Getting out sweat stains?

[Radagast]

I have a gi (Arawaza Black Diamond) I have worn about 12 times - only for gradings and tournaments. But it is getting yellow-brown sweat stains around the collar already. I've tried shout and oxy clean sprays/powder, and mixing up a Borax paste. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

(Yes I did a search, the newest thread was almost 10 years old so new thread rather than necro... and there might be new solutions since then!)

Thanks

[Patrick]

Hey Radagast, I was going to say OxiClean, but you said you've tried it. Just to make sure, did you try taking a scoop of the powder, putting it in a bucket with water, and letting it soak for 6+ hours? And then washing it? You probably have, but I wanted to mention it.

Since you have put so much effort into it, have you happened to go to a professional cleaner or a dry cleaner and ask for their thoughts? It might be worth paying for a cleaning to "reset" the gi, more or less, and then you can work on maintaining it from there.

[Zaine]

I would take it to a cleaner. Cleaners are pretty inexpensive, just do some research to make sure that you're taking it to someone who looks trustworthy. 

[KarateKen]

I agree that it sounds like you are in need of a professional cleaner.  I've done that a few times for blood stains.  

To avoid problems such as sweat stains in the future, I suggest not working so hard. 

 

[JazzKicker]

Bleach might work, but you have to be careful not to overdo it. I still remember a heavyweight gi I had that was getting armpit stains. I went nuts with the bleach, and weakened the fabric so much it ripped.

[sensei8]

6 hours ago, JazzKicker said:

Bleach might work, but you have to be careful not to overdo it. I still remember a heavyweight gi I had that was getting armpit stains. I went nuts with the bleach, and weakened the fabric so much it ripped.

That’s no joke!! I once I took it upon myself to wash my own gi when I was a JBB. The results were catastrophic.

I put quite a lot of bleach in the load to insure my gi would be sparkling white. What I got was not what I expected. My gi was white, for sure, but it fell apart.

Needless to say, my mom banned me from her laundry room for life.

If you use bleach, exercise caution by reading the instructions and warnings found on the bleach bottle.

[Zaine]

On 9/27/2025 at 1:53 PM, sensei8 said:

That’s no joke!! I once I took it upon myself to wash my own gi when I was a JBB. The results were catastrophic.

I put quite a lot of bleach in the load to insure my gi would be sparkling white. What I got was not what I expected. My gi was white, for sure, but it fell apart.

Needless to say, my mom banned me from her laundry room for life.

If you use bleach, exercise caution by reading the instructions and warnings found on the bleach bottle.

It's almost a rite of passage to ruin a white gi with bleach