Uniform care

[Flybox1977]

I apologize if this has been a topic before. How do you recommend caring for uniforms? Washing after hot, sweaty weekends, storing when not using? With prices of the clothing, I want to make sure I don't destroy it after the first cleaning. I can't imagine just airing it out on the clothesline.

 

[captaindrew]

If you're not very careful you can do more damage washing them sometimes than not. I gently hand wash my underclothing ( shirts, drawers, socks) in cold water and hang them outside to dry. I never wash my jackets or trousers. I turn them inside out and hang them outside to dry. When completely dried and aired out I hang them in a designated closet (one of our guest bedrooms is my office/war room)

 

[dmharvey79]

I wear mine for N-SSA shooting. Pants and jacket get hung up in garage after a match and stays there until the next one. So far so good and doesn't stink besides black powder residue.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I have never washed my pants or any of my coats (4-button or frock). I just wash my socks and shirts.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

If your clothing is made of pre-shrunk wool it should not run or shrink in a gentle hand wash if you need to.
Hang on a line to dry. No dryers.
During the war wool clothing was washed on a regular basis if no other reason than to kill lice and ticks.
Personal choice I guess....

 

[Old Soldier]

"Washing clothes was quite an operation. A laundress needed two tubs that could hold 25 gallons of water each and weighed 35 pounds without the water. She also needed buckets, boilers, laundry sticks, scrub boards, soap crates, starch, bluing, and much more. Washing the clothes took three days. The first day was spent mending the clothes, since any holes would get bigger when the clothes were washed. Then the clothes were soaked in warm, soapy water, and the laundress tried to get out any stains. The clothes were left to soak for a day or two, then they were put in tubs of warm water. The laundress would shave pieces of soap into the water and put extra soap on hard stains. Then she would start scrubbing it on the scrub board, rubbing each piece of clothing against the board's ridges until it was clean. Then she rinsed the clothes and wrung them out. But the washing process wasn't done yet."

And you will find the rest at: https://civilwartails.com/2018/11/24/laundry/

Or you did it yourself:

This is one of those subjects that folk rarely even ask about - laundry, hygiene, hospitals and cooking for a company. Battles are MUCH more interesting - but try going to war without someone to do those tasks.

 

[Flybox1977]

"Washing clothes was quite an operation. A laundress needed two tubs that could hold 25 gallons of water each and weighed 35 pounds without the water. She also needed buckets, boilers, laundry sticks, scrub boards, soap crates, starch, bluing, and much more. Washing the clothes took three days. The first day was spent mending the clothes, since any holes would get bigger when the clothes were washed. Then the clothes were soaked in warm, soapy water, and the laundress tried to get out any stains. The clothes were left to soak for a day or two, then they were put in tubs of warm water. The laundress would shave pieces of soap into the water and put extra soap on hard stains. Then she would start scrubbing it on the scrub board, rubbing each piece of clothing against the board's ridges until it was clean. Then she rinsed the clothes and wrung them out. But the washing process wasn't done yet."

And you will find the rest at: https://civilwartails.com/2018/11/24/laundry/

View attachment 519185
Or you did it yourself:
View attachment 519187

This is one of those subjects that folk rarely even ask about - laundry, hygiene, hospitals and cooking for a company. Battles are MUCH more interesting - but try going to war without someone to do those tasks.

That was more answer than I was looking for. But, You saved me research time. Thank you. I like the " meaningless" tasks to study. Its so interesting to me. So much so, I even try the tasks like laundry or such. Have you ever tried doing 1860s laundry? I can tell you first hand, it isn't fun. Especially if it rains.

 

[Old Soldier]

That was more answer than I was looking for. But, You saved me research time. Thank you. I like the " meaningless" tasks to study. Its so interesting to me. So much so, I even try the tasks like laundry or such. Have you ever tried doing 1860s laundry? I can tell you first hand, it isn't fun. Especially if it rains.

