This is a sponsored post on behalf of Arrest My Vest. All opinions are honest and my own.
You hear that beautiful sound of velcro as soon as your officer walks in the door and you can finally breath a sigh of relief. Then it hits you, the horrible smell that comes along with wearing a vest during the hot summer heat.
But just how do you clean it and get the smell away?
I have talked with so many wives/girlfriends that are afraid to touch the vest in fear of ruining the ballistics but you actually can care for it as long as you follow these easy steps.
Ways to best care for a bulletproof vest:
Follow Manufacturer’s Directions
This is so important. Every brand and manufacturer’s directions are a little different so it is really important to follow these first before doing anything else. In addition, care instructions can vary for outer vests compared to inner vests.
When storing the vest, be sure to bring it out of extreme temperatures. It is best to store vests indoors at room temperature so you do not void any warranty.
Use Arrest My Vest Spray to Eliminate Odor
I have been spraying Arrest My Vest spray on my husband’s vest for as long as I can remember. It is a high-quality odor eliminating spray made for bulletproof vests and tactical gear. It is perfect for taking away those sweaty odors from the summer heat (or any other time of the year).
They offer a variety of scents like Midnight, Unscented, Driftwood and Stressless (this is their new scent which is a bit more feminine smelling- I love it)!
It is the only product we have found that takes the smell away on contact and that is because it uses OAM (odor absorbing molecules) which bonds with the odor to break it down and eliminate it instantly.
When spraying on the vest, I don’t soak the vest. Just a light spray will do the trick!
My husband prefers the manly Midnight scent (we use the spray in his work boots, too).
I actually use this spray all over my house and car as it is safe for kids and animals (including K-9s) and uses no harsh chemicals. It is all-natural and safe on the skin. Remember, this is not a disinfectant, instead, it eliminates odors.
You can check out Arrest My Vest spray here.
Spot Clean & Hang Dry
You want to avoid washing the entire vest. Instead, you want to spot clean with a damp cloth and Dawn dish soap or mild laundry detergent. You could also use a toothbrush to scrub on tougher spots/stains. Before spot cleaning, take out the ballistic panels, if you can (some are removable, some are not). Before inserting panels, please make sure the vest carrier is completely dry.
To dry, do NOT use the dryer. It is not safe for the ballistics and the velcro from the vest will stick to everything (speaking from experience here).
You can let it dry by hanging it on a hanger. But, keep in mind, many manufacturers recommend laying vests flat when storing, not hanging.
Don’t put ballistics in the wash or soak in water
This will absolutely void a warranty and is bad for the ballistic panels inside the vest.
Do not use bleach, the washing machine or dry cleaning.
Again, spot clean only.
Create a barrier between skin and the vest.
You can best do so by having your officer wear a moisture-wicking shirt underneath the bulletproof vest. The shirt can help absorb sweat and odor instead of it all going straight to the vest. Plus, my husband says wearing a shirt underneath is much more comfortable.
A barrier also helps reduce the risk of developing a rash caused by the vest rubbing against the skin.
My husband likes these moisture-wicking shirts from Under Armour. They also offer a large law enforcement discount.
I remember having so many “opps” moments with my husband’s vest in the past. He would clean it but I made the mistake of putting it in the dryer a time or two. If you do make any mistakes, don’t worry, it is probably not ruined. You just don’t want to continue to go against the manufacturer’s directions time and time again.
Overall, the first place to start to best care for a bulletproof vest is to always read the manufacturers directions carefully, just in case their recommendations vary slightly from what’s above. Use Arrest My Vest to help with odors then refer to the rest of our tips for other care needs.
