how should I maintain my bdu
 

I was just wondering what the best way to ensure a long life for my bdus was? I know that buying quality is the absolute best thing to ensure your bdus last but other then buying quality what is the best way to maintain them? I have heard that I should only wash them when they really need to be washed or are very stinky. Is there anything else I can do?

Don't wash em.

Lol

No for serious. Only wash if you encounter 1m+ of swamp. Form a natural ghillie. Win.

Don't wash them with detergents that contain optical brighteners.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/conten...-uniform.shtml

Hang dry the clothes.

If you really need.to wash them, turn them inside out. Use very light (not harsh) detergent, then hang dry. Best option, let them air dry between uses, dont wash them. The more they get washed, the lighter they get.

Turn items inside out before washing.

I also use Woolite Extra Dark Care; you can also use any baby-safe laundry detergent.

Use cold water.

The only time you should use hot water is if you need to clean off poison ivy/poison oak. (and in those cases you'll likely agree fuck the colors, you don't want reoccuring poison ivy outbreaks everytime you wear your BDUs). Poison ivy is an oil (Urushiol) and should be cleaned as such if your clothes come in contact with it.

Never use fabric softeners on wicking or breathable fabrics (the fabric softeners will interfere with it, they can clog the micro-pores that make a fabric breathable); for the same reason, don't use excessive amounts of laundry detergent.

Also, less critical for airsoft, but maybe worth mentioning if you're using your gear for outdoor activities like camping (camp fires), or if you play with pyros: fabric softeners are flammable. That's why Nomex garments are always labelled No Fabric Softener.

Leaving BDUs (or any clothes) dirty is counter-indicated [other than for the obvious reasons] since dirt will weaken fabric: so your BDUs might not fade but they'll wear and rip prematurely.

I'll +1 everything that was said here. Good advice.

In addition to it, if you wish to minimize the dirt weakening fabric issue, just rinse your combats after a game with cool water. No detergent. Rub the dirt out either by rubbing the fabric against itself or using your hands,continue until the runoff is fairly clear.

Optical brighteners will soon be a thing of the past; they don't work with LED bulbs.

Back to yellow undershirts.

Put them in a large bag and then into your freezer for a couple of days. The cold will kill the bacteria that causes that awesome stank.

This statement is incorrect.

researching maintenance on shitty BDU's is like finding the most protective rifle bag for your Clear-Soft Snipers rifle.
It wont turn to shit due to washing its going to fall off your ass on the field.
If you want best quality with low budget come see me.
If you don't have $50 to put into a set of BDU, stay home.
Sometimes I am a little brief online, sometimes my attitude improves when you visit me in the shop.
Cheers

what about dish soap to break down oils?

I've always just thrown mine in as a colour load.

That's both the stuff I use for airsoft and my issued shit, so far, no problems :P

I put mine in the washing machine with my dirty work clothes and they come out clean on the other end.

Been on the same set of BDUs for... what, three years now? They look fine because I keep my kit clean. Believe me, I spend a LOT of time crawling around on my face so maintenance is key.

But yeah. Cold water detergents and never hot water. If you come in contact with one of those oil-based irritants, a light soapy mixture of water and Dawn or Sunlight dish soap (20:1 at most) will break up those oils right quick.

I use woolite zero IF, and I stress, IF I have to wash my combats
Otherwise they get faded enough from field use without washing cycles.
Plus, the mud and dirt and stains you pick up from field use only enhance the camo further lol

Absolutely buy quality. High end BDUs will last you 5 plus years, mine lasted for 8-9 and were completely in one piece after that. We play hardcore every weekend, and I only ever wore the one set. To wash them, I'd fill a tub full of cold water and hand wash them. If there was something I absolutely needed to get out if them, I'd use Dawn. Then hang dry. If you wish to use the washing machine, turn them inside out, wash them alone, and use a color guard.