How to Clean a Police Uniform at Home
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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.
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White Vinegar
White vinegar is the cheapest and safest option to add to your laundry detergent. White vinegar is a an all natural odor deterrent. Add up to 1 cup of white vinegar per load directly onto any stains on the uniform on just in the laundry with the police uniform.
OdoBan
OdoBan is a biolaundry advances enzyme detergent is highly effective on tough stains and funky smells.
Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost
Add Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost to any regular laundry detergent to clean police uniform funky scents. Highly recommended product by police wives and cat owners.
Essential Oils
A few drops of an essential oil into the laundry machine with the uniform can prevent odor. Try purchasing an Essential Oils monthly box from Simply Earth who donates to human trafficking. Use my code: HEELSANDHOLSTERSFREE for a free $40 gift card with your purchase of a monthly box.
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!
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”