PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-611
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 611
OCTOBER 2003
w
hen the fabric parts of your All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying
Equipment (ALICE) get spattered with mud and grime, it’s time for cleaning. A
washing now and then will help make the parts last longer and make them more com-
fortable to wear. Here’s the washday routine:
•
Brush off caked-on dirt with your
hands. Or scrape it off with a flat
stick or dull tool. Never use anything
sharp that will cut the fabric or web-
bing. After getting rid of the caked-
on stuff, sweep away the loose dirt
with a soft brush or clean cloth.
•
Wash ALICE by hand in a bucket
of warm, soapy water. NSN 7930-
00-929-1221 brings a detergent that
cleans well even in hard or salty
water.
Never use a washing machine.
And steer clear of chlorine bleach,
yellow soap, cleaning fluids and sol-
vents. These products will discolor
ALICE and break down the fabric.
•
Inspect the fabric for stubborn, soiled spots that won’t wash out. Scrub them again
with a white or colorfast cloth. Then dip the problem areas in the soapy water again.
•
After washing, rinse thoroughly in clean, warm water until all traces of soap are
gone. Stretch the fabric back to its original shape.
•
Air-dry in the shade or indoors.
Don’t use a clothes dryer. That leads
to shrinkage, not to mention unnec-
essary wear and tear. And never dry
ALICE in direct sunlight or near a
heater or open flames—they’ll fade
and shrink the fabric.
PS 611
OCT 03
59
ALICE…
washday
for
alice
PS 611
Cleaning
Cleaning your MBU helps
fight corrosion and keeps
sensors and vents from
failing.
Wipe off the MBU with
rags and soapy water. Never
submerge it in water or use a
pressure washer for cleaning.
The MBU is water-resistant
but
not waterproof.
After
cleaning, towel it dry.
Here are a
few places
that deserve
attention…
• Burner well.
If not wiped up, spilled
food soon becomes baked-
on food. Clean the well
with a damp rag.
• Air vent assembly.
Located on top of the fuel
tank, the vent has a 3/8-in
hole facing the rear of the
MBU. Dirt and debris can
clog the hole. That hinders
the venting of the tank and
restricts fuel flow. Clean
the hole with a soft-bris-
tled cleaning brush, NSN
• Fuel regulator air vent.
This vent is on the side of
the fuel tank, just below
the filler cap. Remove dirt
with the cleaning brush.
• Connectors.
All connectors, including
those on power cables,
need dusting now and then
with the cleaning brush.
• Battery pack and
power converter.
Wipe down the housing
with a damp, not wet, rag
to remove dust or stains.
Clean
the
well…
…fuel
regulator
air vent…
…and connectors
Brush off
caked-on
dirt
Wash in
warm
water
and mild
detergent
UM.
..UM.
..HOW DiD YOU
PREVENT COrROSiON AND
KEEP YOUR SENSORS
AND VENTS FROM
FAiLiNG?
clean
living,
kid!
dry me in
the
shade
to prevent
fading and
shrinking!
washing me
often
keeps
me lasting
longer and
makes me more
comfortable
to wear!!
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