Washing uniform

[wingnut]

I have a new Allstar uniform that, after several wearings, is starting to look grungy.....I threw it in the wash today on a cold water setting, and it appears to have come through fine.

My question is this: the knickers appear to have 'pilled' a little. Is there a way to remove the pills without wrecking the knickers themselves? And what about preventing that from happening in the future?

Also, what's the best way to dry the uniform? I hung the jacket to dry, it wasn't super heavy with water, so I don't think the weight will stretch it much, but the knickers I just tried to dry flat on a towel?

Anyone have a better solution to this?

Thanks!
Steve

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I always just put the stuff on a hanger.

[CvilleFencer]

I just through my kit in the washer and dryer. For the wash I use Oxyclean or Tide with Bleach Alternative and either amonia or Fabreeze laundry deoderizer. Once the wash is done I through everything in the dryer on the auto dry setting. I wash my mask in the dishwasher with the heated drying turned off since my dishwashers heating elements are very close to the bottom rack. I have never had and problems or issues and my whites stay bright and much less smelly than some I have dealt with. I also wash my kit at least every other practice if not every day. My current kit is Leon Paul and before that I had all StM kit which I washed/dryed the same way.

[aster]

Originally Posted by wingnut

My question is this: the knickers appear to have 'pilled' a little. Is there a way to remove the pills without wrecking the knickers themselves?

You might try a sweater shaver...

[KD5MDK]

I didn't realize StM made uniforms, I thought they were just a forge (and some electrical gear). Huh.

[bleeblue]

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

I wash my mask in the dishwasher with the heated drying turned off since my dishwashers heating elements are very close to the bottom rack.

is this safe? i have never heard of this been done before...

i have an fie allstar mask with the removable padding so i just wash that... dishwasher...

[KD5MDK]

Yeah, I've heard the dishwasher story before. Dan Dechaine said he's heard it too, but never actually tried it himself.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I didn't realize StM made uniforms, I thought they were just a forge (and some electrical gear). Huh.

They make cheap 'nylon' like 350 N kit. (I know because we have a few 'loan kits' at the club.)


Here's the link to their website, in case you're interested in seeing their goods: http://www.stm-fencing.com

[Inquartata]

I've always just used my electric razor on pilling ( admittedly not for fencing uniforms, it hasn't been an issue there yet ) rather than buying a special one. It works fairly well.

Clean the razor first.

Synthetics will pill, AFAIK there is no preventing it.

[P.B]

Wash the knickers inside-out to avoid piling. That's what it says on the wash instructions of my Allstar breeches.

[Moniteur]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

Yeah, I've heard the dishwasher story before. Dan Dechaine said he's heard it too, but never actually tried it himself.

I've done it for years, and never had a problem. You definitely don't want to run it too close to the heater element, lest you melt the glue holding the plastic stuff on, so a 'low heat' setting is a good thing if you have it. (you could of course always pull the mask out before the "sanitize" cycle starts)

One can also poach/steam massive quantities of fish in a dishwasher as well http://www.surrealgourmet.com/html/recipes/salmon.html

[Beowulfman6]

I get a bunch of piling on my knickers too. I also get a bunch of sweat and blade stains that woun't come out. I fenced someone with one of those StM rainbow blades and it left different colored streaks on my arm. Any suggestions on how to get hese out? Oxyclean?

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Beowulfman6

I get a bunch of piling on my knickers too. I also get a bunch of sweat and blade stains that woun't come out. I fenced someone with one of those StM rainbow blades and it left different colored streaks on my arm. Any suggestions on how to get hese out? Oxyclean?

What material is your kit made of?

I have never, ever heard of coloured blades leaving 'streaks' on a jacket/breeches. I think that what you refer to 'coloured streaks' are in fact some kind of oil or the similar from the blade, not the actual colour, right?

(As the colour is applied by 'elektrolys' process, whatever that's called in english... )

[Beowulfman6]

I don't know what coused it, I just know I had some red rust stains and a few black ones before the tournament, and afterwards I had yellow and blue too! Now my arm looks like an StM rainbow blade!

The kit is strech nylon.

[Linkthealmighty]

Hmmm... I think I might have to find a dish washer, I always just use Lysol. Another question, anyone have any idea how to wash the Duellest Evolution pants? I want to find out before I need to know.

[Parsifal]

I have a pair of Evolutions. I hand-wash them in in woolite or high efficiency laundry detergent with very warm water. i have spot-treated stains with spray 'n wash with good outcome. Want to make sure the soap rinses out (I rinse them twice) b/c they don't evaporate sweat the same when they aren't rinsed out right. They feel clammy if they aren't rinsed right.

My Evolution jacket is a diff material than the knickers. I hand-wash that too. Love the Climate-control lining.

[Linkthealmighty]

I hand-wash them in in woolite or high efficiency laundry detergent with very warm water.

Oh great... well, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.