How To Wash A Karate Gi And Get It Really White! by Rob Jacob
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I wash my gis in cold water, and rinse in cold water. If the gi is a little large when it is new, I will wash it in hot water, with a cold water rinse a few times. Most instructions I have seen generally say only wash it in cold water, but I have not had a problem with washing them in hot water to get em to shrink.
NEVER USE CHLORINE BLEACH!!!! I had a nice Toyo gi that I had been wearing for a couple years. It fit me like a glove, and had very little wear for how long I been wearing it. It got some grass stains after one workout, and my wife decided to use bleach to get it clean. That was the downfall of the gi, as it began to fall apart after that. The seams were all severely weakened, and kept ripping open. I took it to a sewing place to have the seams resewn, but it was a losing battle, and I ended up retiring the gi. I took over the job of washing my gis.
I hang dry the gi on PLASTIC hangers. Don't use metal hangers as steel will rust and stain your gi, and aluminum hangers just aren't strong enough. If I am trying to shrink the gi some, then I will dry it in a clothes dryer.
Now, how to get your gi really white! I went to a seminar that was being taught by Shito Ryu 5th dan. His gi was well worn, and had a few holes, but was clean, and very white. I thought if he could get his old gi to be that white, I should be able to do the same. I started reading articles on the net, and trying various detergents. This is what I came up with. Use Liquid Tide With Bleach Alternative (this is NOT chlorine bleach). This stuff works great! You have a choice of scented, or unscented, but I don't think it makes a difference. I use the unscented. If you wash the gi using this stuff, it will get progressivly whiter with each wash. This is assuming your gi was white to begin with, as the detergent is color safe, and will not turn a black gi to white.
If you have a fresh stain on your gi, or even an older one, rub the liquid detergent into the spot, and let it soak for a little while (5-15 minutes) before washing. Try to get the stain out before you dry the gi. It may take a couple washes with repeated applications of detergent to the stain. If the stain does not seem to be affected by washing the gi in cold, I will try a hot water wash, and sometimes this works. If it does not come fully out after a few washes, I will hang dry it, and wear it as normal. Repeated washings will usually fade the stain eventually.
Also, wash your gi's frequently. I try to wash my gis after each class. I have multiple gis. This will help prolong the life of the gi, and also make it that much whiter with each wash.
Rob Jacob is the author of: Martial Arts Biographies - An Annotated Bibliography.
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