Caring for Scout Uniforms

While my son Gray loves being a Cub Scout, he’s really looking forward to being a Boy Scout.  He says it’s because he wants to help the younger kids, but I think there’s a part of him that wants even more bling and a new uniform.  He really likes all the regalia.

This is his fourth year in Cub Scouts, and he’s finally moved into a beige shirt.  Over the years, I’ve learned a little bit about caring for these uniforms.  They’re not difficult to care for, but here are a few things I’ve learned:

• Don’t waste your money on peel and stick adhesives for the patches.  They say it will stay on during washing, but trust me – it doesn’t.  If you want the patches to stay on permanently, they need to be sewn on.  I’ve tackled that before, but it can be a daunting job.  If you’re not a gifted or patient sewer, you could always ask A Cleaner World to do it.
• Be sure to wash and iron garments before applying badges.  If you are unsure exactly where the badges need to be placed, check out this guide. 
• Before washing, check the care label.  Newer uniforms have instructions but here’s how I went about caring for Gray’s uniform shirt: When washing, especially the navy Class A garments, make sure you remove all pins, turn the garment inside, and wash in cold water.  This will help both protect the badges and reduce the chances of fading, which the navy shirts tend to do pretty easily.  Hang the garment up to air dry.  This again helps protect the badges and reduce fading, then press out the wrinkles with a warm iron if the care label indicates the garment can withstand ironing. 

A Cleaner World has a long history with the Scouts – our President, Chris Edwards, is an Eagle Scout as is his son, Grant.  While we love taking care of all your garments and textiles, we especially love helping out with two things: the American Flag and Scout uniforms!  If you have a Scout uniform question or have one that needs special attention, just stop by one of our locations.  We are always happy to help.