Getting dirt out of a dogi

[Shin Buke]

Hey all,

I've managed to get my dogi very dirty over the last year or so in spite of regular cleaning. I've got some dirt spots on it that just won't come out. I've tried washing it repeatedly, soaking it, all the usual stuff, but to no avail. I did a quick search here too, but most of what came up was general cleaning info. So, short of bleach (which I certainly do not want to use) what else can I try to get this dirt out?

Thanks for your help.

[J. A. Crippen]

Oxy-clean! It actually works pretty well on most organic stains. Combine a little with water and mash until it becomes a homogenous paste, then apply and scrub with a fingernail brush. It doesn't leave much in the way of residue after a good washing.

You also might try localized applications of bleach. There are cute little “bleach pens” on the market that can help in local stain targeting. Another option is to use a small amount of Comet cleanser and then when the stain is removed wash it thoroughly in soapy water.

Wear an indigo or black dogi if you're going to be playing outside on a regular basis, or if you're getting a lot of bloodstains. The latter reason is why you see a lot of iaido practitioners with indigo uwagi: the stains from cutting themselves don't show.

[Brian Owens]

Oxy-clean!
Yeah, Oxy-Clean is pretty good. If you can't find that where you live, a blend of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water, then a squirt of liquid dishwashing detergent will also work.

I'd avoid chlorine bleach for spot treating a white dogi, because it can cause yellowing if it's too strong, as well as making the fibers brittle. Chlorine bleach can work okay in a weak dilution for the whole wash, but oxygen-based brighteners are probably better for that, too.



...Wear an indigo or black dogi if you're going to be playing outside on a regular basis, or if you're getting a lot of bloodstains. The latter reason is why you see a lot of iaido practitioners with indigo uwagi: the stains from cutting themselves don't show.
In Muso Shinden Ryu my club wore all black. Our founding fathers must have cut themselves a lot. :p

[Shin Buke]

Thanks for the info! I'll go pickup some Oxyclean and give it a whirl. Hopefully I can get my dogi looking fairly clean again. ;)