PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-630
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 630
MAY 2005
PS 630
MAY 05
46
BDUs…
I
t’s time to take a stark, full-length-mirror
look at yourself. What do you see staring
back? Be honest. Are your BDUs fading?
Wearing thin at the elbows and knees? Have
the pockets, collar and cuffs frayed? Has the
stitching come so unraveled you’re trailing
nine yards of thread and stray cats think
you’re a play toy? Can you no longer tell
where the camouflage ends and the coffee
stains begin?
Don’t blame your BDUs. Maybe the prob-
lem lies with the way you do your laundry.
But some simple improvements in your
washing routine can change you from
raggedy to stylish. Here’s how to make your
uniform look better and last longer:
Hand Washing
In a pinch you can hand wash BDUs.
Again, use warm water and a mild deter-
gent. Rinse thoroughly in clean, warm
water. Don’t wring or twist the uniform to
get excess water out—that adds wrinkles.
Instead, squeeze the water out. Wrap the
uniform in dry towels, then gently
squeeze the bundle, letting the towels
draw out moisture from the BDUs.
Drying
It’s OK to machine dry your cap, shirt
and trousers. Set the dryer on permanent
press cycle. As soon as the cycle is fin-
ished, remove the clothes right away and
hang them up.
If you prefer to drip-dry your uniform,
make sure to put it on a rust-proof hanger.
Never starch
aircrew BDUs or any
NOMEX clothing. They’re made to
be fire- and heat-resistant and starch-
ing defeats that protection. Starch
leaves a flammable residue that fills
the spaces in the clothing’s weave.
It’ll burn and so will you.
Ironing
If you press BDUs, set the iron on a
permanent press or low setting. Never
iron dirty clothing. That can set dirt and
stains permanently into the fabric.
Machine Washing
Use warm water and a mild detergent.
Never add chlorine bleach to the wash water.
It fades the clothing, weakens the fabric and
shortens its life.
Laundering
any other
way
wears
down
that
protection.
They also
preserve
the infrared
protection
built into
your
clothing.
Wash your
uniform and
camouflage
cap on
permanent
press.
Drip-dry on
rust-proof
hanger
AR 670-1
has the
story on
starching
BDUs
These
laundry tips
do
more
than
safeguard
your BDUs
from wear,
fading and
shrinking.
Starch
If you want your temperate or
enhanced hot-weather BDUs to look
crisp, starch them. AR 670-1 (3 Feb
05),
Wear and Appearance of Army
Uniforms and Insignia,
Para 3-6.d,
says it’s OK. It also says commanders
may not require soldiers to starch
BDUs. Just remember, starch short-
ens the life of BDUs. Para 1-9.a.(5)
says soldiers will not receive an
increase in their clothing replacement
allowance to make up for wear caused
by starching.
Para 5-5.d. of AR 670-1 says sol-
diers are
not
authorized to starch the
desert BDU.
don’t
use
this on
bdus!
630.46-47(C)
3/28/05
8:11 PM
Page 1
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