Question on uniform cleaning.

steve v. · 10-19-2003, 02:23 PM

Hi,

I have a 1980s general uniform, which is very dusty and smells terrible.

Is it safe to send my uniform to the dry cleaner?

Thanks,
Steve

Esteban_cool · 10-19-2003, 07:15 PM

I did and the results were satisfactory. But if you´re gonna do it, first remove all removable stuff possible(shoulderboards and collar tabs, pins and awards, cuff or lapel metal leaves, etc) to avoid bad surprises, just as a way to prevent... ^_^

otlichnik · 10-20-2003, 03:54 AM

NO!

and

NO!

It is not always safe to send uniforms, even 1980s ones to dry cleaning.

Different shops (and countries) use different procedures. The biggest danger is heat. I sent a 1980s Lt-General's great coat through and it cleaned up nicely, no damage to boards, but the plastic button to fasten the inside pocket was melted into a blob. Remember that some Soviet plastic was very cheap with a low melting point formula used.

If you want to do dry cleaning don't just go to your corner shop. Find one that specializes. Find who your local theatre or opera company uses for their costumes. Find one that dry cleans furs (which need a lower temperature). Ask them to do it in the lowest temperature option even if you have to bring it in later when they are doing such a batch.

Second, unless you are dealing with a $25 uniform for the dress-up box NEVER take off things like tha are sewn on. Yes, shoulder boards that untie or unbutton and awards should cme off but sewn on boards and tabs should not. Don't unpick and later re-do sewing. It will decrease the sell-ability and therefore value.

Shawn

skipper1939 · 10-20-2003, 05:51 AM

Up through the early 1970s there was only one civilian dry cleaner open to the general public in Moscow. It could take months to get something done. It had been part of a U.S. cultural display in the early 60's that we turned over to the Soviets for a nominal fee.

The Soviet MOD in Moscow had its own dry cleaner (also of U.S. origin) and service personnel were required to remove all buttons (metal or plastic) and all other decorations, including ribbon bars. There was a thriving cottage industry within the MOD to sew those things back on. To use your local dry cleaner, just do the same thing - but finding competent craftsmen to sew it back on is not so eay any more.

But if your area does have a specialty dry cleaner that will take responsibility, that's the ideal place.

Soviet era wool, even if high quallity andgenerally clean does often have a characteristic smell that some westerners find smells a lot like "storage." Dr. Bob

HuliganRS · 10-20-2003, 11:43 AM

Usually cleaners know what they can and can't do.
It's a liability on their part if they screw something up.

I had to visit several cleaners just to get an item cleaned.

Rusty.

10-19-2003, 02:23 PM	#1
steve v. New Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 16	Question on uniform cleaning. Hi, I have a 1980s general uniform, which is very dusty and smells terrible. Is it safe to send my uniform to the dry cleaner? Thanks, Steve

10-19-2003, 07:15 PM	#2
Esteban_cool Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Santiago, Chile Age: 36 Posts: 1,103	I did and the results were satisfactory. But if you´re gonna do it, first remove all removable stuff possible(shoulderboards and collar tabs, pins and awards, cuff or lapel metal leaves, etc) to avoid bad surprises, just as a way to prevent... ^_^ __________________ There's nothing in the streets Looks any different to me And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye And the parting on the left Are now parting on the right And the beards have all grown longer overnight The Who, Won't get fooled again

10-20-2003, 11:43 AM	#5
HuliganRS Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Illinois - U.S.A. Age: 46 Posts: 1,023	Usually cleaners know what they can and can't do. It's a liability on their part if they screw something up. I had to visit several cleaners just to get an item cleaned. Rusty. __________________ "Be civil to all, sociable to many, familiar with few, friend to one, enemy to none." Benjamin Franklin ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Member #193

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10-20-2003, 03:54 AM	#3
otlichnik Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Age: 56 Posts: 547	NO! and NO! It is not always safe to send uniforms, even 1980s ones to dry cleaning. Different shops (and countries) use different procedures. The biggest danger is heat. I sent a 1980s Lt-General's great coat through and it cleaned up nicely, no damage to boards, but the plastic button to fasten the inside pocket was melted into a blob. Remember that some Soviet plastic was very cheap with a low melting point formula used. If you want to do dry cleaning don't just go to your corner shop. Find one that specializes. Find who your local theatre or opera company uses for their costumes. Find one that dry cleans furs (which need a lower temperature). Ask them to do it in the lowest temperature option even if you have to bring it in later when they are doing such a batch. Second, unless you are dealing with a $25 uniform for the dress-up box NEVER take off things like tha are sewn on. Yes, shoulder boards that untie or unbutton and awards should cme off but sewn on boards and tabs should not. Don't unpick and later re-do sewing. It will decrease the sell-ability and therefore value. Shawn

10-20-2003, 05:51 AM	#4
skipper1939 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kent, Ohio - USA Age: 84 Posts: 61	Up through the early 1970s there was only one civilian dry cleaner open to the general public in Moscow. It could take months to get something done. It had been part of a U.S. cultural display in the early 60's that we turned over to the Soviets for a nominal fee. The Soviet MOD in Moscow had its own dry cleaner (also of U.S. origin) and service personnel were required to remove all buttons (metal or plastic) and all other decorations, including ribbon bars. There was a thriving cottage industry within the MOD to sew those things back on. To use your local dry cleaner, just do the same thing - but finding competent craftsmen to sew it back on is not so eay any more. But if your area does have a specialty dry cleaner that will take responsibility, that's the ideal place. Soviet era wool, even if high quallity andgenerally clean does often have a characteristic smell that some westerners find smells a lot like "storage." Dr. Bob

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