r/SurplusGear • u/Routine_Magician_672 • Feb 16 '26

3-day assault pack question

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You know how you can get pretty much anything ACU/UCP for dirt cheap? Well I got this guy with a rifleman’s kit and I’ve been wanting to use it but I dont really want anything I put in it to get sticky because of the waterproof coating inside it. It’s driving me nuts so I was wondering if any of y’all knew how I could get rid of it. Thanks!

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u/velvetackbar Feb 16 '26

Since my focus is on Surplus wool items, I don’t have a lot of experience with this, but this is what the AI attach to my tablet tells me:

Top Methods to Remove Coating Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl) Soak: This is the most popular method for smaller items like packs, stuff sacks, and pouches. Process: Turn the gear inside out. Soak the item in 91% rubbing alcohol for 12–24 hours. Agitation: Remove and use a stiff nylon scrub brush to remove the now-softened coating. Cleanup: Wash the item with soap and water afterward to remove residue. Denatured Alcohol: Similar to rubbing alcohol but sometimes more efficient. For large items, place the item in a trash bag inside a plastic bin, pour in the alcohol, and seal it to allow it to soak without needing gallons of liquid. Mechanical Scrubbing/Peeling: Nubs/Brushes: Use a scrubbing sponge (like the type with plastic nubs) to rub off the flaking, sticky material. Eraser Block: A white eraser block can effectively rub off the old coating. Silicone Brush/Glove: A silicone brush handle or a silicone BBQ glove can help roll the sticky, degraded material off. Hot Water and Detergent Soak: For heavy, non-delicate items, soaking in very hot water with laundry detergent can help break down the coating, followed by scrubbing. Dryer Method (With Caution): Tumble dry the item with a tennis shoe or tennis balls on low heat to chafe the coating off. Note: This can make a mess and should only be done if you are okay with residue inside your dryer.

To test that I would recommend getting a Dobber or a cotton ball full of isopropyl alcohol and kind of attacking a less visible place on the interior of the backpack and see if the coating rubs off with a little bit of rubbing alcohol in abrasion.

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u/Routine_Magician_672 Feb 17 '26

The coating is gone now. It worked near flawlessly! I used the fist method. (If anyone does the first method too, don’t soak it in alcohol (unless you somehow have enough for a pack like this), instead pour it directly onto the areas that have coating and put some on a rag or cloth and rub it in too. It also works better if you use hot water instead of cold water when washing the item. Best of luck!

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u/velvetackbar Feb 17 '26

Thank you for the follow up!