Body armor is equipment for people in law enforcement, the military, security roles, and anyone else who wears it. Owning it is only the beginning; knowing how to maintain and care for it is part of owning it.
This article is for those who wear body armor and want to keep it in good condition for as long as its maker intends. NIJ calls maintaining and storing armor according to the manufacturer's instructions key to its continued performance.
Caring for body armor involves more than keeping it clean. It means knowing how to store it, inspect it and handle it. Here are the steps, as NIJ and the makers describe them.
Importance of proper care
NIJ notes that the actual performance of each vest may vary with how it has been stored and maintained, environmental exposure and differences in use. It says ballistic performance may be degraded if armor is exposed to moisture, and NIJ said in 2012 that age alone does not cause body armor's ballistic resistance to deteriorate: care and maintenance are vital.
The materials have different needs. Soft panels are flexible fiber layers, and hard plates, particularly those with ceramic, may be fragile, NIJ says. For the materials, see Materials Used in Armor Plates Explained.
Officers do not always know the practices. NIJ funded a national survey of officers' use and care of body armor, run by the Police Executive Research Forum from October 2010 to May 2011, and found that while most officers know many care practices, a substantial number do not understand some recommended practices or do not follow the ones they do. In our view, that is a training gap, and the fix is the maker's instructions and a routine.
Body armor is also a real cost, and in our view care is how you get the full warranty period out of it. For costs, see What Does Body Armor Typically Cost?.
Reading manufacturer instructions
The first step is to read the manufacturer's instructions. They are written for the design and materials of your armor, and they are on the label: CJTTEC notes that NIJ requires manufacturer care instructions on the label of every compliant model.
NIJ's summary of that survey puts it this way: "most officers are knowledgeable about many body armor care and maintenance practices. A substantial number, however, do not understand aspects of some recommended practices or do not adhere to the practices they do understand."
The instructions say which cleaning agents to use, how to store the armor, and how to handle it. NIJ advises against using chemicals other than those the manufacturer specifies, and says bleach or starch, even highly diluted, may reduce the protection level. Check the maker's warranty terms for what they exclude. For the levels, see Breaking Down Hard Body Armor Levels.
Cleaning your body armor
Cleaning body armor is not as simple as tossing it in the washing machine. NIJ's general procedure for soft armor panels is to remove them from the carrier, wipe the outer panel cover with a damp sponge or soft cloth and cold water, air-dry the panels flat without folding or creasing them, and put them back with each strike or wear face correctly oriented. NIJ advises against dry cleaning, machine washing or machine drying panels, and against rinsing, soaking, submerging or spraying them.
For the carrier, NIJ's general procedure is to remove detachable straps and fasteners, hand wash it in cold water with a mild detergent for delicate fabrics unless the manufacturer specifically recommends machine washing, rinse it, and hang it indoors to air-dry unless the supplier advocates machine drying. NIJ also advises against drying soft panels outside, even in the shade, because ultraviolet light is known to degrade certain ballistic materials.
Storing your armor correctly
NIJ's general storage guidance: store armor flat at room temperature in a dry, shaded place that minimizes exposure to direct light, and air-dry damp armor before storing it. Armor may be hung only from a robust hanger made for body armor; wire and wooden hangers may break or buckle under its weight.
NIJ advises against needlessly flexing, bending, compressing or creasing soft panels, which may contribute to degradation of ballistic materials over time. It also warns against low-airflow storage, such as the bottom of a locker, against the trunk of a vehicle (CJTTEC adds a rear window deck), and against hanging armor by its carrier straps, which can stretch them out of shape and fit. A dedicated bag or case is our advice, as long as it lets the armor stay flat and dry. More in How to Store Body Armor Safely.
Inspecting for wear and tear
NIJ advises visually inspecting panel covers frequently for cuts, tears, stitching separation, sealing problems and worn or frayed fabric, and inspecting hard plates before each use for surface cracks or other damage. It advises involving supervisors, and never opening the covers of armor panels.
If you find damage, NIJ advises notifying the agency representative and never attempting to repair armor panels. A vest struck by a bullet or edged weapon should be replaced immediately, CJTTEC says, and it warns against assuming that an appearance of good condition implies good performance.
Comfort tips
Armor that is uncomfortable is harder to wear for a whole shift. Our advice: a moisture-wicking undershirt can reduce chafing and sweat build-up.
Some advice suggests "breaking in" armor by rolling it. NIJ advises against needlessly flexing, bending, compressing or creasing soft panels, so we do not suggest it. Fit is the better route to comfort; see The Right Way to Fit Body Armor.
Keeping track of documentation
CJTTEC advises copying the information on a new vest's label and keeping it in a safe place, and NIJ advises inspecting the label often, and contacting the manufacturer about a replacement label if it becomes illegible: identifying the model matters in a safety recall. CJTTEC strongly recommends that each agency keep an inventory of vest information for all officers. Keeping receipts and warranty papers with it is our advice.
The label date is the manufacturer's warranty period for ballistic performance, which CJTTEC, the administrator of NIJ's Compliance Testing Program, notes is not evaluated by the program. CJTTEC advises knowing that date and replacing the vest in a timely manner, and BJA describes vest replacement cycles as usually 4 to 5 years.
Conclusion
Care is a routine, not a one-off: read the maker's instructions, clean the panels and carrier as NIJ describes, store armor flat and dry, inspect it often, and keep the label information. Our advice: when in doubt, follow the manufacturer's instructions and ask the maker. To check a model, ArmorList's product records show the standards a model is recorded as tested to and, for NIJ, its CPL status with the date the list was read.
Sources
- NIJ, Body Armor Selection, Care, and Maintenance (NCJ 251599) (read 2026-10-01)
- NIJ, Selection and Application Guide to Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor (NIJ Selection and Application Guide-0101.06, December 2014, NCJ 247281), chapter 8 (PDF) (read 2026-10-01)
- CJTTEC, Body Armor Care and Replacement (read 2026-09-30)
- CJTTEC, Additional Information Regarding NIJ Body Armor Compliant Product List (read 2026-09-29)
- NIJ, Survey of Officers on the Use and Care of Body Armor (archived, 8 July 2012) (read 2026-10-01)
- NIJ, Statement on Body Armor (7 March 2012) (read 2026-09-30)
- BJA, Mandatory Wear FAQs (read 2026-09-29)