What is the best way to wash fire fighting equipment?

Question:Greetings all! I am going through a fire fighting class and we have been issued our personal bunker gear.
We are told to wash our garmets in a front-loading machine washer with a mild soap. Then to hang dry the garmets out of the direct sunlight.
Is this the best way?
What is mild soap? Any good suggestions?
Can they be tumbled dry without heat?
Seeing how this will be my protection against a fire, I would like to make sure it is done right...!
Thanks!

Answers:
Some examples of mild soaps are Ivory Snow, Dreft, Lux, or Woolite. It would probably be best to hang them in sunlight to dry.