Hi, I was told by my insturctor not to wash my gi when i bought it since he said it'd shrink. However, I have a few very small blood stains on it from cuts on my fingers opening up during class. Is there anyway to wash my gi without it shrinking? Thanks
Not likely that you will be able to wash it without it shrinking bu you could try a very cool wash but that is unlikely to clean the sweaty stains properly
Depends how much it would shrink really. If it wouldn't be enough to matter, then it should be fine. Cold washing will help take out the bloodstains, but it won't get the BO smell out of the fabric.
Really you should always expect shrinking in your gi and therefore by one that is slightly larger than desired, and use your washing machine to clean it. K
Soaking it in cold water overnight should get the blood to lift. As for sweat and dirt you'll need to at least wash it it warm water.
Gi always shrink when you wash them the first time. You just need to buy them knowing what to expect. How much they shrink, depends on the gi and temperature you wash them in. Just try to wash them in the lowest possible temperature to minimize the shrinkin. Exceptions are pre-shrinked gi's that shouldnt get effected in any case.
Surely Dry cleaning won't shrink it, as it doesn't get wet, it uses chemicals to lift the dirt off super quick. Could try that?
Mate i am sorry to say but your gi will shirnk no matter what. Its unavoidable even with a cold wash (some shrinkage will still occur) Try not to tumble dry it and let it dry naturally. If you do tumble dry it make sure its on cool. Commone mistake is to drape the thing over a radiator. Radiators have heat and when it comes into direct contact with the gi will cuase it to shrink up. Try and borrow or buy a 'clothes horse' to dry on. As a side note...WTF! Your instructor told you not to wash your gi! Its etiquette to turn up to training with a clean gi. Not some mingin thing that has not been washed in weeks. I bet your instructors gi walks into the dojo all by itself eh! Craig
Imagine being put in a kesa gatame by a player with a gi that hasn't been washed in 6 weeks. Instant tapout. hmmm...i see his point now Your instructor isn't just stinky. He's a clever and stinky lol.
I used to train with a guy who never washed his gi. It turned brown (and this was a white karate gi) and went >squelch< when you punched him! yuk!
Hydrogen Peroxide will remove even old dried blood stains... just wet the spots with it, watch the bubbles then rinse in cold water. Be careful though you might make a clean spot.
A little blood never hurt, however the stench might. Wash it in cold water, no bleach. Stretch it out with someone so it won't shrink too much and air dry.
thanks for all the advice guys. I'll try the hydrogen peroxide to remove the blood stains and then wash it cold. Erm..yeah my instructor's gi does smell..not terribly bad, but enough that its noticeable the few times ive been uki for his demonstrations. I assume that hes washed it before, the sleeves are a bit short on him.
