Uniform Care Tips

1. UNIFORMS: Cadet uniforms are required to fit properly, be kept clean and well pressed, and worn according to regulations. The following tips will help you maintain your uniforms at a minimum cost. Different uniforms require different care. Listed below are the uniforms and the things you should do to keep them in good shape. Some uniforms may be home washed, while others require commercial dry cleaning, all or some of the time at cadet's cost. Paying close attention to the care requirements of each uniform item can save you money and ensure a sharp looking uniform.

A. Pressing: Uniform items should be pressed with an ordinary iron at a setting that is proper for the material (usually low heat). The black coats, shirts, skirts and pants must be pressed with a PRESS CLOTH in order to avoid a permanent shine. A press cloth is a lintfree cloth that is placed between the garment and the iron. Brown paper, such as from a grocery sack can be used in place of the cloth if it is sprinkled lightly with water. Military creases must be maintained in all NJROTC white or black shirts. Your Chain of Command will instruct you on how to accomplish this. If you dry clean uniforms, most commercial cleaners are familiar with military creases.

B. Washing: In general, follow the instructions on the label when washing uniform items. Khaki uniforms and white shirts can be washed with normal clothing of the same type. White shirts should be bleached with non-chlorine bleach such as Clorox-ll. Chlorine bleaches will cause the shirts to turn gray and should not be used, Black uniform items, if washable at all (see below), must be washed on gentle cycle (or by hand) in cool or cold water, and in mild detergent. These dark items may be dried on low heat and perma-press setting but should be removed before the end of the cycle. Press as above. Occasional wash/press professionally by a commercial cleaner will help keep the uniform looking newer and nicer.

C. Dry Cleaning: Any commercial dry cleaner may be used for NJROTC uniforms at the cadet's expense.

Special Uniform Instructions

(1) Black trousers/skirts/slacks: Even though these items are marked Dry clean only, they may be washed if care is used. See the instructions under washing, above. Frequent washing will cause these items to fade, so spot cleaning with a damp cloth to reduce washing frequently is suggested.

(2) Combination Cap Covers: The only reliable way of getting a dirty white hat cover clean is washing by hand in warm or hot water using laundry soap and bleach and utilizing a stiff brush on the heavily soiled areas. For very lightly soiled covers, you can try the automatic washer with other white items. The cover should be spread out flat to dry and may need to be ironed. Female white covers can be ironed more easily if placed over a full toiled tissue roll to fill out their shape.

(3) Service Dress Blue Coat: (Dress coat with metal buttons): This item MUST be professionally dry cleaned. With care, this cleaning may need to be done only once per year as this uniform is seldom worn to school. Proper spot cleaning and pressing will reduce the need to take it to the cleaners. DO NOT attempt to wash this uniform coat in the washer or by hand - it will ruin the uniform at a cost of about $100.00.

2. Shoes: The black uniform shoes must be shined to a high gloss, using black paste wax. DO NOT USE LIQUID SHOE POLISH as it will eventually crack and you will then be required to remove it completely, a very difficult job. Several companies make acceptable shoe polish; Kiwi, Johnson, and Esquire to name a few. The polish normally comes in a small tin and is applied with a soft cloth such as an old T-shirt. A small amount of polish is rubbed into the leather and then buffed lightly. This must be repeated many times on new shoes. Special techniques must be followed if you want to go further and get a mirror or "spit shine". After the shoe is polished, you should take an old tooth brush dipped lightly in shoe polish and go around the exposed part of the shoe sole to blacken it and get rid of dust in the indentations (Make sure you shine the entire shoes and not just the front tip of the shoe)

3. Brass: Only solid brass items, such as the belt buckle,should be polished. DO NOT POLISH JROTC BARS, RANK INSIGNIA, OR UNIFORM BUTTONS,ETC. These items are plated and will be ruined by metal polish. Clean them with soap and water if necessary. The brass buckle must be polished when it becomes scratched or corroded. Brasso or a similar product will work after any clear coating has been removed. Removing the coating from a new buckle can be accomplished by soaking it in household ammonia for several minutes. The coating should then peel off easily.