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Care and
Maintenance of Ballistic Vests
Cleaning
Clean as soon as possible after wearing. Most mild liquid
detergents are satisfactory. Warm water only. Do not immerse the vest in water.
Sponge all the surfaces of the vest. The worst areas may require light scrubbing
(a soft bristle brush is recommended). Sponge off with clean water. Dry with a
soft cloth (Chamois). Air dry (not in direct sunlight). When totally dry, store
flat in carrier.
Storage
All body armour, regardless of style, should be stored
flat, and not thrown in the back or boot of your car or left in the bottom of
the wardrobe. Laying it flat when not in use helps to ensure there are no sets
or wrinkles in the ballistic materials which may cause damage to the fibres.
Tactical armour that has a hard plate in the front or rear should be stored with
the plate/s removed. It should never be stored while it is damp from washing or
perspiration as this can cause mould to grow.
Washing
There are different materials used in covers and carriers
for vests and the washing instructions should be followed. Some of the removable
carriers, made from polycotton can be gentle machined washed or hand washed.
Carriers made from 100% nylon or cordura should be hand sponged, using mild
detergents and warm water. The cover of the ballistic package, usually made of
waterproof nylon, should only be hand sponged using mild detergents and warm
water. The ballistic package should never be immersed in water.
Drying
After being cleaned, the ballistic package should be laid
flat to dry in a well ventilated, shady place. It should not be hung on the
clothes line or laid out in the sunlight to dry, as UV rays will cause some
types of ballistic packages to deteriorate.
Damage
Body armour should be visually inspected for damage or
excessive wear, every time it is worn. Never wear body armour that is damaged in
anyway. If damaged you should immediately contact us to discuss repair options.
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