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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

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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!

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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.

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  • 4 really nice suggestions, thanks, will take a look at them and will update this question with the results! Nov 27, 2013 at 14:29
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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...

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  • I also have emblems on my shoulders which might be bleached then? nihonsport.nl/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/… I don't mind an experiment by the way. I have probably have to buy a new gi anyway. Nov 27, 2013 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. Nov 27, 2013 at 14:06
  • Bleach is generally contraindicated for washing grappling gi, since it weakens the fabric. Nov 27, 2013 at 14:15

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