Hi All

It's getting to be the time of year in Iraq and Afghanistan (well all over really) when it's getting hot and the bugs are coming out. In the past I have had requests from my Soldiers for head tents. This is so that they can take a break outside in the shade, maybe catch a little nap and have their head protected from bugs. It's a light net that simply fits over their head, even helmet and has a drawstring at the bottom.  You can pick them up in the camping section at Walmart for about $1.50 apiece.

 Also, and I've seen threads in this forum also, about Units that have to do their own laundry sometimes have really bad water which makes thier uniforms smell horrible and they can't get the smell out. Well, also at Walmart (I'm starting to sound like a commercial) they have what they call hunters laundry soap (also in the camping section) It's in a white bottle with neon letters. It is specially formulated to remove scent and apparently works pretty well based on comments from some of my Soldier contacts. It's not cheap (about $4.00 a bottle maybe 10 washes) but I told them to alternate between the other soap and this and should last a little longer.

Lastly, in the past, I have found sun block with bug repellent in it. I think the bug repellent works pretty good (probably not as good as straight deet) but they are not having to layer all that gunk and in moderate buggy conditions I think it's good. I haven't found any yet this year but let me know if you do.

Cathy 

thanks Cathy...I had never heard of head tents before!

Cathy,

Sorry to pour water on your zeal, but some people have sent the head tents and when they arrived the commanders wouldn't allow them to use them - haven't heard why.  You might do a search to see who reported this last year.

Also, the uniforms can only be washed in certain kinds of soap due to danger of being detected on some kind of night vision equipment or something similar - also check for threads.  It seems that even the troops are not all aware of this problem.

We have to be extra vigilant to help keep them safe because not all of them are well informed about everything that is allowed and not.

Gran

oh...and more cold water...my postal clerks say deet is a pesticide and I'm not allowed to ship it. You might want to clarify regs with the postal supervisor in your area to make sure it's ok before you purchase.

On the other hand, detergents marketed to hunters tend to not have optical brighteners in them.  If the label specifies "No UV" or "No Glow" it should be ok for ACUs.  It's also the only type of detergent actually designed to get clean a pair of socks that have been worn for a week straight.  I've been sending Penguin or Atsko Sport-Wash (two distributors-same product) to groups with "laundry issues"

Mosquito netting for putting up around cots is available outfitters now. Permethryn treated netting should be ok to ship and I believe that is what is recommended by the CDC.

Hey, thanks for the info. I haven't ever sent deet before but I thought the repellent in the sun screen was a good idea. I checked the soap and it does not have any agents in it as described, but I never thought of that either. I wish I knew why the head tents were being taken away. I guess it just depends on the unit and location. They were specifically asked for by a MSGT, he even told me where they could be found. Go figure...

What about the insect repellant that comes in wipe form (in little 'single'serve" pouches? Legal? Helpful under the conditions? Not?

 Also, what about Downy Wrinkle Release Spray? It comes in a pump (ie non-aerosol) and makes clothes smell great. It's supposed to be used to get wrinkles out, but our family uses it more for a "just washed" smell on day-old clothes!  Is this stuff prohibited or okay?

we have them in Alaska but not for a few months, the mosquitos get so bad.  But also places that have bees use them, and now they have the kind that just firt over a sleeping back or cot.

Bug spray sold as personal use bug spray is ok. I think the postal dood must have been thinking you were going to ship a drum of deet ; ) Walmart has pocket sized 100% deet bug sprays for $2 in the camping section.

Head tents? Hahahah! I have a great visual on that. I imagine there is a quick sight line issue with them. Just a guess.

Shelly

Hi all - if you do a search on 'laundry soap', you will find the link that someone posted back in January to the Army's guide to approved detergents for military uniforms.  Sorry, don't know how to insert the link into a post and it is a really long one - it's length almost guarantees that copying it manually will cause mistakes:)  

Ann

Here is the list & a few links .....

