I found this interesting. I thought optical brighteners = uv brightners....guess not.
Optical brighteners are chemicals that absorb the ultraviolet and violet region of colors in a fabric. They "trick" the eye into seeing a brighter shade and reflect more light. The Near Infrared, or nIR, capability of the ABU is degraded when washed with optical brighteners.
Most commercial detergents contain optical brighteners. There is no way to tell whether a product has optical brighteners alone by the labeling. Impact of optical brighteners is permanent; it cannot be "washed out."
The Air Force Uniform and Recognition Programs page states the following detergents are optical brightener free and safe for use with the ABU:
- Cheer (liquid and powder)
- Cheer Free
- Exchange Select Cold Water Wash
- All Detergent Free Clear
- Country Save Liquid Detergent
- Allens Laundry detergent (power and liquid)
- Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Detergent (powder and liquid)
- Charlie's Soap (powder and liquid)
- ECOS Free and Clear Laundry Detergent
- Mountain Green Liquid Laundry Detergent
- Nature Clean (liquid and powder)
- Oxy-Prime Powder
- Planet Ultra (liquid and powder)
- Seventh Generation Laundry detergents
- Sportwash
- Sun and Earth Liquid
- Surf Powder (not Surf Liquid)
- Washeze
- Woolite, original and dark
full link:
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123065881