How to avoid nullying IR proofing on cadpats?

[Eeyore]

I have a brand new set of cadpats and I want to wash them. I remeber seeing an article about how soldiers noticed that their IR proofing was not working anymore. They realized that it was all the colour brightening and the phosphates in the detergent. I am trying to find this article because it had a list of detergents that wouldn't add phospahtes and thuslty nullify the IR proofing. Not sure if it was on this forum or not. Can any of the you help, or maybe some of the active CF members can throw me a bone?

[Wilson]

Hose it down, dry it outdoors.

[Drake]

Firstly, are they actual issue Cadpat? They won't be IR treated otherwise. If they're used/faded surplus, the NIR treatment is probably long FUBAR as well.

What I use for MarPat is mild baby detergent. Wash in cold water, hang to air dry if possible, otherwise dry on the lowest setting and avoid over drying/"cooking." (some dryers have an "Air Dry/No Heat" option) Don't use fabric softeners. Obviously don't use bleach/colorsafe bleach/etc.

I just wash my combats in Tide/cold water lol, not to concerned about it.

In Afghanistan I just hand washed it with whatever hadji powder soap we had in the Strong Point.

Why are you concerned about IR signitures anyways? Its Airsoft. How many night games do you goto where guys have NVGs with IR light, etc.



The only thing I've read about washing CADPAT was how to make it not fade as fast. An with that IR treatment thing they do to our combats, no matter what you do I'm quite sure it washes out after a few washes anyways.

[Flying Squirrel]

use liquid detergent for dark clothes

[Eeyore]

Originally Posted by Drake

Firstly, are they actual issue Cadpat? They won't be IR treated otherwise. If they're used/faded surplus, the NIR treatment is probably long FUBAR as well.

What I use for MarPat is mild baby detergent. Wash in cold water, hang to air dry if possible, otherwise dry on the lowest setting and avoid over drying/"cooking." (some dryers have an "Air Dry/No Heat" option) Don't use fabric softeners. Obviously don't use bleach/colorsafe bleach/etc.

Yes they are real unissued combats. Ok then I'll keep searching for that article. If I find it I'll post it.

[Eeyore]

Well here are a few NIR safe detergents but its not the article I was looking for.
https://www.epropper.com/nir.php

[Spas-Tick22]

i seen something about this a LONG time ago on www.army.ca i believe.

[Lerch]

And nowadays nobody really cares enough to buy that stuff.

I dunno about Mike, but I usually get new combats every 6 months when I wear mine out...

[Infidel]

Here's what you do... get laundry detergent, toss uniform in washing machine, toss detergent in washing machine (can be in reverse order), turn on washing machine, let wash. For drying, hang dry, or if you have access to a dryer, toss in dryer untill dry.

~Thanato

[Kuro_Neko]

I'm curious about this, just for curiosity's sake. Anyone know if drycleaning would do the trick?

[fester]

use liquid detergent for dark clothes

me too, I use the same stuff

[Eeyore]

Originally Posted by Kuro_Neko

I'm curious about this, just for curiosity's sake. Anyone know if drycleaning would do the trick?

Apparently its to be avoided as it uses at of heat. It is suggested to use a low dryer cycle and heatless air if your dryer has this function.

[DropZone]

Gentlemen,

IRR properties are integral to the dyes used. Not a treatment. To wash, use a laundry soap...not a laundry detergent. Detergents have brighteners in them.

A good soap that is commonly available in North America is Woolite/Zero.

Kind Regards
Brian Kroon
Drop Zone Tactical

[Kwokwai]

Originally Posted by DropZone

Gentlemen,

IRR properties are integral to the dyes used. Not a treatment. To wash, use a laundry soap...not a laundry detergent. Detergents have brighteners in them.

A good soap that is commonly available in North America is Woolite/Zero.

Kind Regards
Brian Kroon
Drop Zone Tactical

For delicates.