How to Clean a Police Uniform at Home

10 Steps to Get the Funk Out of a Polyester Uniform (Plus How to Share the Household Load Without Resentment)

Before we dive in: grab my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training so you can stop feeling like you are carrying all the laundry, chores, and household responsibilities alone.

Whether you are washing your own polyester uniform or helping your police, fire, or military spouse get the patrol funk out of theirs, laundry and chores can quickly become a quiet source of resentment when one partner is working long, unpredictable shifts. Building Independent Daily Routines and using Assertive Trauma Informed Communication and Gentle Observation is how my husband and I went from me feeling like I was handling the house alone to sharing household responsibilities as true teammates.

If you’re asking yourself, “how to clean my police uniform?,” I’ve got your six.” If you’re asking yourself, “how to clean my polyester police uniform?”, then following these steps. If you’re a police wife, you may also enjoy my blog on productivity hacks for police wives.

Step 1. Check the uniform pockets.

Check to see if there were any pens or other materials in the pockets and remove them before cleaning the police uniform.

Step 2. Air it out outside

If the uniform is pretty funky smelling, air it out outside on a drying rack for 24 hours prior to washing.

Step 3. Turn the uniform inside out.

Turning the uniform inside out will lengthen the lifetime of the pockets, badges or anything else on the front of your uniform.

Step 4. Wash the uniform alone.

Washing the uniform alone will ensure that the color remain intact and no color bleeding occurs.

Step 5. Wash in cold water.

Cold water is less likely to shrink or ruin clothes.

Step 6. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners.

Especially since most uniforms are dark, bleach will ruin the color. The waxy coating of fabric softeners can prevent moisture-wicking and absorption properties of the clothes.

Step 7. Use regular laundry detergent AND an odor blocking product.

See each odor blocking suggestion below. Some links are affiliate links.

Step 8. Tumble Dry Low

Low heat will extend the lifetime of your uniform.

Step 9. Remove from the dryer right away and warm iron if needed

If the uniform if crumpled from the uniform, you may use a warm iron to straighten it out. Ensure the iron isn’t too hot.

Step 10. If you’re doubting your skills to clean a police uniform, you might be asking “How much does it cost to dry clean a uniform?”

Dry cleaning ranges from $4 ($2 for pants and $2 for top) to $8 for the police uniform depending on where you live. Typically, you will have to pay for dry cleaning yourself. You may want to try cleaning your police uniform at home with the exception of biohazardous police uniform stains; in that case, I would say take it to the dry cleaners.

Good luck!

Picture this:

• Laundry, meal prep, and weekly chores fit smoothly into your Independent Daily Routines instead of taking over your entire weekend.

• You use Assertive Trauma Informed Communication to ask for help around the house without nagging, guilt, or starting the same argument over and over.

• When he comes home from a long shift and takes off his uniform, you use Gentle Observation so he decompresses and steps into family life with you.

• He shares responsibility on household chores and kids' routines without you having to carry the mental load alone.

• With the housework shared as a team, you both have energy left for Consistent Quality Time Together on his days off.

Ready to stop carrying the household load alone and feel like true teammates? Start with my free 3 Keys to Knowing He’s Got Your Back training.

Listen to the Heels and Holster podcast on Spotify for more on sharing the load in your police, fire, or military marriage.

You might enjoy these other blogs:

How to Accept Police Wife Life

18 Tips to Address “My Husband Works Nights and I Can’t Sleep”