{"title":"Gear Care","description":"\u003ch2\u003eGear Care: Keep Your Armor and Equipment Ready\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBody armor is built to last for years, but the gear it lives in takes daily abuse. Carriers absorb sweat and body oil through a full shift, helmet pads hold more moisture than anything else you wear, and packs collect dust and salt in every strap. Knowing how to clean body armor and the equipment around it is what keeps a five-year panel and a two-year carrier reaching the end of their service life instead of wearing out early. Everything in this collection is formulated for performance fabric and protective equipment rather than household surfaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Do You Clean Body Armor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArmor comes apart before it gets cleaned, and the two halves are treated differently. Ballistic panels and hard plates are wiped down by hand. Carriers, shells, and covers go in the wash. Treating them the same way is the most common mistake we see.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBallistic Panels, Plates, and Trauma Pads\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft armor panels, hard plates, and trauma pads should never go through a washing machine or a dryer, and they should not be submerged, soaked, or dry cleaned. Remove them from the carrier first, wipe both faces with a damp cloth, and avoid harsh solvents. Lay them flat and let them dry completely before they go back in. Panels should be stored flat rather than folded, since creasing can affect the ballistic package over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCarriers, Vests, and Shells\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost of our outer carriers are machine washable. With the armor removed, wash the carrier on a gentle cycle and lay it flat or hang it to dry. Care requirements vary by product, so check the care tag or product page for your specific carrier and follow that guidance first. The \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/products\/everyday-armor-tshirt-360-armored\" title=\"Everyday Armor T-Shirt 360 concealable armor\"\u003eEveryday Armor T-Shirt 360\u003c\/a\u003e carrier, for example, is washed cold and hung to dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat you wash with matters as much as how. Household detergent leaves filler and softener residue in the weave of synthetic fabric, which traps odor rather than removing it and reduces the moisture management the carrier was built for. A detergent formulated for technical fabric avoids that buildup. Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets entirely, and keep \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/collections\/plate-carriers\" title=\"plate carriers from Premier Body Armor\"\u003eplate carriers\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/collections\/bulletproof-vests\" title=\"bulletproof vests from Premier Body Armor\"\u003evests\u003c\/a\u003e out of the dryer, since heat shortens the life of synthetic fabric and can change how a carrier fits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Do You Clean the Inside of a Helmet?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA helmet shell cannot be washed, and the interior is where the problem actually lives. Pads and liners sit against your head for hours and absorb far more sweat than a carrier does, which is why odor sets into the foam rather than the shell. The practical approach is to treat the interior directly with a spray made for helmet padding: cover the crown and brow pads first, then the liner and the chin strap webbing, and leave the helmet open until it is completely dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoing this after each hard use takes seconds and prevents the buildup that becomes difficult to reverse. If you run a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/products\/fortis-ballistic-helmet\" title=\"Fortis Ballistic Helmet\"\u003eFortis Ballistic Helmet\u003c\/a\u003e or any bump or training helmet, the same routine applies, and it extends to replaceable \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/collections\/helmet-accessories\" title=\"helmet accessories and pad systems\"\u003epad systems\u003c\/a\u003e as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat About Packs, Slings, and Nylon Gear?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCordura and coated nylon hold up to years of hard use, but the shoulder straps and back panel collect body oil, dust, and salt in the same way a carrier does. Spot clean with mild soap and cool water, treat the fabric with a gear deodorizer between cleanings, and let everything dry fully before storage. Coated nylon should stay out of the dryer, and bleach and solvent cleaners should stay off it entirely, since both strip the coating and weaken stitching. If your pack holds a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/collections\/bulletproof-backpack-inserts-all\" title=\"bulletproof backpack armor inserts\"\u003ebackpack armor insert\u003c\/a\u003e, remove the insert before cleaning the bag and wipe the insert down separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to Avoid When Cleaning Gear\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBleach and solvent cleaners.\u003c\/strong\u003e Both break down synthetic fibers and fabric coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFabric softener and dryer sheets.\u003c\/strong\u003e The residue they leave behind reduces breathability.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh heat.\u003c\/strong\u003e Never on ballistic panels or plates, and rarely a good idea on technical fabric.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry cleaning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Those solvents are not appropriate for ballistic materials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHousehold air fresheners.\u003c\/strong\u003e They cover odor temporarily and leave residue in the fabric.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Often Should You Clean Your Gear?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter each hard use\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTreat the carrier and helmet interior with a deodorizing spray, and let everything air dry before it goes back into storage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMonthly, or as needed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRemove the armor, wash the carrier on gentle, and wipe the panels down with a damp cloth.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEvery few months\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpot clean packs and slings, and inspect straps, stitching, and hook-and-loop for wear.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce a year\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCheck the date on your soft armor and inspect the panels for creasing, stiffness, or visible damage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eChoosing the Right Gear Care Product\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe three products in this collection cover different parts of the same job, and most customers end up with more than one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecule Helmet REFRESH, 4 oz:\u003c\/strong\u003e a compact spray for helmet pads, liners, and chin strap webbing. Small enough to keep in a range bag.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecule REFRESH, 16 oz:\u003c\/strong\u003e a larger sprayer for carriers, vests, packs, gloves, and pouches. Sized for treating a full kit at once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecule WASH, 16 oz:\u003c\/strong\u003e a concentrated detergent for uniforms, base layers, and carrier shells. Runs in a standard machine and delivers up to 8 washes per bottle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you wear armor regularly, start with the carrier, since that is the piece in contact with your body the longest. If you run a helmet, start with Helmet REFRESH. For a complete routine, all three work together: WASH cleans what can go in a machine, and the two REFRESH sprays handle everything that cannot.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/premierbodyarmor.com\/collections\/gear-care.oembed","provider":"Premier Body Armor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}