Day shift heat and stinky armor

[Rico911]

I'm new to day shift and the heat is up. The stink on my body armor panels is up also. Manufacturer recommends a mild soap and to stay away from febreeze.

What do you guys use to clean your body armor panels?

[sunlupeo]

I use water mixed with hydrogen peroxide about 50/50 ratio and wipe the Kevlar panels down. I wash the carrier in the laundry like normal clothes. I work in Palm Desert so I do this prob twice a week in the summer months. I have been doing this on this vest for four years now (we get new vest every five years) and it has held up better and importantly does et smell bad like the last one where I used Lysol and Clorox wipes. I hope that helps.

[Rogue187]

They do sell a product called Vest-Guard. It's a spray on.
Usually helps to mask the odors in the carrier.
But it also helps to wash the carrier on the weekends.
You can buy an extra carrier to switch back and forth.

I wipe down the panels with water and hydrogen peroxide and store them in a vest storage box with a couple of fabric softener sheets inside.

YMMV..

[CreamyFettucini]

[003]

Creamy beat me to it. I was in the process of posting the same as above. Retired now,so it is no longer an issue for me. This looks like it may help a bit. If I was still working, I suspect I would spend a few bucks for this.

[hermosabeach]

Does your department give you the option of the exterior carriers?

A lot more airflow under the vest... easier to take off in an appropriate place, to cool down.

[code_blue]

There are several manufacturers (mostly LE based companies) that make thin vests that you wear under your soft armor. They help to keep the armor off of your body to act as an air director and also act as a blunt trauma barrier.

Also wearing moisture wicking undershirts help.

Here are a few:

https://www.221btactical.com/index.html

http://www.cortac.com/

https://www.armorvent.com/

[Atomic Donut]

I just got issued an exterior carrier last week, however prior to that I would shove about 10 laundry sheets in the vest and then fabreeze the outside of the vest. Worked well for me.

P.S I had done that with both a ABA Xtreme vest and a US Armor vest.

[CinnamonBear723]

Oxyclean and soaking it in a diluted hydrogen peroxide before washing it. I actually thing febreeze works but you have to leave it out of your locker so it can absorb and dry. Number one mistake is to leave your vest in your locker between shifts. Febreeze is not a permanent fix, but will get you thru a week or two. Otherwise, they get smelly and you have to wash them, period.

[DEFCON ZERO]

There are several manufacturers (mostly LE based companies) that make thin vests that you wear under your soft armor. They help to keep the armor off of your body to act as an air director and also act as a blunt trauma barrier.

Also wearing moisture wicking undershirts help.

Here are a few:

https://www.221btactical.com/index.html

http://www.cortac.com/

https://www.armorvent.com/

I got some of this I was gonna use under panels on a homemade t-shirt based soft carrier.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Brown-Stretch-Spacer-Mesh-Fabric-3-16-Thick-POLARTEC-/321907108956?hash=item4af328ac5c:g:eZYAAOSwl9BWM8WB

might use some of this for extra air channels with store bought or homemade carriers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQWOC0...a-306495717993

try this on anything that keeps stinking after normal wash, and for any Hi Performance wicking etc fabrics

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPORT-WASH-LAUNDRY-DETERGENT-64-fl-oz-/322335588431?hash=item4b0cb2c04f:g:DycAAOSw4GVYMwdM

Only prob is your female friends will start hogging it for all their stuff.

[Big D]

You gotta make sure it's drying properly between shifts too. If you can hang it on the outsid of your locker flipped inside out. If you have to keep it in your locker buy one of those moisture removing bags and hang it in your locker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A7MF6Q/ref=asc_df_B004A7MF6Q5086189/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B004A7MF6Q&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167153546533&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8699024430494154268&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031326&hvtargid=pla-274612066313

[esy]

I have one of those Maxx-Dri vests. It makes wearing a vest a hair more comfortable because the vest isn't sticking to my shirt anymore. It does make my vest feel bulkier even though it's only like 5mm thicker all around. I have to wear long sleeves since I have tattoos on my arms so I don't get the luxury of feeling a breeze blowing through my sleeves. Supposedly, that's pretty awesome with the Maxx-Dri vest.

My department may be switching uniforms in the next contract, so I'm going to hold out and see what is or is not offered/available. We're allowed to wear the external vest shirts (not an external carrier, but the uniform looking shirt that's a vest), however, I feel only certain body types can pull it off. I don't know yet.

[Just-in]

I know a couple cats who use WOD Welder spray in between washes. I work midnights and wear an outer carrier so I get away with febreze or lately Hero clean spray. It's not as pungent as febreze.

[Rico911]

Anyone use Armorpur? Galls is selling it as a replacement for vestguard.

[bobboberson]

I found it helpful to cut off the tails on the vest that tuck into your pants. By doing this I got a little more airflow under the vest. I also loosen up the carrier when its hot.