My biggest fear when washing something that fits perfectly is that it will shrink. I am more than positive that those who are wearing and washing military uniforms, and specifically pants, feel that same fear.
You can shrink military pants if you wash them in hot water. By using hot water, the material in the pants will shrink back to the original state they were in before being made in pants. It is recommended that you wash with cold water without the use of any brightening detergent.
Military pants are only a small fraction of what is referred to as an Army Combat Uniform, also known as an ACU. These ACU’s have specific and necessary cleaning steps.
Can You Shrink Military Pants?
Military pants are just a part of this larger group of ACU’s.
“The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and its flame-retardant variant, the Flame-Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU), are the current battle uniforms worn by the United States Army. First unveiled in June 2004.” Source
Military pants can and should have the same cleaning instructions as the rest of the military uniform. When referring to ACU’s, the pants are included. This is because they are a major part of an ACU.
So obviously we are here to talk about military pants specifically. We already said that we can shrink military pants. This statement is backed up by many who have an extensive history with military pants and ACU’s in general.
“ACUs WILL shrink in hot water and hot dryers. I found out the hard way.”
Source
Maybe you want your pants to shrink. If you are not included in this crowd then a potential pant shrinkage could be disastrous.
With this being said, why is it that the pants shrink when being washed in hot water?
“Although fibers of polymer are naturally short, they are stretched out when made into clothes. Applying any kind of heat releases that tension, making the fibers return to their natural (and shorter!) state.” Source
Everything we own and wear was once some other material. These materials were later shaped and formed into what we wear today.
By using the extreme heat of a washer, the material can revert to what it was before becoming what you are wearing today. Shrinking clothes have always been a mystery to me, but now it is good to know!
Now that we know what will shrink an Army uniform, it is important to find out other cleaning procedures.
Proper Cleaning
Below is a table of some common do’s and don’ts when it comes to cleaning your military clothes.
| Do | Don’t |
| Wash with cold water | Wash with hot water |
| Use stain remover in case of staining | Use brighteners or whiteners |
| Remove patches or other insignia | Use fabric softeners or dryers sheets |
| Turn inside out when washing and drying | Go to a dry cleaner |
These are suggested due to some common mistakes that have been mentioned by many with any kind of military wear.
What To Do
The ‘do side’ is mainly concerned with keeping your ACU’s intact and pristine.
Obviously, first of all, the reason for washing with cold water is so that your clothes don’t shrink.
Secondly, using a stain remover is a common tool to remove stains that happen all of the time with ACU’s.
Next, removing patches or other insignia allows for those patches and insignia to stay unharmed by the washing process.
Finally, the purpose for turning the uniform inside out is so that the outside keeps a sharp appearance and so that material like velcro will not be harmed during the cleaning process.
“Flip the ACUs inside out and throw them in the dryer, it will save the wear and tear on the Velcro.” Source
What Not To Do
In the ‘don’t section, many mistakes that are made commonly are mentioned. The most common mistake being that the outside of the uniform fades or is compromised in some way.
First of all, is that you should not wash with hot water. This will obviously cause the uniform and pants to shrink.
The second is to not use brighteners or whiteners. This is a common tactic among hunters because using these brighteners or whiteners will reflect UV light.
“The UV light is released from the fabric in a bright band of blue that game animals can see.” Source
If you are using your ACU’s for any tactical reason you obviously do not want unnecessary UV lights bouncing off of you.
The third suggestion mentioned above is that you should not use fabric softeners or dryer sheets. These can wear down the flame-resistant material found in ACU’s.
The final thing to avoid listed in this article is the dry cleaner.
According to James Madison University in their military uniform brief, “The use of starch, sizing, and any process that involves dry-cleaning or a steam press will adversely affect the treatments and the durability of the uniform and is not authorized.” Source
As you can see, some specific things need to be done to maintain the quality of material and appearance of a military uniform.
While these are not all required, if you follow these different rules of thumb you should have your ACU’s and pants last longer.
What Else Makes Up An Army Combat Uniform?
During this whole article, we have mentioned ACU’s constantly. This is because military pants belong to an Army combat uniform. Yet to finish this off, I want to give you a brief rundown on the different parts of an ACU.
- ACU coat
- ACU trousers or pants
- ACU patrol cap
- Hot weather boots
- 2 inch riggers belt
- Moisture wicking t-shirt
- Velcro full color flag, nametapes, rank, and organizational patches
- Optional black or green socks
- Optional hydration systems and equipment Source
Most of this list was taken from James Madison University. The bottom line is that the pants are only a small portion of your ACU uniform, but it probably requires the most care.
Make sure you are washing your ACU uniform, and specifically your pants, the right way to ensure that they don’t shrink!