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Cleaning vests/rigs etc.


DanBow
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After a particularly sweaty day on Sunday, my chest rug was left a little damp. How are you all cleaning yours? I know I can't just throw it in the washing machine! Is Fabreeze the way to go? 🤷‍♂️

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Most of the time I just hang it up and leave it to air. If it's bad, I'll give it a hose down first.

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Most times I just hang it up outside to air off. If it gets particuarly bad, put some washing gear in a bucket with warm water and give it a couple swirls/dunks. Leave for about 30 mins, rinse in clean water and hang dry.

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Actually …. the washing machine is not an absolute no.

 

But whenever I’ve needed to give vests, chest rigs etc a good clean I have dunked them in the bath after me, left them in the bath or over the bath to drip overnight and then hung up.

 

For the washing machine:

dismantle / remove any possible separate pouches 

Ensure every pouch, pocket, lining etc is empty

turn it inside out and zip it up, buckle it etc (on the assumption that any dangly bits such as fixed pockets, straps etc will then be inside the main body)

put it inside something 

(the something would ideally be a net laundry bag, but could be a pillow cover or other fabric bag - this aims to protect the vest from your washing machine drum and your drum from the vest)

run the machine on a reasonable setting, such as not the fastest spin

 

Be amazed at how pristine it is on completion and don’t complain to me if it gets ripped/your machine breaks down/you get caught by your other half

 

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TBH, I just disassemble my rigs and throw them in the washing machine.

 

I just take the pistol holster and the grenade clamps etc off the vest. But i leave the mag pouches on, as they are velcro close pouches with no dangle bits of elastic or string to get snagged in the mechanism.

 

Run the washing machine on 40°C on sports setting with a liquid detergent tab and some scent booster granules in the drum, fabric conditioner in the drawer.  Then where possible, hang outside to dry

Edited by Spartan09
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A couple of times I’ve launched chest rigs and webbing in the bath with soda crystals to soak, and then drip dry. 
 

Did the trick although I did have to clean the bath after 😂

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I take any plates/inserts out, anything that can come off I remove, dunk it in a bucket of soapy water, then give it a bit of a scrub with a plastic brush. Rinse with the hose and leave to drip dry. My viper one is nigh on 18 years old and still perfectly useable. And as a "bigger unit " it's had to absorb some amount of sweat

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After every game I dunk it in a bucket of warm water with some sports wash or white vinegar which kills the smell generating bacteria, I used to do this with my running / football kit when the washing tablets stop working. 
 

If it gets very dirty/muddy I take the pouches etc off it and give it ago in the washing machine with the rest of my washable kit @40 degrees. 

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