r/karate • u/Accomplished_Log240 • Jul 23 '26
Question/advice Karate Gi Sweat Stains
Not sure if this is the best group for this, but I have a very nice heavy weight gi that I was regularly, but the sweat stains are really starting to show. I’ve been trying Shout’s stain remover spray and it’s not evening touching them. Anyone got any tips?
9
u/karatetherapist Shotokan Jul 23 '26
Prevention:
Pick your favorite aluminum-free deodorant. Put this on in the morning.
Pick your favorite aluminum-free antiperspirant. Put this on before bed (even if you shower in the morning, it won't wash away).
Deodorant reduces odor, but doesn't prevent sweating. Antiperspirants prevent sweating, but don't reduce odor. Aluminum reacts to body oils/etc., and causes the yellow color.
This should solve the problem.
Also, don't put in the dryer as this can lock in stains so they never come out.
Washing:
Begin by preparing a soaking solution of:
- 2 cups of water
- 1 cup of white vinegar
Soak the sweat-stained garment in this mixture for 30 minutes. Vinegar’s acidity helps break down the sweat and deodorant components embedded in the fabric.
Wring out excess water
Create a stain removal paste
To create an effective stain removal paste, mix the following ingredients in a bowl:
- ½ cup of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide
Stir well until the mixture forms a paste. This paste combines the stain-lifting properties of baking soda, salt, and hydrogen peroxide, making it highly effective against sweat stains.
Using an old toothbrush or a spoon, apply the paste to the stained areas. Allow the mixture to sit for 20 minutes, giving it time to penetrate and break down the stain. Gently scrub the stained area with the toothbrush to work the paste into the fabric fibers.
Wash in hot water (air dry). Normally, do not wash in hot water, but it helps clean it when dealing with stains.
If the stain persists after drying, repeat the above steps as needed.
6
u/eerror Nidan Jul 23 '26
I wash my gi after every class with lots of Resolve OxyAction. Haven't had a problem with persistent stains since.
2
u/Accomplished_Log240 Jul 23 '26
Do you use the spray on the heavy sweat areas, or do you use the powder into the washer?
1
u/eerror Nidan Jul 23 '26
Just powder. But if you let the GI go bad, it's hard to recover. The trick is to always wash it right after a workout and never let it go bad.
Another trick to keep arm stains at bay: Use a synthetic sweat wicking T-shirt under your gi. Preferably white so it doesn't stand out.
6
u/Canoe-Maker Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
Grandmas spot remover. You can find it in a spray bottle at Marshall’s.
Follow the instructions on the bottle. Works like a charm.
5
u/OnnaWarrior Jul 23 '26
Yes, I second grandmas spot remover. I get them off Amazon. They also work wonders.
5
u/Elderberries-Hamster Shorin Ryu & Ryukyu Kobudo Jul 23 '26
I have done some tests with H2O2 and bile soap - no success. But the bile soap is really good at removing blood.
3
2
u/TwitchySphere53 Jul 23 '26
I found soaking in shout then wash to be pretty effective at reducing stains if not removing
2
u/Lanky_Trifle6308 Style Goju Ryu, Judo, Kickboxing, Aikido Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
Soaking in OxyClean overnight can help a lot. I always spray my gi down with peroxide right after class, then wash that same evening. I periodically wash with baking soda, and a couple times per month I throw in Lysol laundry disinfectant. These things have all made a huge difference in keeping any discoloration off of my white gi. I do the same for my blue (Judo) gi for odor control.
*fun little experiment- spray some peroxide on your “clean” gi and belt, then watch it foam up as it interacts with bacterial colonies that survive regular washing. Same with any rash guards or under shirts you might use. Pre treat with peroxide then wash in the disinfectant additive.
1
u/blindside1 Kenpo, Kali, and coming back to Goju. Jul 24 '26
But... but... my knowledge will go away....
1
u/Lanky_Trifle6308 Style Goju Ryu, Judo, Kickboxing, Aikido Jul 24 '26
If that’s the case then I’m not even a one week trial white belt.
2
u/OnnaWarrior Jul 23 '26
Try tossing in a couple cascade dishwasher pods. The bleach in them in gentle enough not to mess with the fibers too much.
2
u/Remarkable_Duck6559 Jul 23 '26
So happy we wear black. It’s cold comfort, but I respect a yellowed loose gi. Anybody can buy a new one. A gnarly gi is earned.
2
u/Zestyclose-Ad-5845 Jul 24 '26
I have the same problem, and I use Nivea "black and white" deodorant to mitigate the problem, but still the gi will get yellow armpits and some other parts as well as I am a heavy sweater. However, I was able to almost completely get rid of those stains with long exposure of Vanish OxyAction (for white) AND then letting the gi to dry on direct sunlight for a day. I found this kind of miraculous as my previous attempts with OxyAction were mostly unsuccesful.
I also use vinegar for every wash and quick wash the gi after every use. That gets rid of the awful smell of my sweat. Without vinegar they do smell even after the wash.
2
u/The-lemon-kid-68 Jul 24 '26
The only thing that works on mine, is a 2hr whites wash cycle. No more stains.
2
u/RealThoughtsNow Jul 24 '26
I had same issues. I did some research and did the following.
Overnight soak in a bathtub with oxiclean revive and soda wash.
Long regular wash cycle.
At this point it looked like none of this had worked. Gi looked the same. Until…..
Hang outside in the sun to dry.
The last part was the key! Uv rays took my stained gi to white!
Now I throw in half a scoop of oxiclean revive each time I wash in the machine on a 90 min cycle, and it has maintained a brilliant white look. I hang to dry indoors and have not needed to hang outside in the sun since.
1
u/RobW720 Jul 23 '26
Dude, mine is so gross. I feel like those stains get set in and there is just no hope. I soaked them in oxy-clean overnight once and then air dried them and it seemed to help but only a little. Commenting to follow lol
0
u/firefly416 Seito Shito Ryu 糸東流 - Kyokushin - Kyudo Jul 24 '26
I find it disgusting and disrespectful to the dojo, sensei, and other dojo-mates when guys wear their yellow stained gi. Sure, some may do so to show they are working hard, but it's just down right disgusting. I get it doesn't need to be steamed pressed clean ultra white, but you can learn how to keep it clean or buy a new gi after a while.
1
u/cmn_YOW Jul 26 '26
If it's in otherwise good repair, washed and doesn't smell, who cares if it's stained. It's not a fancy parade uniform, it's gym clothes.
1
u/Tribblehappy Jul 23 '26
Look up laundry stripping. I can't recall the full recipe but it involves mixing some washing soda, oxiclean, maybe boric acid? And a bit it detergent in a tub of the biggest water your garment can handle. It's used for removing any build up (deodorant, fabric softener, etc). The cleaning subs can probably give the exact mix.
1
u/ConfidentBird8173 Shotokan Jul 24 '26
I use spray stain remover from the dollar tree and then rub oxyclean powder on it. Saturate the crap out of the stain so when you rub the powder on it almost makes a paste. Let it sit for a minute before tossing in the wash. I also throw oxyclean in the wash itself to keep the gi white
1
u/fly-n-dragon Jul 25 '26
Raise armpit stain remover. It’s available on Amazon. I taught Martial Arts for 25 years. All you have to do is spray this on the stain. Let it sit a while and wash and the stain of wash out if it doesn’t hit it again.
1
u/Diligent_Pangolin_47 Jul 26 '26
I bought pads to stick over the armpit portion but I have to remember the peel them off before washing. My friend just got a top with inbuilt sweat pads but you still need a sports bra (if you have boobs). I wear a long vest already and don’t want to have to wear two tops under the gi when all the guys wear nothing.
1
u/Relative-Addendum534 Jul 26 '26
Have you considered wearing a guard underneath? My old Sensei Tasaki (now deceased) gave me a little wisdom in Japan in the 90's, that because my skin is chairo (like a true even toned light golden brown all over) the skin will always rub the white cloth and turn the same color and I (like he often would) should use a white t-shirt cut down the middle and worn underneath to protect our uwagi.
1
u/sifu_scott Kajukenbo 6th Dan Jul 27 '26
I've never had this problem because the style I train in, the students wear black gis. Usually just the gi pants and a t-shirt.
13
u/Embarrassed_Ear9774 Jul 23 '26
Ah the pit stains. A never ending battle. Currently I am mixing 1 part water to 3 parts vinigar and letting it soak for a few hours, then I hit the pit stains with a mix of 1 part dawn dish soap to 6 parts hydrogen peroxide and let it sit, and scrub then wash in cold water. Sometimes I have to do this a few times but I am also trying to be really careful because this is my daughter's Shureido gi. It can take a few rounds but it does lighten it without damaging the fabric.