You can spot clean for little messes. For big messes or deeper clean, you can soak in a mild detergent and cool or warm water. The best way to dry the vest is to hang it on a hanger and let it dry in a warm sunny spot either inside or outdoors.
New in 2023: Washing in a washing machine is permitted but the manufacturer recommends the vest be washed in a laundry bag to prevent damage from the metals to the washing machine and close all of the Velcro pieces so they do not snag the fabric. Use a non-chlorinated laundry detergent with cold or lukewarm water on a gentle or delicate cycle. Then air dry, preferably in the sun.
DO NOT:
- Do not use hot water.
- Do not use any type of bleach.
- Do not soak in alcohols or solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, propylene glycol or any other glycol solvent, any butanol or butyl alcohol, etc.
- Do not dry with a hairdryer.
- Do not iron.
For topical sanitation
The vests and harnesses can be lightly sprayed with any of the following:
- Ethyl Alcohol Sprays (62% – 80% solution),
- Isopropyl Alcohol Spray (70% – 90% solution)
- Hydrogen Peroxide soak or spray (3% – 12% solution)
Spray the inside and outside of the entire vest and allow to air dry (preferably in the sun.)
Although effective against Corona Viruses, the sprays may not be effective for other contagions, larvae, eggs, or odors.
If HFMD, lice, bedbugs, fleas, etc. are suspected, please use the detergent soaking method, as follows, to assure the contagion has not penetrated into the padding. Soak the entire vest in a non-chlorinated laundry sanitizer such as Lysol brand or a generic equivalent of detergent that contains benzalkonium chloride. Steps:
- Mix detergent in cool or lukewarm water according to detergent instruction
- Soak the vest for 1-2 hours.
- Rinse thoroughly in clean cool or lukewarm water several times to assure all of the detergents have been rinsed out of the fabric and panels.
- Press panels between 2 dry towels to remove excess water.
- Air-dry until no longer damp.
