PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-565
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 565
DECEMBER 1999
Clothing . . .
ing clothing that hasn’t been washed
sets dirt and stains permanently into
the fabric.
To Starch or Not
Some soldiers want a crisp look to
their BDUs, so they starch them. That’s
OK, according to DA Msg DAPE-HR-
S 2017332 Nov 92, but remember that
starch shortens the life of your duds.
The message says commanders will not
require starch.
Exception
When it comes to aviation BDUs or
any NOMEX coveralls—
don’t starch
.
They are made to be fire-resistant and
heat-resistant, but if you starch them,
the protection is defeated. Starch will
burn and you’re toast.
In a pinch, you can hand wash BDUs,
using warm water and a mild deter-
gent. Be sure to rinse all the soap out.
Don't wring or twist the uniform to get
the water out—squeeze it out. Wring-
ing and twisting adds wrinkles and can
damage the fabric. Instead, try wrap-
ping the uniform in dry towels. Then
gently apply pressure to the bundle,
letting the towels pick up the moisture
in the BDUs.
Drying
Set the dryer on its permanent press
cycle (130
°
F or less) to machine dry
the cap, shirt and trousers. Take them
out and hang them up as soon as the
cycle stops, to prevent wrinkles.
Ironing
If you press your uniform, set the
iron on a permanent press or low set-
ting.
Never
press dirty clothing. Press-
Washing
Your BDUs and camouflage cap
are machine-washable, so clean them
regularly.
But make sure the machine’s set
on permanent press, and you use
warm water and a mild detergent.
Never
add bleach to the wash wa-
ter. It weakens the fabric, shortens
the life and can change the color of
the clothing.
you spend
a
lot
of
time
in your
bdu
s
. here's how to keep
them looking
good
.
forget
it!
starch is
a
no-no
on
nomex
!
hung up on
wrinkles
? hang
me up
right out
of the
dryer
.
don't
use
me--i'm a bdu
killer
!
PS 565
49
DEC 99
48
DEC 99
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