LAUNDERING THE ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM (ACU)

While the ACU comes with a care manual, some items on the laundering instructions are not covered in the manual. On the care label, the instructions are to launder in a mild detergent, which does NOT contain “optical brighteners.” No laundry detergent lists whether or not it contains these brighteners. By contacting the individual laundry detergent manufacturers the following list was compiled of detergents, which do contain optical brighteners and those, which do not.

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)

QUESTIONABLE CONTENTS (SHOULD PROBABLY AVOID)

Spray ‘n Wash (all versions)

Calgon (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.

Additionally, turning the uniforms inside out while laundering prevents the Velcro from attaching to other items and prolongs the usefulness of the Velcro.