Uniform care and storage

[Southernboy]

Friends,

I am relatively new to the hobby and am in the process of putting together my first Confederate impression (Greg Starbuck kepi, Tim Allen Theo Frank, Ben Tart NC Depot, MB&S brogans, etc.). As things started coming in I began to think about storage and care. I realize generally an authentic persona would most likely be wrinkled and dirty but at the same time I would like my things to last (they are a significant investment to me). I was wondering if any of you would pass along how you store your gear and any care precautions you take with them. Just general uniform, cover, shoe & such care along with any tips you feel are important.

Thanks in advance!

[RJSamp]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Wrinkled and dirty uniform means next time you are inspected you get to ride the wooden horse or stand on a barrel....enjoy!

Period dry cleaning: sprinkle your wool uniforms with baby (talc) powder, brush out with a clothes brush. The talc absorbs odors, the brushing clears out the goobers, debris, and dendris....and the talc. Hang in an enclosed moth free area with generous shoulder friendly hangers (wooden)...and either have CEDAR lining the closet or cheese cloth bags of cedar chips.

Period wet cleaning: boiling tub of water to kill the lice....... ever wonder how come they didn't shrink or fade after boiling? Must have been some pretty decent fabric/dyes to begin with...

For us Federals, Balsam Fir boughs in the cedar closet will impart a pleasant smell to the fabric....Rosemary sprigs are also super....

Jasmine based potpourri catchets anyone?



RJ Samp

[King47thAL]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Just my opinion, but if unless you're constantly doing garrison duty you really don't have to take a whole lotta care of your gear inbetween events. I would say the most you'd have to worry about is your gun, and your canteen. You don't want either of 'em to rust up on ya. For your rifle, clean it immediately after use. I find, if I take a few minutes to clean my rifle at the end of the event before going home, then I won't forget it and wind up being days before I get around to it. Your canteen, if'n it's tin, clean it as soon as you can as well. Was it out with baking soda several times, and then allow it to air and drip dry. Then when completely dry, store it with the stopper in to prevent oxidizing.

As far as your uniform and traps, not too much care needs to be given there.As long as your stuff isn't damp, or muddy, a little dust won't hurt anything.

I always just hang my stuff up to air out and dry for a day or two, and then into my box it goes. Make sure there's no way any critters can get to it and make homes, especially brown recluses, if they're in your area.

You may want to get some type of oil (can't say what, though) to keep your leathers from drying out.

I've been reenacting for 10 years, had good gear for about 6, and havn't had any problems. If you're stuff is made right, you should have no problems.

Just my thoughts, disagree if you will,


J B King
47th AL.

[SteelCityZouave]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Everything that has been said, I highly agree with. As far as your gun and getting a good cleaning on it (which is top priority), you should do a quick clean at the event you're using your gun at. I usually use some of my left-over canteen water and pour it down the barrell of the gun after a battle while it's still hot, so it can get a majority of the powder out of there and you won't have a bunch of "blackpowder pudding" later on. Then you should do more of a thorough cleaning of your rifle when you get home.

As far as your leathers, I use a product called "Neatsfoot Outdoor Leather Oil" on them which can get the job done and keeps them from drying. Also, it would be a good idea to hang up your clothing after events to dry them out along with your brogans and socks, etc.

I hope that helps!

[courier]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Clean gun after each event..........uh oh.That was May! I had better get on it soon.Seriously though,hang those trowsers and coat out in the wind for a couple days to thoroughly dry out and air and they won't stink.I am opposed to dry cleaning,removes some of the natural oils from the wool.Review David Jarnagin's paper on leather care.Do not use petroleum products of any kind on your leathers.Take a stiff brush and water and get the mud and dirt off the shoes,then lightly oil the surfaces and put shoe trees in them.Use saddle soap and Kiwi polish on your belts and cartridge box.Wash your cotton shirts and drawers and air out your wool shirts(don't wash wool).Hang up for the season,as suggested on wooden hangers and place cedar chips in and around garments.Now you are ready for next season.
Regards,Rick Harris

[Alamo Guard]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Wool can be washed in cool or cold water by hand. Never use a washing machine and for gawds sake never use a dryer. It helps if you know what type or brand of wool was used. Certain wools can will shrink under normal conditions like getting your feet soaking wet and then not changing your socks all weekend and allowing them to dry on your feet.
If jeancloth gets muddy just a damp rag to get off the clumps, let it air dry and then a brush later will get out most of the dirt.
Lastly as far as my tin canteen goes I ensure its drained, hang it upside down in a dry area and leave it without the stopper. If you dont have a dry area of course like mention rust will eat it alive.

[RyanBWeddle]

Too much hanging is BAD! And can be INAUTHENTIC!!!

Most of use hangars for our storage of our uniforms, shirts, etc. (I'm trying to quit)

While hangars were used in the mid-19th Cen. more often than not clothing was folded for storage. This was a more common way to store your clothing in chests, etc. And how was army clothing transported? In massive wagons of swaying hangars? NO! It was folded and bundled or bailed.

How many closets do you see in 19th Century homes/rooms ? Not very many at all for clothes storage....

I would suggest after your events, after lightly cleaning / airing out your clothing that you fold and box/store it that way. Make sure of course your stuff isn't going to shrink, mold, etc.

