BDU fadding
 

I've read a few threads discussing BDU fadding, and so far I've come up with the following:

1. Prior to using the BDU, soak it in SPF 50 (unscented) sunscreen, and let it dry overnight
2. Wash it in a vinegar bath to break down the fibres and make it more supple
3. Wash it only when absolutely necessary
4. Wash it in cold water with liquid detergent

Have any of you tried these tricks before? If so, what kind of insight can you provide? Is there a particular kind/brand of detergent/sunscreen/vinegar which works best?

Have you had problems with any of these methods?

I just dropped 100$ on a set of Cadpat BDUs and I'd them to last me as long as possible.

You forgot one.

5. Never wash them.

thats the method I use. Works for me and nobody has complained of smell yet!

That fine and dandy if your BDUs don't dirty, but where I play, there's mud and dirt everywhere. I'd have to spend half my time making sure I don't get dirty.

Sunblock
 

I think there a re 2 real types of fading here:

-Fading from repeated washing

-Fading from UV exposure

The Sunblock will work, but you have to re-apply regularly and it's really only neccessary if you are operating in the sun ALLOT. You won't notice it working unless it gets exposed to the same amont of sun as, say working on a boat offshore in the summer (which is where I got the idea from.. )

I think some of the desert Milsims might match that..

I have heard (but have not yet Googled) of a chemical that they use in the dying process to "fix" the color. I would think that soaking in that a couple of time would slow down the fading process, at least the fading that happens from repeated washings.

On the other hand, with all the other cash we spend on this sport, if one set lasts you even 6 months, that's $200 a year. Not too bad if you ask me.. :-)

Actualy i wash all my BDUs after every game and I still dont have them fade on me.. here is the trick... its pretty simple so get ready...

Wash alone in cold water inside out.. and only use a VERY SMALL AMOUNT of detergent.. also make sure the detergent does NOT include any bleach or coloring.. when i say small I mean literly a tablespoon of it..

and secondly, hang dry the cloths and dont put them in the dryer.

thats about it.. unless you have a REALLY cheap pair of bdus this should be all you need to do. Hell i had my cadpats for 2 years and washed them almost every weekend and they didnt even fade....

You know what, I just had a brainstorm and decided to ask the pro in my house (my wife does almost all the laundry) what she does to avoid fading.

That's exectly what she said..:-)

KISS Keep It Simple Stupid :-)

It's also a good way to keep the mosquitos away :)

When you suggest washing them alone in cold water, do you mean handwash or machine wash? Or does it matter?

Even with machine washing in cold water and hang-drying, you're just prolonging the inevitable. My cadpat is starting to look destinctively indestinct, after two years of wear.

I too have never washed my BDU's, sure they get a little dirt on them but it doesent bother me.

lol true but the bad guys can smell you out :P

If your CADPAT is Frontenac, don't worry about it, they won't fade very much on you. Case in point, when I got my Frontenac Cadpat I found it too dark so I decided to bleach it in warm water wash. Started with a cup of bleach on small load, wash dry, see if I liked it. Continued with 3 or so washes after that, last two were up to 2 cups of bleach on small load setting. Still kinda dark, but lighter at the same time (depends on sunlight or lightbulb), it made the light greena brighter shade of green, and the dark green a bit lighter. That was over a year ago, I wear my cadpat every time I play (2-3 times per month) and wash it right after I play (I tend to not bother looking for poison ivy, mainly because it has no effect on me, but I don't want my family to get anything from my clothes.)

Point being, that if bleaching that many times barely makes the Frontenac stuff fade, washing regularly won't make it fade. The older Frontenac stuff fades easily from what I've seen & heard, but the newer stuff is more colour fast.

Parklands Cadpat.................. meh, avoid totally.

Not really. More likely to smell the guy with "Bounce" Fabric softner and TIDE!

:-)

Most likely, it's like smelly the individuals that use WAY too much bug juice.

Also when I was in Prince George I picked up a set of aftermarket cadpat pant and a set of un-issued cadpat pants and let me tell you cheap aftermarket arent worth the fabric their made of. They just fade way too fast. Go to a surplus store and pick up new or used military frade ones, their $10 cheaper and way stronger.