Proper Cleaning Techniques for Tactical Clothing

How to Clean Tactical Boots, Bags, Pants, and More

Tactical gear is designed differently than regular clothing. As a result, it needs to be given special care, and that means washing and maintaining it separately from the rest of your clothing.

Keep reading for information on how to clean tactical gear in a way that maintains its durability and appearance.

What Are the Different Types of Tactical Clothing?

Your set of tactical gear may depend on your purpose for owning it. A hunter, a camper, and a law enforcement official may have similar pieces of equipment, but their set will ultimately differ.

The most common pieces of tactical gear are listed below.

Jacket

A tactical jacket isn’t a regular jacket. Beyond keeping the user warm, a tactical jacket is designed to protect the user in particularly harsh weather or climate conditions. You may obtain a jacket that is specifically designed for mud, snow, or swampy weather. It should also be light enough to allow the user to move freely, while durable enough to hold equipment.

Pants

Tactical pants are designed to protect the user while allowing them to move quickly and comfortably. They are usually equipped with many pockets and straps to hold tactical equipment.

Uniform Items

Depending on your particular activity, you may have a set of important items. A first aid kit, for example, is a must. Otherwise, law enforcement officials will have weaponry and communications equipment, while an adventurer may have binoculars.

It’s a good idea to obtain a tactical bag that can store and protect these items with ease.

Footwear

Regular boots won’t serve you in tactical environments. Professionals use boots designed to withstand harsh conditions, and remain durable for lengthy periods of use.

Do These Items Require Special Care?

Most often, tactical gear requires careful cleaning. These items are not designed like regular clothing, and they cannot simply be washed and dried with the rest of your laundry load.

However, cleaning tactical gear is not difficult if you know what you’re doing. Read below for simple steps that will lead you to a spotless set of equipment.

Steps for Properly Cleaning Tactical Clothing

Clothing

Let’s start with your tactical jacket. If your jacket is only stained, we recommend tackling the stains by hand if you can. Otherwise, use mild detergent in the washing machine with cold water to avoid damage. Before washing, check each pocket for items, and remove all detachable components, like elbow pads – these can be washed by hand. Make sure to close any lose fasteners, like buttons or clips, and turn your jacket inside out before washing.

Washing pants requires identical steps, but there are a few more things you should do first: remove knee pads and secure and loose straps, and close any zippers or fasteners to avoid damage. Again, you’ll want to turn your pants inside out, and wash with mild detergent in cold water.

Tactical gear is often too bulky for most dryers, so it’s recommended to let wet gear air-dry.

Boots

Boots may seem difficult to clean since they cannot be placed in the washing machine, but cleaning them requires just a few very simple steps.

If your boots are suede, you may wish to purchase a suede cleaning kit. Otherwise, use a rubber eraser, or vinegar and a brush. Make sure to brush in one consistent direction.

If your boots are leather, a damp sponge should be able to remove dirt. You’ll want to remove inserts and clean them separately with a small brush.

If your boots look like they’re in rough shape, they probably smell that way too. Use a fabric freshening spray, or place a laundry sheet inside the boots for 48 hours.

Backpack

You’ll want to clean both the interior and exterior of your bag.

For the inside, make sure every component is empty, and all detachable components are removed. Then, use a vacuum to remove all debris, and spot-clean stains with mild detergent. You may need to turn the bag inside out to allow it to dry before continuing.

For the outside, start by wiping down the surface with a towel. Then, look for spots that are still dirty. You may use a small brush or wet a cloth with mild detergent to remove remaining stains. When you are done, allow the bag to dry.

Other Important Tips

Check Tags

Before you clean tactical gear or any other article of clothing, you should look for tags or any other indication of cleaning instructions. These will likely contain a list of materials, symbols, or specific instructions – all of which should limit any confusion.

Be Careful with Leather

It’s common for tactical gear to be partially or fully made from leather. This material is delicate and needs to be cleaned properly to avoid damage. Do not wash leather in hot water. Consider using a bit of oil when scrubbing leather to retain its original look.

Be Careful with Waterproof Materials

Waterproof material can be a total lifesaver in the outdoors, but it needs to be cleaned a certain way. You may, for example, need special waterproof material-friendly detergent to correctly clean waterproof gear without losing its protection against moisture.