How to wash Body Armor, from IBA to Eagle.
 

I just fielded my IBA today, replica of course, and it smells shit stinky because of the mud and rain. And it desperately needs a wash.

Do I just pop it into the machine or what? Some advice would be very well taken indeed.

send a link of what it looks like. depending on the material and such, you might have to let it soak then air dry. i know i have to do that for my paintball vest. also, did you check to see if there are any washing instructions on it?

If it's a Cordura outer and that soft-wicking material on the inside, just toss it in the wash and let it hang dry.
If it's all fabric, you can use a dryer.
If it's just some shitty little stains, soap and toothbrush to the stains.

Remember to take out any armour before washing though...

It's dupont 600 denier cordura with integrated molle straps.

Below is a link. Sorry if it's too large.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...8/PA230798.jpg

spray some AXE or some TAG on it.

What are those, detergents? Sorry, I'm popping off to work, so glad you guys could help. There's foam inside the armor, not kevlar.

ya id just let it soak and then air dry
you can throw some soap in if you want to, but my vest is cordura as well and i dont put it in the washer or dryer cause it tends to fade faster if you do. let it soak then air dry and you're good to go

EDIT:

sorry just saw the foam part. DO NOT! I REPEAT, DO NOT PUT IT INT HE WASH if there is foam in it. you could damage or even tear the foam. definately let it soak then air dry and you will be fine.

x2
You can always take it out and then toss the cover in the wash though.

ya he could, but i tried that once on another vest i had and ended up wrecking the foam. hes better off washing the entire vest as is. but again, my vest has cheap foam in it.

i dont understand why youd want to wash it. it would have to smell like a drunk hobo who puked all over himself and has gang green before id wash it. it airs itself out as you play. or even just hang it out side to air out for the day.

You probably have mildew on it, I'd just brush off all of the exterior and febreeze the hell out of it

If you want to have every bug in the field come after you, yea go for it. Keep the Axe/Tag for when you go out to a club.


Follow Lerch's points

I usually never wash my ciras or cross draw, if I do, a quick blast with the garden hose and I call it done.

Take it to the car wash and spray wash it. Works like a charm. I do that to pieces of kit that won't fit or aren't meant to go into the washing machine.
Just don't use the tire foam or wax settings. ;)

Thanks for all the tips, mates.

I actually went paintballing with the vest today, and it was absolutely pissing down. Muddy, wet, everything in the book. Being the stupid player I went prone on the ground, and got the vest caked and coated in mud.

The foam is sewed into the vest so the only way I could get it out is if I removed the stitches from it. And I'm not much of a seamstress/ster, so that option is definitely out of the way.

Just a general question though. Are all vests supposed to be dirty to some extent?

Because I'm about to buy a Phantom CIRAS in Multicam, and it would be a pity if I couldn't clean mud stains off it by throwing it in the wash. The task of handwashing is a bit tedious not to mention time consuming.