Hello,
I just picked up a used NBC bag from a local army surplus. The bag is in good condition, other than it needs a good cleaning. I was curious if any of you have tips for cleaning these bags to get out the oils and smells.
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Hello,
I just picked up a used NBC bag from a local army surplus. The bag is in good condition, other than it needs a good cleaning. I was curious if any of you have tips for cleaning these bags to get out the oils and smells.
For canvas/webbing that is very oily/dirty I usually place the item in a clean bucket add a small amount of washing machine liquid followed by hot water and leave to soak for an hour or so. I then thoroughly rinse with hot water and dry. Be very careful not to use too much washing machine liquid or you will lose the colour of the item you are cleaning; you can always repeat the process if needed.
I always just threw mine in the washing machine like normal laundry. I'm guessing you mean the small backpack we had issued starting 20 years back? If it's a one time wash, you shouldn't lose anything. Strip it into it's parts first, when it's done straighten it out and lay it out to dry. NBC isn't particularly old kit, it was just in it's infancy when I was using it so it ain't '42 OD3 equipment. Keep it simple.
If it's from WWII and has markings, I hand wash. I usually use dish soap or shampoo rather than detergent. I believe they are a bit less harsh and set up for oils better. Just an opinion though.
There were no NBC bags then. Nuclear Biological Chemical (warfare), it's a recent bag I should think...he's Canadian and we have precious little good surplus here...now...Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
I have had problems with colour loss on webbing caused by being over generous with the amount of washing liquid used.
On a whim I tried Murphys oil soap on a Finnish mag bag that was particularly foul smelling. It did a good job on the smell & stains with no effect on color.
I've had good luck using Woolite.
Aaaaaand the OP hasn't been back since posting...
He probably forgot to mention the NBC bag was originally found discarded in the no go zone of the Suffield and he gassed himself accidentally while scrubbing the mysterious smells out of the bag.
Well, I still have a hard time imagining buying an NBC bag since they weren't much of a boon when they were issued. They drifted out of service quickly when the day pack came to use. Now there's something we needed for 30 years...
I still have two kicking around, I actually liked them for everything expect carrying kit in the field, they were perfect for a shower kit, or for smuggling booze back into the biv site. As load carry equipment the shoulder straps were great, but the actual bag was more of a green pillowcase with a drawcord. The small pack as issued in 2005 wasn't bad, it was far more functional, and I have had a lot of patrol miles on mine, there were much better civilian pattern options around, but as something that was spawned from the Clothe The Soldier program, they didn't do too bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
I still learn even when the OP never shows back up.
Thanks.
Interesting and correct analogy...I found you could fold your raingear and put it in and it was neat. Then stuff in a pair of glove liners and it was a ball. The straps were great compared to the small pack before it. The day pack was nice, of course the civvie packs were better but we couldn't legally carry them, specially as a Snr NCO setting the standard... The clothe the soldier scheme was done by a man that was in my first recruit platoon, he did all of it from Cadpat to ballistic eye wear, right to the boots and gloves. That was so long ago now...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sentryduty
Here is the bag in question for those who may not be in the know:
The CF issued NBC "Nuke Bag".
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...65350350-1.jpg
While Nuke bags were originally intended to carry the "Bunny Suit", boots and gloves, while under threat of Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical attack, the lack of a usable small pack in the 1982 Pattern webbing seen the Nuke bag pressed into service as a ersatz day bag.
It was better than trying to stuff rations and belted MG ammo into your pockets, however, just barely so.
The replacement CADPAT system began gradual rollout in the early 200's and this actual "day bag" patrol pack was part of that system. I got my mine issued in 2005 or so, and most Nuke bags were written off or turned in for surplus.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...lPackJPG-1.jpg
The day pack also came with several removable outer pouches. They were great.
The NBC pouch needed a frame next to the body to keep it's shape when part full or over loaded. The position of the straps allowed it to turn into a ball when less than perfect packing was the case.