2

I have read this M.A. question: What are the ways to get sweat stains out of a Gi? My gi is at least two years old (probably a lot older). It is an Adidas J800 (do)gi.

It is 30% polyester (800 g/m² polycotton) and cannot be washed warmer then 30 degreed Celsius. I wash it after every practice.

I would like it to be more white. It does not have stains, it is just a bit off-white, yellow. I dislike it so much that I even consider to buy a new one. But on the other hand it seems a waste to me because the gi's fiber is still ok. It is just the overall color. Especially in the collar. It just looks unhygienic to me.

I have tried washing it with Vanish and some detergent which is especially for white clothes.

A new judo gi will be over € 150,- so I would like to take a good look at my washing habbits, because this is not the first gi that became 'yellow'. Below are pictures of my 'should-be-white' gi with the washing-description.

My other gi which is 100% cotton has the same look.

ps. my sleeves seem to became shorter too, so maybe I just washed it too much and I have to just buy a new one?

edit I have found this online source http://www.budogi.co.uk/judo-gi-care-instructions/ and I do not iron my gi and just hang it to dry. I use liquid detergent (sorry for dutch link). Can Fabric conditioner be the cause of this yellow color?

j800 label collar gi washing description

Community
  • 1
JP Hellemons
  • 339
  • 3
  • 8

3 Answers3

4

To clarify on the use of bleach, as long as it is non-chlorine based (like borax or OxiClean) you should be fine to use it. Chlorine bleach will yellow your non 100% cotton clothes but color safe or oxygen based bleaches should be fine.

Personally, I use baking soda (somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 a cup depending upon your washer/load size/etc.) to keep my workout whites bright and it works well as a preventative measure (especially if you have hard water); you might need something stronger to remove the existing discoloration though, like the methods mentioned in Dave's answer. Some vinegar (1/2c to 2c again depending upon your washer/load size/etc.) could also help a little, though its more for preserving fabrics and softening them.

I would also like to add that how you dry your (do)gi can also affect its color. Air drying in the sun for a little while can help bleach it back to white. Plus it is much better for the fabric than using a dryer!

Farfetched
  • 116
  • 2
1

You may have hard water that is yellowing them. I haven't had much success with reversing the process, but there are some palliative approaches like lemon juice, borax, and bluing agents.

Dave Liepmann
  • 20,861
  • 1
  • 68
  • 134
0

Adding some bleach to the wash might make a difference. If it was 100% cotton, I would recommend it but 30% polyester might do something strange...

Sardathrion - against SE abuse
  • 14,734
  • 3
  • 51
  • 125
  • I also have emblems on my shoulders which might be bleached then? http://www.nihonsport.nl/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/j/7/j730_493d41dd50b28.jpg I don't mind an experiment by the way. I have probably have to buy a new gi anyway. – JP Hellemons Nov 27 '13 at 13:57
  • Yes, the emblems will be bleached as well unless you remove them first. You could do some clever bleaching in a bucket but that will leave you with a yellowish halo around the emblems. – Sardathrion - against SE abuse Nov 27 '13 at 14:06
  • Bleach is generally contraindicated for washing grappling gi, since it weakens the fabric. – Dave Liepmann Nov 27 '13 at 14:15