Yes. I have. I was brought up in a time (1950s) when washing machines were too small to take bedclothes and there were no laundrettes - and could not afford the laundry every week. I can remember using the posser in a tub of sheets and using the ringer with another tub to catch the water.

posser

wringer.

In fact, our family's first washing machine was a Hoover - just a washer - no spin-dryer - but a wringer on the top! (It lasted YEARS!)

It was not plumbed in and was filled with a bucket of hot water and that tube was how we emptied it into the same bucket when finished (thumb over the end - or else!!)

All this new technology available today often takes you away from how we used to do it in the 'Old Days'!

Try:

 

[Flybox1977]

Yes. I have. I was brought up in a time (1950s) when washing machines were too small to take bedclothes and there were no laundrettes - and could not afford the laundry every week. I can remember using the posser in a tub of sheets and using the ringer with another tub to catch the water.
View attachment 519190posser

View attachment 519191wringer.

In fact, our family's first washing machine was a Hoover - just a washer - no spin-dryer - but a wringer on the top! (It lasted YEARS!)
View attachment 519193

It was not plumbed in and was filled with a bucket of hot water and that tube was how we emptied it into the same bucket when finished (thumb over the end - or else!!)

All this new technology available today often takes you away from how we used to do it in the 'Old Days'!

Try:

Just about 6 years ago our modern washing machine went out. Angry at crappy modern technology, my wife and I bought an old wringer washer. It did have a water pump to fill it. I don't think our clothes were ever any cleaner than they were then. Mind, I was chimney sweep and my clothes were a wreck every day. We have done the two basin table with the wringer in the middle. Miss the old times.

 

[captaindrew]

That was more answer than I was looking for. But, You saved me research time. Thank you. I like the " meaningless" tasks to study. Its so interesting to me. So much so, I even try the tasks like laundry or such. Have you ever tried doing 1860s laundry? I can tell you first hand, it isn't fun. Especially if it rains.

Were you asking because you wanted to know how it was done then or because you wanted to know how to properly take care of your reenacting stuff? You have to be gentle with your stuff, most of us can't afford to reissue new stuff every 2 or 3 months like they got.

 

[Flybox1977]

Sorry if there was confusion on what I was looking for. I was looking for info on taking care of clothing/investments in today's world. But, the pictures and video links of yesteryear are interesting. I like learning about the overlooked "boring" stuff also.
From what I understand, I should get my clothing out of the ammo crate and let it breathe in between reenactments and, how to properly wash it 1860's style if I so choose. I'm even having my wife teach me period hand stitching so I can mend my own clothing. I try to put every aspect of soldier life into my daily activities just to get a sense of real life. I even managed to go three days on just hardtack and salt pork with seasonal fruit (apples here in upstate NY). I couldn't imagine weeks on end on that diet.

 

[captaindrew]

Oh yes, absolutely hang your stuff up to get some air. Hand wash your undergarments but I'd leave your jackets and trousers alone. If you must soak them in some cold water then hang out to dry. If you want to really live like they did for a weekend there's certainly events that you can do that.

 

[drezac]

I have started to hang my uniform on our laundry rack in the basement, where we also have a dehumidifier. After an event I leave them there four a couple of days and let the dehumidifier remove the moisture.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Were you asking because you wanted to know how it was done then or because you wanted to know how to properly take care of your reenacting stuff? You have to be gentle with your stuff, most of us can't afford to reissue new stuff every 2 or 3 months like they got.

But we also don't wear it every day and do some of the heavy fatigue duties associated with soldiering. I have jackets I made in the 1980s that were well used for 15 years and are still in pretty good shape.
And hand washed/line dried after every event.

 

[Old Soldier]

My soldiering days are over, but I do remember the 12-day exercises - with no time to change uniform or kit. The only thing cleaned regularly was your rifle. Your clothing (and boots) dried on you. We often wore NBC kit for most of the time too!! We never noticed the smell - even though our combats could stand on their own - until after that wonderful shower at the end. No wool now, of course, but still the need to repair in the field.

