Correct cleaning of P44 webbing

[Longshaor]

This is probably a daft question, but I've got a P44(?) (dark green material dated 1944) Bren gun spare barrel bag & parts wallet that has some sort of white powdery stuff on it. I've tried brushing it off with a stiff bristled brush, but it seems it's in the fibres. I'd like to wash it, but I don't want to damage it, so if anyone could give me some advice I'd be very grateful.

Cheers!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I'm sure someone will scream, but I just threw mine in with my work clothes in the washing machine. When it's all done I pop the dents out and air dry. Don't refill it until dry or everything will rust. Nothing has been damaged yet.

[Peter Laidler]

We wore this stuff continually in Malaya and even odds and ends of it in Vietnam. And VERY good stuff it was too. Ours just washed itself off in the continual rain and monsoons but BAR is right! Chuck it in the wash but not too hot as it makes it fade a bit. It dries within 10 minutes in the baking sweaty stinking heat...................

Nothing was ever as good as '44 pattern webbing for its softness and especially the double cross-straps. I suppose that the '58 pattern 'yoke' was a good compromise. Our kit was always ready to get into at a few minutes notice and the webbing lived, all fitted up, hooked over the ends of our beds

[Longshaor]

Thanks guys! I want to get this stuff cleaned up to use but wasn't sure how to wash it. Into the washer it goes!

Cheers!

[Emri]

Is there a safe method to get rust stains out of khaki and OD web slings ?? I have a couple of nice ones, but the keepers rusted and stained them.

TIA,

Emri

[browningautorifle]

I never got the rust stains to come out exept with time. That's why you pop the dents out and air dry. Leave it in a ball for a day and you get rust.

[Peter Laidler]

Just a thought but why/how should it get rust stains. It's just light cotton webbing and dark green anodised aluminium hardware? Am I missing something................?

[browningautorifle]

Some types of webb have steel fixtures. That rusts. I forget which country or pattern but they exist.

[Emri]

Just a thought but why/how should it get rust stains. It's just light cotton webbing and dark green anodised aluminium hardware? Am I missing something................?

The US web gear (rifle and carbine slings are what I have) from WWII usually had steel keepers to adjust them. Over time and with poor storage the parkerizing (some were blued) allowed them to rust and it leaves stains. Washing doesn't do anything and I am afraid to try anything harsher for fear of ruining them totally.

Thanks again,

Emri

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I know what you're talking about Emri. You have to be very careful about what you use. If not, you can take away the dye and end up with a sling that looks worse than before. (If you are able to, remove the steel keeper before cleaning, and then wait until everything is dry before assembling)
The rust stains are almost impossible to remove, but sometimes you can lighten them. I used an old broken sling once and tried WD40 and a toothbrush followed by soapy water and it came out 'OK' -

One other time I used a carpet cleaner called 'K2R' and it worked pretty well in that instance. The stain came out and it didn't hurt the dye in the sling. It comes out wet, but dries to a white powder and you can brush it off. I don't know if they make K2R anymore. Used to buy it in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store, but I don't remember seeing it.

Regardless, it's always a gamble.

I used to collect a lot of USGI WWII web gear and I would NOT suggest putting web gear even in the gentle cycle of the washing machine. I got by with it a couple of times, but had a couple of disasters too. The dyes are old and sometimes they wash out and fade badly, even on the gentlest cycle. Sometimes the old threading lets loose and the whole item will come apart.

On slings and other web gear, I use a bucket of warm water and Woolite. Just let it soak while watching TV and stir with a paint stirring stick. You can use a little more concentrate of Woolite and a toothbrush on stains, but take it easy and be careful so you don't end up with lighter areas. It takes time, but I've had good results with this method. You only want to remove some of the old dirt, but don't want to break the old dyes loose and end up fading the item out completely.