Vest cleaning

[Danny Mackenzie]

Hey guys,

 

I have a pro vest wondering if any of you have suggestions for ways of cleaning/washing the padding? Getting a little stinky.

[Janice Arthur]

Danny;

 

1) call PRO and confirm this before you start but here is the generally accepted way to clean padding.

 

2) They are filled with simple foam of some sort.

 

3) Pull out the pads, wash them by hand in a bath tub etc. with Cold water and some regular detergent. Wash several times til the water gets less black.

 

4) rinse, wring out by hand a bit, don't crush them too much.

 

5) KEY DETAIL; air dry them on a balcony or somewhere the air can get to them. No dryer, turn them often and in about a day or less they'll be dry.

 

Put them back in your vest.

 

good luck

 

Janice

[Andrew Ansnick]

Do as Janice says. The last time I cleaned my vest, I filled the tub with warm water and detergent, and just threw the whole vest in (on Jack's instructions) chassis and all. Use some agitation to really help get the funk out. You could also try scrubbing the pads if you really want to get them clean.

 

 

As Janice previously stated, the most important step is to make sure you let your vest dry completely afterwards! If you throw it back in the vest bag still damp you will begin to grow all sorts of horrors. Just hang it outside in the sun for the day and you should be fine. Afterwards, you should take off the socket block adapter and reapply some white lithium grease as described in the video I have linked to.

 

http://youtu.be/lYaYGERMafA

[Chris Allen]

I've done the 'put it in the tub idea' and this works, but unless you completely dry it you may eventually start to hear some creaking within the vest. It took me a few days to figure it out after I had heard the creaking.

 

The adjustment screws/bolts for the shoulder straps was the issue. I pulled them out and found some rusting on the threads and backings and what looked like maybe a soap residue on the titanium.

 

I lightly oiled these to try and rid the vest of creaking...still there. Dipped the bolts in some liquid rust remover and oiled again...still there. I eventually just swapped these bolts out with the extras supplied when you get your vest, lightly oiled them and it's been good.

 

I suggest removing the pads for the back by unscrewing the three screws on the shoulder harness and then sliding out the webbing on the chest straps. Just be VERY careful not to strip the three screws holes when re-assembling.

 

Waist pad is easier and I just slide the webbing straps out as well.

 

While you have the pads out, check to see that all of the bolts are tight as well...seeing as you have access to them and of course add some lithium grease to the socket block adapter as described by Andrew.

 

Chris

Edited December 10, 2012 by Chris Allen

[Andrew Ansnick]

Good points Chris, though in my personal experience I've been fortunate to avoid any creaking issues. Don't forget that if you remove those screws that hold on the shoulder pads you need to re-apply locktight! I've had them back themselves out before, fortunately not while wearing the rig.

[Peter Abraham]

Sunlight kills bacteria. Oxyclean also does a lovely of that !!

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

never wash the vest, ...flys and nats are lucky!

[Levente Somogyi]

My vest is a lot more simple than the majority of the users here (Pilot), but I just took the padded parts and the velcro parts off, then

1) put them in the tub filled with cold water, pressed them by hand for a few minutes, let the water down.

2) used the most delicate detergent I found at home (made for breathable products, brand: Storm), used about 2 cups in the water, pressed the pads all over for about 10 minutes (wanted to do a thorough job as my gear was a rental kit), let them in water for about an hour more, let the water down. (the sewn 'Steadicam' logo was quite dirty, I have put a lot of delicate concentrated cleaner spray (also from an outdoor shop) on it and gently rubbed in with my fingers, the logo is beautiful white now)

3) rinsed them thoroughly, dried the parts outdoors by wind&sun for 36 hours.

 

Worked like a charm.

Edited May 22, 2016 by Levente Somogyi

[Brett Manyluk]

Can always keep a bottle of athletic smell-out on the camera truck and give the vest a little spray at the end of the day. I use this hockey stuff and it works really well (also good for stinky shoes). Nothing compares to hockey stank and this stuff will actually kill off a respectable amount of that smell. There are probably other products available too, just haven't used them. Good daily when you can't do a full wash of the vest.

 

http://www.hockeymonkey.com/elite-hockey-accessories-pro-fresh-bio-odor-control-500ml.html

[John atkinson]

I learned from something I had heard about Theater costuming. They can't wash elaborate costumes so they spray them with 90% rubbing alcohol. I got a spray bottle filled with it and saturated the pads. Immediately no stink. Back to fresh!

 

JA

[Marc Abernathy]

John,

 

Any recommended rubbing alcohol? Denatured? Walgreens? Doesn't matter?

 

Why no go 99%? Curious....

[John atkinson]

John,

 

Any recommended rubbing alcohol? Denatured? Walgreens? Doesn't matter?

 

Why no go 99%? Curious....

 

I had it available. Its pure, evaporates totally, leaves no residue and doesn't damage anything.

 

JA