However I also remember just changing out of No2s (Parade/Formal Dress) and hanging them up straightaway to maintain the ironed-in creases before the next parade.

 

[Package4]

Sorry if there was confusion on what I was looking for. I was looking for info on taking care of clothing/investments in today's world. But, the pictures and video links of yesteryear are interesting. I like learning about the overlooked "boring" stuff also.
From what I understand, I should get my clothing out of the ammo crate and let it breathe in between reenactments and, how to properly wash it 1860's style if I so choose. I'm even having my wife teach me period hand stitching so I can mend my own clothing. I try to put every aspect of soldier life into my daily activities just to get a sense of real life. I even managed to go three days on just hardtack and salt pork with seasonal fruit (apples here in upstate NY). I couldn't imagine weeks on end on that diet.

Just my opinion, do not ever wash your wool, you will have a very unpleasant surprise and a very costly replacement process. Wool uniforms and top coats of the day were not washed, but brushed and beaten. Stains could be handled with water just in the area of the stain. Laundresses are pictured above doing the cotton wash; shirts, drawers, socks were done as well.

Many years ago when I wanted to try reenacting I was given a uniform to borrow, after the event I went home and in thanks took it to the dry cleaner and had them professionally cleaned. Thinking that I was doing the right thing, I proudly returned them to the company QM, who immediately let out a cry of derision! I ended up joining the group, but it took me at least a year to live my cleaning decision down. Clean uni's and sharp creases do not belong in reenacting!!!!

 

[Package4]

If your clothing is made of pre-shrunk wool it should not run or shrink in a gentle hand wash if you need to.
Hang on a line to dry. No dryers.
During the war wool clothing was washed on a regular basis if no other reason than to kill lice and ticks.
Personal choice I guess....

Not sure I agree with the last statement, under garments were regularly washed, but the actual wool was not, to get rid of lice there are myriad of stories of holding the uniforms over a fire. Having collected original ACW cloth for more years than I can count, I see absolutely no evidence of any wool ever being laundered, just the uniforms I have examined and owned. You would easily be able to tell as the linings of most coats/jackets are made of cotton/osnaburg which would shrink at a different rate than the wool, you would see split seams and thread pulling apart.

I am not saying it never happened, it is a fools errand to use absolutes.......

 

[HatEnjoyer]

I guess to sum up everything that's been said here, only wash the garments that are in direct contact with your skin (shirts, drawers, and socks), and simply air out your trousers and jackets.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I remember being buttoned up (all the hatches closed) with my crew after 8 or 9 days in the field. At first you didn´t notice it, but as the night wore on, and the vehicle ¨warmed¨ to the occupancy, the sweat, tobacco, diesel, human funk ripeness smell became eye-wateringly pungent. I remember coughing out to my crew: ¨I love you guys, but you´re going to kill me.¨ Absolute worst stench I can ever remember. Like roadkill. Times 12.
There are certain smells that really never leave your reenacting clothes. Wood smoke mostly. My wife doesn´t allow me to hang my uniforms with other clothes because that smell is very persuasive. I keep them in a dedicated reenacting closet.

 

[tmorr]

I apologize if this has been a topic before. How do you recommend caring for uniforms? Washing after hot, sweaty weekends, storing when not using? With prices of the clothing, I want to make sure I don't destroy it after the first cleaning. I can't imagine just airing it out on the clothesline.

If you must clean them - take the wool to the dry cleaners and tell them not to press anything so you don't get creases. You can hand wash in cool water and woolite and air dry as well but to avoid any shrinking ( if you're concerned) go the dry cleaning route. Tell them not to worry about bad stains. There also used to be some "home" dry cleaning kits where you sealed up your clothes in a bag with the provided cleaning solution and throw the bag in a dryer for the prescribed time. Not sure if these kits are are still around…