IACMC MILITARIA FORUM

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    How do you care for your camo upon receipt?

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    Post by Camo_fiend Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:40 pm

    Okay, so I was sitting around browsing the forum this afternoon and a question came to me. So, just out of curiosity:

    When a camouflage clothing item comes into your collection, what do you do with it when you first receive it?

    For example, if its brand-new, do you simply throw it on a hanger and add it to your collection, wash and dry it, or do you toss it in the dryer to get out any wrinkles, and then put it in storage?

    Or in reference to used items: Do you put it into your collection as/is or do you wash it to remove any dirt, stains and/or "warehouse funk" from it?

    Personally, when I buy used items I generally wash them once before I put them on the hangers in the closet, just so I know they are clean, and to avoid the transfer of any funky smells to the entire closet and other items in the same space.

    I used to not be bothered about washing items as they came in, but that changed when I ordered that British P68 smock. It was brand-new but had been sealed in its wrapper and in a warehouse since its manufacture, and it just had a stench about it that stank up my closet, so I washed it once and then put it on the hanger, and have done the same thing for all items coming into my collection since, used or new.

    As an aside, if an item's new and never been worn, does washing compromise the "mint" status?


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    Post by Philip Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:54 pm

    When a camouflage clothing item comes into your collection, what do you do with it when you first receive it?
    I am glad Smile
    For example, if its brand-new, do you simply throw it on a hanger and add it to your collection, wash and dry it, or do you toss it in the dryer to get out any wrinkles, and then put it in storage?
    Never wash a mint item. I did that mistake several times when I was new to collecting...
    Or in reference to used items: Do you put it into your collection as/is or do you wash it to remove any dirt, stains and/or "warehouse funk" from it?
    I wash used items if they smell funny or are dirty.


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    Post by panzerwerk Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:22 pm

    It is rare I ever do anything to an item I receive, as Philip stated , Mint I items never get washed or massed with , it has to be real funky for me to bother .

    I have only washed a couple of used items due to cigarette smell , or I got a Swiss zelt from 56' that was so rank I had to do something , so I hung it up in the back yard and hand washed it with soap and water , it still smelled bad so I sprayed the crap out of it with frebreeze and let it air out for a couple days , it is one of the worst smelling things I ever got , some of my East German items have been pretty funky and have given them hand washes , but generally I leave things alone .
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    Post by Camo_fiend Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:34 pm

    Interesting... I had thought that mint only meant never worn or issued to a service member. Guess I was wrong! lol!


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    Post by nkomo Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:37 pm

    Like the rest of the members have said....I do nothing to the uniforms unless it has mildew or mold on them.


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    Post by bond007a1 Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:37 am

    As for me....I will ONLY wash the item, IF it reeks of cigarette smoke...otherwise, it is immediately photographed & placed in its respective area....if it is a desert uniform...then it is HUNG in a closet...


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    Post by Grim Reaper Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:50 am

    bond007a1 wrote:if it is a desert uniform...then it is HUNG in a closet...

    Nice one Steven my sentiments exactly you don't wanna wash all the sand and dust off, part of the uniform history cheers
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    Post by 1stDivVet Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:03 am

    Only stuff I don't wash is mint/un-issued stuff.. All used stuff goes in the washer. For me, especially desert stuff.. Sand fleas can lay eggs that won't react until they are warm and moved.. I HATE sand fleas!!! Not to mention, it lets me know that any mold or mildew I can't see or didn't find is neutralized. I don't wash any of my older wools of course and some of those I can't even get professionally cleaned they are so old. I often Fabreeze stuff and air it out outside too.. I currently have a musty smelling WW2 USN leather M422a jacket airing on the back porch and 2 musty footlockers beside the house. Web gear gets hand washed as per the Soldier's Handbook. Dirt, sweat, and blood will break the fibres in the cloth down over time.

    Fins..


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    Post by CollectinSteve Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:09 pm

    If a uniform has been washed before, then it's safe to wash it by hand. I do this only if the item comes to me dirty or smelly (or both!). Storing a uniform that has dirt, sweat, etc. on it is bad for the item over time. Not only that, depending on how the item is stored it can transfer these harmful things to the uniforms on either side of it. But if it seems freshly laundered or at least not dirty/smelly, I don't do anything with it.

    I don't put things in a mechanical washer because of the risk of damage, though the risk is pretty small. I never use a dryer. Air dry only. Yeah, sometimes it might take 2 days to fully dry if the material is thick and the air temp cool, but it's the best thing for the item. Especially ones that are more delicate.

    For example, I just received a really nice 1970s ROK Noodle set. Big, nasty looking stain on the right shoulder. I soaked the corner to see if it would come out with light detergent, and it's now nearly completely gone. Sweet Smile Now I will handwash the whole thing because it is not good to only partially wash something.

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    Post by bond007a1 Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:57 pm

    FUNNY story...I just got my 4th Psyops DCU set in today...and it reeked of smoke...so into the washer it went(actually in there now...LOL) I have some fierce allergies & asthma runs in the family...so I cannot tolerate the smell all that much...and I also failed to mention that any signs of mold or mildew get a washing too.
    A funny story...I recently got a set in that has blood stains in the ass region....on the inside...so either he had hemorrhoids or bloody diarrhea. pretty gross...I prob need to launder that one... Very Happy


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    Post by Sarbaz Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:36 pm

    I erase dirty things, I dry up. So was with the complete set of Uzbek major AF which you saw at a forum. It was soiled while it carried in a bag for sale. If the thing absolutely dirty or badly smells – I simply do not buy it. I argue so: restoration process very much tyres, many forces will be spent, and is not clear – whether there will be a good result? But some things even used, I do not erase. Recently has bought American jacket WWII which smells as cigarettes. In a pocket tobacco is scattered. I did not begin even to shake out. The tobacco smell frightens off the butterfly which eats a wool (I do not know as it is called on english)
    is even well. And I hand over valuable beautiful things in dry cleaning.
    If it is serious – I dress each thing in a cellophane bag and I hang up in a case.

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