Ballistic Vests Care

Caring For and Replacing Your Ballistic Vest

Caring for Your Vest

It is extremely important to care for your ballistic vest properly because if you don't, it may reduce the ballistic vest’s protective qualities. That’s why you should always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for both the ballistic panels and the carrier.

If you feel the need to clean your ballistic panels, there are some general guidelines that apply to most manufacturer’s models.

Don’t machine wash and dry the panels or have them dry cleaned. The machines or harsh detergents and chemicals may damage or reduce the fabric’s protective qualities.
You can generally hand wash the panels with cold water and mild laundry detergent.>

As mentioned in an earlier lesson, certain ballistic materials lose some of their effectiveness when wet. So don’t submerge the panels under water. Be sure to rinse the soap off of the panels too because the soap may absorb water.

Don’t dry the panels outdoors. Ultraviolet light can damage the ballistic panel’s protective capabilities.

As for the carrier, you may be able to machine wash it if you can remove the ballistic panels. Again, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you think you might wash your carrier, it’s a good idea to buy a spare carrier first. Carriers are inexpensive and this way you’ll never be without your armor just because your carrier is in the wash.

Between washings or instead of washing, you can eliminate odors by using a deodorizer that is specifically made for ballistic vests. Don’t assume any general apparel deodorizer will work. It may contain properties that will reduce the effectiveness of the armor or cause the vest to be flammable. Galls carries a deodorizer made for ballistic vests called Vest-Guard Ballistic Vest Deodorizer.

In addition to cleaning your vest, you should regularly inspect it for signs of wear like fraying or unraveling of threads. If you find damage, don’t try and repair your vest yourself, send it back to the manufacturer.

Replacing Your Vest

Even if you properly care for your armor, don’t expect to wear the same ballistic vest forever. You should count on having to replace your ballistic vest at some point for a variety of reasons.

Reasons for replacement include wear and tear of your ballistic panels and/or carrier, a change in body shape, and of course, if the vest has been shot. Another big reason to replace your vest is the need for greater protection. In the 1960’s, most of the ballistic vests were designed to protect against the .38 caliber handgun. Today, many of the vests are designed to protect against a 9mm handgun.

You may also want to replace your vest to take advantage of the newer, lighter and more flexible materials that are constantly being developed to construct ballistic panels. A more comfortable vest encourages both you and everyone in your department to wear it more often.

One factor, however, that doesn’t appear to reduce the effectiveness of ballistic vest is its age. A 1986 NIJ study didn’t show any less effectiveness in the ballistic properties of the vest because of how old it was. Of course, a vest that has been sitting in inventory for several years may no longer provide the tougher level of protection you now require.

Note: As in the maintenance of your ballistic vest, you always should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as to replacement as well. You should also be aware of the manufacturer’s warranty before you purchase your vest too. Galls offers a 5-year warranty from the date of purchase on all of the ballistic vests we sell.

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