So stay away from hangars - hangars can leave jackets/shirts with odd looking shoulder indentations and trowsers with un-needed creasing....

Fold fold fold! It's the 19th C. way to do it!

[Michael Semann]

Re: Uniform care and storage

I agree that the average campaigning soldier of the time had little opportunity to lavish his clothing and gear with the utmost in cleanly habits, however two things are important to maintain by the modern reenactor: one, as mentioned above, leather MUST be kept free of excess moisture and mud/dirt, this will rot the leather quicker than anything. Two, clothing should be spot cleaned and brushed from time to time. I highly recommend getting either a cedar lined chest/wardrobe as mentioned above, or at the very least a cedar block or chips to ward off moths etc. I have too many pards who have had nasty damage done to their kit by those troublesome critters. :(

[Bill]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Since I'm more interested in removing my stink, then removing dust and mud, I turn my jacket and trousers inside out before I hang them outside to air out. I also put one or two of the old fashioned moth balls in a few of the pockets on my uniforms before I put them away. I keep a few of the moth balls in the bottom of the box where I store my blankets. I try to remember to hang the blankets out for a while before packing for the event!

If you are using a wooden canteen, I would suggest you fill it with water before putting it away.

[SCTiger]

Re: Uniform care and storage

I have been informed that a small amount of white vinegar will sterilize your wooden canteen and won't damage the wood or the beeswax. I added the vineagar to my storage water and it seemed to work rather well. I was reluctant to use chlorine or clorox, even in small amounts. I have used Mink oil on the leather and thinned it out with a hair dryer set on "low">

I wouldn't use machine washing on the finely sewn or handsewn stuff. Some of my "period threads" have disintegrated with the use of modern detergents. I use the low powered baby soap or hand soap and wash the underwear, socks, shirt in the tub and air dry in the sun. The modern detergent will burn your hand off if you hold it long enough. Dry cleaning? As they say up north.
Fergeddaboutit!

[Bill]

Re: Uniform care and storage

I have been informed that a small amount of white vinegar will sterilize your wooden canteen and won't damage the wood or the beeswax. I added the vineagar to my storage water and it seemed to work rather well. I was reluctant to use chlorine or clorox, even in small amounts." Fergeddaboutit!

The vinegar won't sterilize you canteen, but it does seem to make the stuff that grows in the water "clump up". I put a small amount of Clorox in my canteens at the beginning of the season. (About a shot glass of Clorox in a quart of water) It will kill all the bacteria that clings to the interior of the canteen. It's important to change the water three or four times before drinking from the canteen. The Clorox can kill you too, not to mention making the water taste like something that came from the washing machine!

[JCbluegrassrifles]

Re: Uniform care and storage

I've thought about the same. If you have the money, try purchasing a cedar box or possibly making one. I'd like to make one for myself. Uniforms were stored in cedar boxes with cedar chips in them. The chips would help stop any mold or mildew during storage. In that way your gear would be stored somewhat like the period and at the same time you would have a safe method of storing them away from anything modern that might come in contact with your uniform that may cause damage. My method of cleaning consists of soaking uniforms in cold or room temperature water (Let them drip-dry) as that is probably the only way soldiers in the field could have cleaned their uniforms until they were issud another (anything warm or hot, water included, shrinks wool and takes it toll on period fabric). Period Lye soap is the only soap I would reccommend if you plan on using any type of soap. Same with the brogans. Don't soak them by any means purposely, but nock the dirt and mud from them and place them somewhere that moisture cannot get to them. I periodically apply bacon grease to my brogans because soldiers would do that from time to time for extra protection of the leather from moisture (Remember, periodiclly, bacon grease can take its toll on leather if overused). I've always gone by whatever methods I can that apply to how soldiers would have done it. That way you know that you won't damage your kit with modern things and at the same time keep your uniform items somewhat clean and ready for the field.

[JCbluegrassrifles]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Sorry I failed to mention this. Do let you gear air out prior to storage. If wet, be sure it has had good time to dry. As far as tin goes, I do all my business with Otter Creek Tin. John Peterson is kind enough to enclose literature for taking care of my tin goods with all my purchases. If you would like, I can run you copies of the ones he sent me with my canteen and tin cup. As far as a tin canteen, I believe some afor mentioned info is wrong. I may be wrong about this, but placing the stopper in the spout during storage allows little air to get in and dry completely. Then not only will you get rust, but mold. Just be sure to look after tin very cautiously, because it is delicate, but it is what is period correct. Keeping tin dry is the number one thing when taking care of tin products. And by all means, do not scrub it harshly or with any polishing agents, this is BAD! Anyway, shoot me and e-mail and I'll send that literature off to ya by snail mail.

[Southernboy]

Re: Uniform care and storage

Thanks to all of you for your responses! You have helped me very much.

[Alamo Guard]

Re: Uniform care and storage

One quick little fact about folding clothes. Folks back in the 1860's avoided creases in new clothes. It gave them the impression that they could not sell and consequently had been sitting on the store shelves.
I just have the space in my home to have a Civil War Room, with a large closet. My uniforms are held up on pegs with cedar moth repellants. Dont forget to change these repellents at LEAST every six months.