Cleaning your CIF (now IIF) issued gear is not an exciting task. Usually, it is the last step standing between yourself and your next duty station or reentry into civilian life. Check out the guide below to make this process as efficient as possible.
This video tutorial gives a quick breakdown on a great way to clean your gear:
How To Clean CIF Gear
Anything that fits in a laundry machine – dump it in! Wash on a heavy cycle and add OxiClean detergent. If your gear is particularly dirty, you can create a soapy solution ahead of time and scrub down those areas with a brush. But what about stains?
While it may be a pain, cleaning your CIF gear shouldn’t take you all that long. With just a few steps you can have your CIF gear looking (and smelling) clean.
What you will need:
- OxiClean detergent from Amazon
- Soft bristle brush
- OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray at Amazon for any hard stains
If your gear is stained, we recommend using the stain remover linked above to treat those areas. OxiClean Maxforce is able to remove all types of stains including grease, oil, and even grass stains. Spray the area, allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes, and then scrub vigorously with the brush.
How to clean gear for CIF
There are a few items that you will need to clean that may not fit in a washer or dryer easily, or that need extra cleaning attention.
- The Vest
- The Pack
- Pouches, accessories, other items
- Clothing items
The vest
Remove the ballistic inserts before cleaning. The vest gets the most dirty around the neck and arms so pay attention to those areas. Sweat, dirt, and everything else can build up in those areas over time. If you are using a washing machine, toss the vest in and let the washing machine do the work.
If your vest needs special attention, fill a bucket with warm water and Oxi-Clean detergent and let the vest soak for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, scrub the vest with a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and grime. Take time to clean the neck and arm areas – oftentimes those areas can smell even if they don’t look dirty.
Give the vest a final rinse and hang it on a coat hanger to dry. You may need to pat the vest down or try to wring it out to remove excess water.
The pack
The newer pack system that has been issued is a lighter color than previous pack systems, which means it gets dirtier. That being said, use a similar wash process as you used for the vest.
Most likely you will want to hand wash the pack unless you have access to a larger washer.
Before washing the pack, spray any stained areas with the Oxi-Clean stain remover above. Allow it to sit and then scrub the stains down. Proceed to wash the pack in the same way you washed the vest, but you may need to do another round with stain remover. Simple Green is another great option to remove grease, oil and other stains. Simple Green does a great job removing stains but will not discolor your pack.
When finished, hang to dry.
Pouches, accessories, and other items
Generally, small pouches and accessories can be thrown in the washing machine. If the washing machine does not work, you can follow a similar approach as outlined above to clean any especially dirty accessories. Hang dry or dry in a dryer.
Clothing
For any clothing, wash clothing like you typically would. We recommend using Oxi-Clean for a thorough cleaning.
How To clean CIF gear sleep mat?
Sometimes, your sleep mat may also need to be cleaned. In about 10 minutes, you can have your sleeping pad clean and ready to go. Checkout our full cleaning guide for sleep mats and air mattresses here.
First, give your sleeping mat a vacuum or sweep depending on what you have available. You want to remove any loose dirt from the surface of the sleep mat, but do not worry if it still looks dirty. We will tackle this in the next step.
Make a solution of 1:1 water and vinegar. Vinegar does an excellent job killing odor and diluting it makes a great cleaning solution. With a rag, spray down the sleeping mat and wipe it down with the rag.
If any areas are dirty, scrub them down. If they don’t come out immediately, spray them again and let the vinegar soak into the stain for 10-15 minutes. When the mat is clean, wipe down the mat one more time with a clean rag to remove the vinegar solution.
How to clean CIF army gear (Official Manual)
If you want to look at the official documentation, here is the cleaning guide from the Army’s website. This is the official Army checklist. If you follow this guide, you should be in good shape and pass on the first try!
Can you pay for CIF cleaning?
If you have no interest in cleaning your own gear, you can use a service that will clean all of your gear for you. Checkout CIF Cleaning Services where you can easily book an appointment online.
Wrapping up
With this guide, you should be able to move through the CIF process quickly. Even if there is a snag, remember that you can resubmit your gear and often pass with a little more cleaning. If you follow this guide, you can set yourself up for success and most likely pass on the first time.