapping it out – we have you covered.
How to Care for a Flex Badge
1) Temporary Attachment – Simply Remove the Badge Before Washing
Flex badges can be attached to uniforms either permanently, with a heat press, or temporarily with a hoop and loop or velcro backing. If you have a temporary attachment, garment care is simple!
Before washing your garment with the flex badge attached, simply remove the flex badge, put it somewhere safe, and reattach the flex badge after the uniform has been completely washed, dried, and ironed. It is advised to keep the flex badge somewhere safe and free of dust until it is ready to be reattached.
2) Heat Press Attachment Instructions
For flex badges that have been permanently attached to your uniform or garment via a heat press application, you can still wash your clothes as usual. Simply turn the garment inside out to keep the flex badge protected before depositing your uniform into the washer.
It is recommended to have the washer on a gentle cycle and use cold weather to protect the flex badge from heat damage whenever possible. Keep it on a low spin cycle if available.
3) Avoid Dryers and High Heat When Possible
Flex badges are best kept in top shape when avoiding high heat. Hang dry uniforms with flex badges attached whenever possible. If you must use a dryer, keep it on a gentle cycle and low heat to reduce the wear and tear on the flex badge.
4) Ironing: Yes or No?
Even though flex badges can be affixed to a uniform permanently, you should take great care to avoid ironing on the flex badge. Flex badges are not metal, despite their appearance, and will be damaged with the application of high heat from an iron.
When ironing a garment with a permanently attached flex badge, iron around the badge but not on it for the best flex badge care. It is safe to iron around the badge on the rest of the garment.
5) Dry Cleaning Tips
Dry cleaning is perfectly safe for flex badges! When dropping off a uniform with a flex badge attached, inform the dry cleaner that the badge cannot be ironed over. All other dry cleaning methods should be perfectly safe for the badge but check with your dry cleaner on their methods and your manufacturer for recommended care instructions.
6) Shine or Not to Shine
Despite their metallic appearance, flex badges are not metal and should not have metal cleaners applied to them, as this could ruin the finishing of the badge. If you need to clean a flex badge directly, it is best to do it with a clean microfiber cloth.
To shine your flex badge, simply gently swipe the clean cloth over the surface. Always use a gentle cloth, otherwise harder or rougher cloth materials could scratch the surface. Cleaners do not need to be used, although a damp cloth can be used for more stubborn dirt. Always wipe the badge dry and store it somewhere safe.
7) Swapping Your Flex Badge to a New Garment
As part of your flex badge care tips, you want to be mindful of how often you swap your flex badge and how you do so. Velcro and hoop and loop attachments are easy to move from one garment to the next.
For a velcro backing, inspect the velcro occasionally to see if the material is wearing or losing connection strength and replace as needed. Always be sure the stitching of your hoop and loop is strong, not fraying.
Heat-attached flex badges are considered a permanent attachment and can not be moved from uniform to uniform. If you need to remove a heat pressed flex badge, it is best to speak with the manufacturer for advice on gently removing the badge to keep the integrity of the badge and the garment. This may involve reheating the adhesive and slowly peeling the badge away, but the wrong heat setting can leave behind residue or cause damage.
Flex Badge Care Tips for Uniforms and Washing
Flex badges have the shine of a regular badge with the flexibility of a patch. Perfect for polo shirts, bicycle uniforms, helmets, and more, they can easily replace embroidery on any material. While not a replacement for a standard badge, flex badges give immediate professionalism and respectful first impressions.
To maintain both your badge and your uniform, take care to protect the flex badge from high heat, don’t expose it to harsh wash or dry cycles, and avoid ironing when possible. Always remove temporary flex badges before care to protect the finish.
Have more questions? Irvin Hahn can answer care questions for flex badge care tips to ensure you do not void your warranty while keeping your flex badge looking new, clean, and professional. These care tips are recommendations for general flex badge care and you should always ask your manufacturer first before applying any washing methods or cleaners.
Irvin H. Hahn
We are a family-owned business that takes pride in being an American manufacturer for over 120 years since 1898. Located in Baltimore, MD, we have six generations of experience making handcrafted badges, buckles, cap devices, collar insignia, and other insignia for law enforcement, fire departments, and other officials.
