Cleaning a Uniform

red89 · 02-23-2010, 12:05 PM

Hello,

since I am new here I would first like to greet everyone. I hope I can help when possible, although I am no expert.
I have a question concerning the cleaning of em dress uniforms. How would/do you clean em dress uniforms from the 1980's with and without insignia, shoulderboards... etc? Dry clean? Normal washing?
I would be glad to hear how you would/do clean them!

Greets,

Red

Esteban_cool · 02-23-2010, 01:32 PM

Welcome to the forum, Red!

I´d suggest not to clean the uniform in any way. Almost all uniform collectors will tell u the same; in my personal experience, dry cleaning is the best, but removing insignia and then re-attaching them to the jacket decreases its value.
In a few words, you should keep the uniform just as it is.

red89 · 02-23-2010, 04:01 PM

Thanks for your opinion.
I should add though that the uniform has no insignia, buttons etc. on it. And believe me, it needs a cleaning.
I would choose dry cleaning too, but I am curious as to what others would do with their uniforms, dirty or not.

Tretov · 02-23-2010, 05:39 PM

There are threads about this... My general advice is that cleaning an uniform is a no-no. You will lose the patina, the authentic smell, the everything, not to mention that 9 out of 10 that try to remove shoulder boards for cleaning never get them back in the right positions again.

medals73 · 02-23-2010, 06:41 PM

I agree. Cleaning will do more damage than it recovers in aesthetics.

I have a very nasty (but very nice) Suvorov Military School, 1968, cadet uniform. Like all teenage males, his interaction with the shower must have been "occasional" at best. RANK! Gag!!

Would never clean it. Keep it in a TIGHTLY zippled bag instead. Add dryer "Bounce" strip to perfume it and absorb the stench.

Jeffrey Meffert · 02-23-2010, 07:04 PM

Normally I agree and would not trust the local cleaner to do the right thing with a vintage uniform. I have many uniforms with sausage stains, tobacco smell and that is part of the charm. Of course there was that one exception... http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/s...-surprise.html

NTAT · 02-23-2010, 08:30 PM

Okay...I have to ask. Does anyone see any harm in using Febreeze (sp) to kill odors? Opinions or comments?

Thanks,

Gerry
NTAT

RichieC · 02-23-2010, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTAT

Okay...I have to ask. Does anyone see any harm in using Febreeze (sp) to kill odors? Opinions or comments?

Thanks,

Gerry
NTAT

I would stay away from that Febreeze stuff. Modern chemistry usually does not agree with vintage fabrics.

A few days time hanging outdoors in some dry wintry air is a big help - especially when mildew and tobacco odors are the case.

IMO that is... :rolleyes:

DougD · 02-24-2010, 05:56 PM

red,

Welcome to the forum, I think you will find a lot here you can use! Most have told you, rightly, not to clean the uniform...maybe "air it out" but do not remove its (sometimes smelly) history.

DougD

EricFG · 02-24-2010, 07:21 PM

I've seen some who suggest soaking in, say, a bathtub with warm and soapy water is OK. I'd not use soap of any kind but I fail to see the harm in soaking in warm water with some gentle brushing or finger manipulations, even multiple times to get the stains and stink out of a uniform. Multiple rinses would follow. Heavy blotting with bath towels to remove much of the water and then drip dry outside in a nice breeze with low humidity out of the sun for the most part (to prevent fading).
The uniform would have to be free of all accoutrements (besides metal buttons) including medals, badges, shoulderboards and collar tabs though. If that's not possible Richie's outdoor windwash would be about the safest alternative.

02-23-2010, 12:05 PM	#1
red89 New Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 18	Cleaning a Uniform Hello, since I am new here I would first like to greet everyone. I hope I can help when possible, although I am no expert. I have a question concerning the cleaning of em dress uniforms. How would/do you clean em dress uniforms from the 1980's with and without insignia, shoulderboards... etc? Dry clean? Normal washing? I would be glad to hear how you would/do clean them! Greets, Red

02-23-2010, 01:32 PM	#2
Esteban_cool Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Santiago, Chile Age: 36 Posts: 1,103	Re: Cleaning a Uniform Welcome to the forum, Red! I´d suggest not to clean the uniform in any way. Almost all uniform collectors will tell u the same; in my personal experience, dry cleaning is the best, but removing insignia and then re-attaching them to the jacket decreases its value. In a few words, you should keep the uniform just as it is. __________________ 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

02-23-2010, 04:01 PM	#3
red89 New Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 18	Re: Cleaning a Uniform Thanks for your opinion. I should add though that the uniform has no insignia, buttons etc. on it. And believe me, it needs a cleaning. I would choose dry cleaning too, but I am curious as to what others would do with their uniforms, dirty or not.

02-23-2010, 05:39 PM	#4
Tretov Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Republic of Finland Posts: 1,129	Re: Cleaning a Uniform There are threads about this... My general advice is that cleaning an uniform is a no-no. You will lose the patina, the authentic smell, the everything, not to mention that 9 out of 10 that try to remove shoulder boards for cleaning never get them back in the right positions again.

02-23-2010, 07:04 PM	#6
Jeffrey Meffert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA Age: 67 Posts: 640	Re: Cleaning a Uniform Normally I agree and would not trust the local cleaner to do the right thing with a vintage uniform. I have many uniforms with sausage stains, tobacco smell and that is part of the charm. Of course there was that one exception... http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/s...-surprise.html

02-23-2010, 08:30 PM	#7
NTAT Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 31	Re: Cleaning a Uniform Okay...I have to ask. Does anyone see any harm in using Febreeze (sp) to kill odors? Opinions or comments? Thanks, Gerry NTAT

02-24-2010, 05:56 PM	#9
DougD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Age: 50 Posts: 2,060	Re: Cleaning a Uniform red, Welcome to the forum, I think you will find a lot here you can use! Most have told you, rightly, not to clean the uniform...maybe "air it out" but do not remove its (sometimes smelly) history. DougD

02-24-2010, 07:21 PM	#10
EricFG Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naples, Florida, USA Age: 59 Posts: 1,496	Re: Cleaning a Uniform I've seen some who suggest soaking in, say, a bathtub with warm and soapy water is OK. I'd not use soap of any kind but I fail to see the harm in soaking in warm water with some gentle brushing or finger manipulations, even multiple times to get the stains and stink out of a uniform. Multiple rinses would follow. Heavy blotting with bath towels to remove much of the water and then drip dry outside in a nice breeze with low humidity out of the sun for the most part (to prevent fading). The uniform would have to be free of all accoutrements (besides metal buttons) including medals, badges, shoulderboards and collar tabs though. If that's not possible Richie's outdoor windwash would be about the safest alternative. __________________ "patina imparts character" - PJS A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'

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