Cleaning a Uniform

[Esteban_cool]

Is it possible to remove at least some of the stench by leaving it outdoors to sunlight with the lining facing outside? I got a JNA uniform set a couple months ago and now I can´t stand the armpit smell. It seems the man washed his trousers regularly so I won´t touch them.

[CtahhR]

I've found the best way to deal with smells in fabric is to cover it with another. Many items come smelling of all sorts of nasty things but putting them in a bag or drawer with strongly scented items that are favourable to your nose will eventually make handling the items less dis-pleasurable. Items that have been stored in close proximity to farm animals usually smell the worst.
Some items also smell bad when they get wet again (i.e. rain) but the Lt-Col. Artillery tunic I have been working in for years always smells like cheap soap powder when it rains even though all I have ever done is brushed it down. The Soviet wash powder must have been something else if I can still smell it after all the situations I've put the jacket through (Smoke, chemical fumes and lots of stormy weather).

[Will]

I certainly understand the philosophy of "don't touch a uniform" but, that having been said, there is no reputable museum in the world that would take an historic uniform that has been in an attic for decades and then simply place it on display. Cloth can harbor molds, mildew, bacteria, and a variety of other conditions that can damage a uniform if nothing is done with it to preserve it.

Of course, museums have access to professional curatorial departments that are trained in the proper way of cleaning a uniform. However, I have found that there are certain professional dry cleaners in the USA that are certified to deal with vintage fabrics.

Finally, I am always surprised when I find some collectors who would not think of trying to clean a uniform for fear of hurting it, but who will then place the uniform on display in a situation where, over a period of time, the light to which it is exposed will cause substantial fading of the material. Similarly, uniforms should never be completely sealed in a plastic bag for any period of time. A sealed bag can develop moisture in the air within, which will lead to mildew.