Cleaning a surplus sling

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BrownR

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I was wondering if anyone has tried cleaning surplus slings before ??
I’ve thought of using some dawn dish soap and tooth brush, with warm water. Then hang to dry afterwards
Just would like to get rid of the oil smell from it, and any light stains.

Have any of you guys tried and what have you used, and how did it work ?
 
Are you asking about "leather" or "woven cloth" slings?

It it's leather then a good saddle soap will work fine and it even works well on woven cloth slings, such as those used on Lee Enfield rifles.

Modern woven slings are usually composites of polypropylene or even Kevlar and require other cleaning methods.
 
It depends on the material you’re talking about. I’ve done exactly what you’ve described to a canvas webbing Lee Enfield sling and it turned out very nicely. I whipped it around my head in the hot summer sun like a lunatic to help it dry. I wonder what my neighbors thought…
 
BPB is right, just try the Dawn but keep the leather out of the soapy water. And I'd first use Brasso on any brass fittings there may be. I was lucky in that my Tula wasn't soaked in Cosmo, Just smelled 'old'. I'd avoid vinegar until 'last resort'; it's an acid as well as will permeate the sling. Then you'd want to wash it again . . . and again . . .
I've got an old US-GI web belt and the brass is turning green - again. Time for the Brasso.
 
enfield fabric slings
Throw them in the washer with soap and ammonia
Go through the cycle
Come out nice
 
BrownR said:
Well this is a standard woven Sks sling with leather strapping. Almost like a canvas like material
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If it's an easily replaced reproduction I wouldn't worry at all, try dunking and scrubbing with whatever. Even the leather is probably fine with quick immersion.

If you care about it for whatever reason, try your preferred method with a small spot treatment on the back side. I'd try Pink Solution first, myself.

For smell, I prefer to leave things out in the sun. Probably 80% of the time it takes care of the issue well enough, with zero risk of damage. In winter, maybe a sunny window ledge (the fewer glass coatings and layers of glass the better) or dashboard of a vehicle.
 
alpining said:
If it's an easily replaced reproduction I wouldn't worry at all, try dunking and scrubbing with whatever. Even the leather is probably fine with quick immersion.

If you care about it for whatever reason, try your preferred method with a small spot treatment on the back side. I'd try Pink Solution first, myself.

For smell, I prefer to leave things out in the sun. Probably 80% of the time it takes care of the issue well enough, with zero risk of damage. In winter, maybe a sunny window ledge (the fewer glass coatings and layers of glass the better) or dashboard of a vehicle.
Click to expand...

Well it’s a surplus sling that originally would be with a Sks Chinese type 56, mine didn’t come with one so I found an original surplus for like 15/20$. Just has a small oil odour, figured I’d give it a wash in warm water with dawn dish shop and then leave it to air dry by the fire place. If it still smells I’ve thought about a large ziplock bad with some baking soap to absorb any remanding smells if such
 
Following just because I have an old K11 leather sling in need of some love. I have some supplies now (saddle soap) and was thinking of tackling this in the next few weeks when the weather gets too cold to play outside. What would you put on the leather after cleaning?
 
lol, it’s a canvas sks sling not some uber rare 100 plus year old leather sling that can’t be replaced. Just put it in a bucket of warm soapy water for a bit, if you’re worried about the leather or metal parts keep them out of the water or wax them first.

Honestly if you do nothing to it the smell will go away on its own over time, don’t overthink it.
 
Like Can14 said, I just use a small garment bag zipped up and throw them in a hot wash with work clothing. If they aren't clean enough, do it again. Then carefully stretch them out and let them dry away from direct heat. I've done this with leather and canvas with no damage and excellent results. Then if leather is involved you can treat it with whatever you like. Remember, leather military slings spend days wet and we still treasure them after...and they're still collectable.
 
Sling finally showed up in the mail today lol, but no brass on this one. Leather was pretty tight to try and slip over the rivets holy smokes lol
 

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