Officials provide advice on new ABU care Published May 29, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AB, Japan -- With the Air Force transitioning from the Battle Dress Uniform to the new Airman Battle Uniform, military members need to know how to care and launder these garments. The material and pattern of the ABU is noticeably different from the BDU. Officials say the ABU was designed after the tiger-striped uniform worn in Vietnam and is considered to be a "wash-and-wear" garment which cannot be detected in an infrared environment. "The ABU does not require any starch, pressing or other treatments that were required for the BDU," said Fred Watts, 18th Force Support Squadron Laundry and Dry Cleaning Service manager. "The ABU can be washed and dried in low heat or hung out to dry and worn while still meeting current military standards of dress and appearance." Airmen are now authorized to use regular detergents even if the detergents have optical brighteners. According to an Army memorandum published March 25, uniforms including the ABU "do not pose a detection threat to the wearer in an operational environment" if the uniforms are laundered with detergents containing optical brighteners. Officials, however, still discourage the use of bleach and fabric softeners when laundering the ABU. However, Mr. Watts said the harsher the detergent used on the ABU the less of a life span the garment will have. "The best possible care of the uniform is to make sure you never starch the uniform or iron with steam or a hot iron," Mr. Watts said. "The use of a warm iron is acceptable for touch up if required. But in most cases, if processed correctly, the uniform is acceptable to the new dress requirements for a work or battle uniform." Other tips include making sure the uniform is removed from the dryer immediately upon completion of the cool-down cycle and hung on a hanger; trousers should be hung with the permanent press lines matching and the trouser hung one time over the strut of the hanger; use a large strut-type hanger to avoid a crease line in the middle of the trouser (wire hangers should not be used); and never hang garments packed tight together. "One last word of advice is to never dry clean the ABU," said Mr. Watts. "It is very likely to cause major problems with the garment because of the nylon and cotton mix. If Airmen follow the care label instructions, they will be pleased with the lifespan of the garment." The laundry and dry cleaning service still launders the ABU and the Army and Marine Corps uniforms. Their price is $2 a set or $1 per piece.