Laundry Detergents for use wth the Army ACU: List of detergents that do and do not contain optical brighteners

Posted Sunday, April 9, 2006

To the best of our knowledge the list below represents the laundry detergents which do not contain optical brighteners and are able to be used with the ACU (Army Combat Uniform). If you find that one of the below listed detergents are not applicable to a specific category (approved / unapproved) please send an email to webmaster@armystudyguide.com so that we may change the list.

Most detergents do not list if they contain "optical brighteners" so it is difficult to state for sure if a detergent is able to be used to launder the ACU unless the company is contacted directly.

CONTAINS OPTICAL BRIGHTENERS

Dreft Liquid
Dreft Powder
Era Liquid (all versions)
Gain Liquids (all versions)
Gain Powders (all versions)
Ivory Snow Liquid
Ivory Snow Powder
Tide Liquids (all versions)
Tide Powders (all versions)
Tide Tablets (all versions)
Fab (all versions)
Dynamo (all versions)
Ajax (all versions)
Suavitel Fabric Softener (all versions)
All laundry products made by Colgate-Palmolive
Arm & Hammer Liquid (all versions)
Arm & Hammer FabriCare Powder (all versions)
Arm & Hammer Fresh ‘n Soft Fabric Softener (all versions)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Rain Drops Water Softener and Detergent Booster
DeliCare Fine Fabric Wash (all versions)
Wisk (all versions)
All Liquid (all versions)
Surf Liquid (all versions)
Yes (all versions)
All Dial Laundry Products including:
Purex Powder (all versions)
Purex Liquid (all versions)
Purex Fabric Softener (all versions)
Purex Baby (all versions)
20 Mule Team Detergent (all versions)
Zout (all versions)

DO NOT CONTAIN BRIGHTENERS:

Bold Powder
Cheer Liquid (all versions)
Cheer Powder (all versions)
All Powder (all versions)
Surf Powder (all versions)
Woolite (all versions)

CAUTION: If using a store brand or “generic”, the label usually states “compare to [brand]” on the front panel. Match that to the list above for ingredient content.

Here are a couple links to brands/types that are allowed & not allowed to be used with the current ACU's due to the 'optical brighteners'

http://www.army.com/articles/item/2574

http://www.fieldproblems.com/Documents/Sample%20Field%20Problem%20ACU%20Care.pdf

 Hope this helps   Tony  aka ... UnderDawg

Yeah I see what you mean, but they were specifically asking for them for breaks outside in the shade. (see my first entry at the top) I'll check out the bug spray in the camping section...

Thanks

Tony - Thanks for the other links.  Most helpful.  Don't know if the armystudyguide in your post is the same as the following link - posted 1/03/08 on the < Non Food RE: Laundry Soap > thread so I'll just give the site.  The detergent info is in the uniform maintenance section (the long link:) )

www.armystudyguide.com  

Thanks again for the additonal info.

Ann

Wow, this is really informative.  I was clueless about the detergent thing-how scary!  Fortunately, I've never sent detergent before (though I have 2 bottles of Purex now enroute to Kuwait for the wounded warriors, it's not for their acu's, thank heaven!)

I had not been sending bug repellent in the past I *think* due to the flammable issue... I gave up on it so long ago that I honestly don't remember which label said what.  Are any of them not flammable?  The sprays probably aren't premitted because of the propelent, regardless of the content, right? 

Kristen,

Correct, propellants can't be shipped at all. Ben's Wilderness formula is waterbased (I often use the 30% deet formula), doesn't have a flamability warning and doesn't catch when I drop a lit match into it. Ultrathon is a cream and also doesn't have a flamability warning but is so strong you can actually taste it when applied to arms. Ticks, flies and mosquitos will land on you and still try to get inside your clothing but will not bite. Because Ultrathon is time-released and waterproof, it is not completely removed with bathing and will burn (or feel like it) if worn under clothing.  If you decide to send this, please only do so with a warning and with plenty of baby wipes.  Also, please double check with your postal clerks before purchasing/sending.

STL:

Bug spray sold as personal use bug spray is ok. I think the postal dood must have been thinking you were going to ship a drum of deet ; ) Walmart has pocket sized 100% deet bug sprays for $2 in the camping section.

Woops, forgot to mention, the pocket size are pump, not aerosol!