Best way to clean a belt ?

[rolgiati]

What would be the best way to clean/wash a British Army-Issue White Courlene Ceremonial Belt, as worn with the N°2 Dress, that has become a bit grotty ?
And no, I dot want to use pipe-clay...

[plaid preacher]

What would be the best way to clean/wash a British Army-Issue White Courlene Ceremonial Belt, as worn with the N°2 Dress, that has become a bit grotty ?
And no, I dot want to use pipe-clay...

I have no experience with this, but a quick search turned up that a Mr. Clean Eraser works well.

[Father Bill]

Tell us about pipe clay and why you don't want to use it.

[rolgiati]

Tell us about pipe clay and why you don't want to use it.

Pipe-clay is a white clay that was used in the British and most Continental armies to whiten belts and assorted uniform equipment in the days of the Napoleonic wars and until the 1880's when it was replaced by Messr Joseph Pickering & Sons Ltd's"Blanco". Applying it was a lengthy and messy process, and you would get white all over your kit if caught in the rain...

[Tarheel]

I was not familiar with the terms of your request until I looked up the material. In the US Army the belts are called "web belts". Here are the examples by photo.
This is the "olive drab" daily use for utility. The material being nylon webbing.

The white belts for ceremonial use a similar material but have more sheen.
The brass buckles always left the green tarnish lines from sweat corrosion. I used to make a paste with Clorox (brand name powder bleach), scrub area with a tooth brush to penetrate the stain, and let dry over night. The bleach would penetrate without damaging the belt material.
Plaid Preacher's suggestion of the "Mr. Clean's eraser" would be a quick remedy since the product is close to my old way.
Question, Is there a "shine" added to your belt? The reason I ask, some units I served with (Honor Guard duty) used shoe polish on their white belts to enhance the appearance. That would have to be removed before cleaning the webbing and replaced after the cleaning was done. Good luck with your process.

[Pleater]

I think that the OD webbing belt is almost the same design as the 1937 issue belt I have - except that mine is grey cotton webbing - or perhaps Airforce blue and the brass is shiny - I can't help myself I had the making of an NCO from my conception.

The sliders should be tight up against the fold of the webbing when worn, and the brass really ought to be shiny.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[rolgiati]

the brass really ought to be shiny.

Of course I agree it should be; but then I was, a long time ago, a cadet at the Saint Cyr military academy in France, where they made us remove (by dint of furious rubbing with Brasso) the staybrite varnish on belt buckles and buttons, so that those could be properly shined every day to a proper dazzling polish...

[Bruce Scott]

A bleach solution according to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ighh...GNzbqw&index=8

[MacGumerait]

Of course I agree it should be; but then I was, a long time ago, a cadet at the Saint Cyr military academy in France, where they made us remove (by dint of furious rubbing with Brasso) the staybrite varnish on belt buckles and buttons, so that those could be properly shined every day to a proper dazzling polish...

Ah yes , Brasso . A great product , it certainly does the job . However , I think many of us may have a love / hate relationship with it .

We loved it because it worked so well . We hated it because we had to polish everything within eyesight .

[Pleater]

Small battery powered screwdriver/drill things make short work of polishing small items - toothpaste gives a gleaming result.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: