How to keep a dogi from wrinkling?

[chiliphil1]

Hey again, I'm having an issue with my dogi wanting to wrinkle. Normally I wear black and red and they don't seem to be that bad but I have recently purchased a white one and this thing wrinkles like crumpled up paper!

I washed it and dried for a just a few minutes so that it did not shrink too much, I pulled it out and hung it to dry completely and it was horrible! I ironed it and still it is quite wrinkled. So, what's the secret? I hung dried it for 2 days and still the lapels were wet, it wrinkled. I certainly must be doing something wrong! I will mention that being new it is a bit stiff, maybe with time it won't wrinkle so badly, I know my old century's don't do that. Is there anything I can do until it loosens up so that it doesn't look so bad?

Any help appreciated as always. Thank you for looking.

[Kyonovice]

Starch the thing. Seriously, when I started out in Shotokan many moons ago, it was expected (especially for grading) to have the dogi starched

[Bulltahr]

Or bung it in the drier for 15 minutes and pull it out as soon as the cycle is finished.

[JR 137]

Is this the Shureido gi? Wash cold, hang dry ASAP. I put my jacket on a coat hanger in the bathroom to dry, and the pants on one of those folding up drying rack things. Smooth out the gi right out of the washer before you hang it up. That gi takes a bit of time for the fibers to loosen up and break in. After a while, it shouldn't wrinkle up too bad. How you fold it also helps a lot. I've recently begun folding my gi like in the link, and I've noticed it being far better than how I used to fold it like a t-shirt and jeans. I don't wrap the belt around it though.

http://www.karatebyjesse.com/how-to-fold-karate-gi-like-a-japanese/

[chiliphil1]

Is this the Shureido gi? Wash cold, hang dry ASAP. I put my jacket on a coat hanger in the bathroom to dry, and the pants on one of those folding up drying rack things. Smooth out the gi right out of the washer before you hang it up. That gi takes a bit of time for the fibers to loosen up and break in. After a while, it shouldn't wrinkle up too bad. How you fold it also helps a lot. I've recently begun folding my gi like in the link, and I've noticed it being far better than how I used to fold it like a t-shirt and jeans. I don't wrap the belt around it though.

http://www.karatebyjesse.com/how-to-fold-karate-gi-like-a-japanese/

Thank you for the info, yes this is the shureido I am asking about. It is very very stiff, as far as wrinkles go. It's funny because the ronin brand is much stiffer but it didn't wrinkle at all, the shureido is softer but it wrinkled, go figure!

I actually fold mine like #1 in the link you posted. I actually did what you said, washed cold, pulled it then I dried for maybe 15 minutes and then pulled it right out and hung it up, extremely wrinkled and still wet 2 days later! Guess it'll just take time.

Thank you to the other posters. I will try the starch method.

[sensei8]

What about putting the dryer on a cycle that dries the gi, but won't wrinkle the gi? Or put the washing machine on the Delicate cycle!? Isn't there some chemical to add to the washing machine that will prevent wrinkles setting in??

I don't know!?!?

For as long as I can remember, I've always ironed my gi's during my tournament days. Other wise....soon as the washing machine was done, right to the dryer did my gi go, and in that, just as soon as the dryer was done, out to a hanger it went. Dojo training didn't truly require a wrinkle free look for the gi, just as long as it was clean...a clean gi was mandatory!!

[Kyonovice]

What about putting the dryer on a cycle that dries the gi, but won't wrinkle the gi? Or put the washing machine on the Delicate cycle!? Isn't there some chemical to add to the washing machine that will prevent wrinkles setting in??

I don't know!?!?

For as long as I can remember, I've always ironed my gi's during my tournament days. Other wise....soon as the washing machine was done, right to the dryer did my gi go, and in that, just as soon as the dryer was done, out to a hanger it went. Dojo training didn't truly require a wrinkle free look for the gi, just as long as it was clean...a clean gi was mandatory!!

Add small amount of starch to wash load?

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5989871_add-rinse-cycle-washing-machine.htm]

Edited September 21, 2015 by Kyonovice

[sensei8]

What about putting the dryer on a cycle that dries the gi, but won't wrinkle the gi? Or put the washing machine on the Delicate cycle!? Isn't there some chemical to add to the washing machine that will prevent wrinkles setting in??

I don't know!?!?

For as long as I can remember, I've always ironed my gi's during my tournament days. Other wise....soon as the washing machine was done, right to the dryer did my gi go, and in that, just as soon as the dryer was done, out to a hanger it went. Dojo training didn't truly require a wrinkle free look for the gi, just as long as it was clean...a clean gi was mandatory!!

Add small amount of starch to wash load?

[urlhttp://https://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5989871_add-rinse-cycle-washing-machine.html[/url]

Add starch to the wash load? Interesting! I keep forgetting that starch comes in liquid from, and not only in a spray can.

I can't view your link!!

[chiliphil1]

What about putting the dryer on a cycle that dries the gi, but won't wrinkle the gi? Or put the washing machine on the Delicate cycle!? Isn't there some chemical to add to the washing machine that will prevent wrinkles setting in??

I don't know!?!?

For as long as I can remember, I've always ironed my gi's during my tournament days. Other wise....soon as the washing machine was done, right to the dryer did my gi go, and in that, just as soon as the dryer was done, out to a hanger it went. Dojo training didn't truly require a wrinkle free look for the gi, just as long as it was clean...a clean gi was mandatory!!

The only concern I have is shrinking. The dogi fits me like a glove, if it shrinks any I won't be able to wear it!

[chiliphil1]

What about putting the dryer on a cycle that dries the gi, but won't wrinkle the gi? Or put the washing machine on the Delicate cycle!? Isn't there some chemical to add to the washing machine that will prevent wrinkles setting in??

I don't know!?!?

For as long as I can remember, I've always ironed my gi's during my tournament days. Other wise....soon as the washing machine was done, right to the dryer did my gi go, and in that, just as soon as the dryer was done, out to a hanger it went. Dojo training didn't truly require a wrinkle free look for the gi, just as long as it was clean...a clean gi was mandatory!!

Add small amount of starch to wash load?

[urlhttp://https://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5989871_add-rinse-cycle-washing-machine.html[/url]

I'm certainly going to try the starch. I think it's about the only thing I can do. The dogi shrank a good bit when I dried it for 15 minutes and now it's at the point where it fits perfectly, so any more shrinking just won't work!