269sqnhudson
Active Member
Following my enquiries about washing the 36/p I tried it and it went super well! Here's a report on washing CWU-36/p jackets in a washing machine:
I washed two jackets together (one used, one unissued but storage soiled) on a cold delicate cycle with a delicates liquid for wool and silk etc and they came out perfectly. I dried them outside in reasonably warm weather and they actually dried in about 30 minutes. All residual tide marks, neck wear and stains have disappeared.
I notice that the odd waxy feeling has also gone from the fabric supporting my suspicions that they had dry cleaning residue in them or some kind of manufacturing treatment that caused the spotting and tide marks. I doubt this is anything fire-proofing related as the fabric is not impregnated by design.
The stitching is fine post-wash. The stitching is known to be a little weak on these jackets and the one I have worn a few times exhibits some minor fading in stitch colour at the cuffs, elbows and shoulders after the minor dirt has been cleaned out but the unissued one looks like new the other side of a wash.
The knits are perfect, no pilling or shrinking whatsoever.
I would think that alternating washing inside out and right way out would minimise the risk of any possible colour fading to the stitching over time.
As a point of fact I have the original 1984 care and maintenance manual for nomex flight equipment which states machine washing as fine for the 36/p but not the 45/p due to the batting interlining. At this time also the labels on a 36/p said machine wash or dry clean. Newer ones say dry clean only but I imagine as there has been no change in spec that this is somewhat cautious.
Wash away!
Tom
I washed two jackets together (one used, one unissued but storage soiled) on a cold delicate cycle with a delicates liquid for wool and silk etc and they came out perfectly. I dried them outside in reasonably warm weather and they actually dried in about 30 minutes. All residual tide marks, neck wear and stains have disappeared.
I notice that the odd waxy feeling has also gone from the fabric supporting my suspicions that they had dry cleaning residue in them or some kind of manufacturing treatment that caused the spotting and tide marks. I doubt this is anything fire-proofing related as the fabric is not impregnated by design.
The stitching is fine post-wash. The stitching is known to be a little weak on these jackets and the one I have worn a few times exhibits some minor fading in stitch colour at the cuffs, elbows and shoulders after the minor dirt has been cleaned out but the unissued one looks like new the other side of a wash.
The knits are perfect, no pilling or shrinking whatsoever.
I would think that alternating washing inside out and right way out would minimise the risk of any possible colour fading to the stitching over time.
As a point of fact I have the original 1984 care and maintenance manual for nomex flight equipment which states machine washing as fine for the 36/p but not the 45/p due to the batting interlining. At this time also the labels on a 36/p said machine wash or dry clean. Newer ones say dry clean only but I imagine as there has been no change in spec that this is somewhat cautious.
Wash away!
Tom