Sweat stains on Bogu and Hakama?

[Durability12]

I've began to notice that these "sweat" stains are becoming really big on my bogu...if you dont know what im talking about its the "white" color stains. I have them on my Men chin pad area, ear area(side of my men), on my hakama as well. I try brushing it off with a damp toothbrush, but it always reappears...

anyone know how to treat it? or get rid of it?

[lucy]

Well, I don't know about your bogu, but concerning the hakama I'd say: Try washing it! ;-) Your fellows might be grateful... :nervous:

[joekc6nlx]

Cold water, mild detergent (such as Woolite), place in bathtub, grape stomp it with your feet, rinse until the water is clear.

For bogu, damp (not wet!) sponge or cloth, dab at the stains. The white stains are salt, and a damp sponge will take them away.

[Durability12]

Cold water, mild detergent (such as Woolite), place in bathtub, grape stomp it with your feet, rinse until the water is clear.

For bogu, damp (not wet!) sponge or cloth, dab at the stains. The white stains are salt, and a damp sponge will take them away.

thank you
I have done that b4 as well, dabbing it with a damp cloth, but they reappear almost after every practice..

is there any permanent way to get rid of them?

[Rularn]

the white stains are salt deposits from your sweat. if you want to permanently get rid of them, you can a) stop using your men or b) stop sweating.

any heavy rubbing may take out some of the dye on the men surfaces.

[Durability12]

the white stains are salt deposits from your sweat. if you want to permanently get rid of them, you can a) stop using your men or b) stop sweating.

any heavy rubbing may take out some of the dye on the men surfaces.

a) you mean buy new men? get a new men? o.O
b) how doyou stop sweating?

or are you implying its almost impossible to get rid of them

[Bennosuke]

I've had white stains on my old club bogu, and I was told it was mildew.
Try using something that works against mildew, unless ur sure it is salt (it would be prett obvious if it was mildew pu).

[joekc6nlx]

thank you
I have done that b4 as well, dabbing it with a damp cloth, but they reappear almost after every practice..

is there any permanent way to get rid of them?

You can't get them out with just one application. You have to let the men dry, then do it again. You didn't accumulate all of that salt in one practice, you can't expect to get it out in one application.

[bobdonny]

Maybe a more sciencey dude can answer, but seeing as sweat is salt would a vinegar soloution work to neutralise the stain, then a clean with water/woolite etc sort it out? aint tried it myself, but its just a thought!

[Lloromannic]

What ratio of vinegar to something else would you suggest?

You can also send it away to Japan to get it cleaned proffesionally

[mark]

There are several threads on removing bogu salt & other crud. The last one appeared about a month ago...

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10618&highlight=cleaning

In summary, it is a very common problem and there are several compagnies that clean bogu , and the little green machine that you can use at home. The answer could be a sticky.

[bobdonny]

What ratio of vinegar to something else would you suggest?

You can also send it away to Japan to get it cleaned proffesionally

Oh barely any, 2 or 3 drops to a pint of water is a general solution for household thingies (taking mould of windows or cleaning grout)

[MikeW]

I think what was meant by....

"the white stains are salt deposits from your sweat. if you want to permanently get rid of them, you can a) stop using your men or b) stop sweating."

..... is that the sweat (salt) stains will always re-appear because you're going to be sweating. It wasn't meant as advice on switching men or how to stop sweating.

[Rularn]

The other thing you can do is get one of those head covers that looks like a white hood that covers your entire head that I sometime see on korean kendo equipment sites. Combined with the chin pad, you can almost cover all of the areas of your head that may perspirer. Absorbing the sweat that way will reduce the amount of sweat going directly to your men.

[Rularn]

Like this...

https://www.kendoshop.com/Eng/index.php?channel=view&cate=104100000&number=1001

[Hai_hai]

I've began to notice that these "sweat" stains are becoming really big on my bogu...if you dont know what im talking about its the "white" color stains. I have them on my Men chin pad area, ear area(side of my men), on my hakama as well. I try brushing it off with a damp toothbrush, but it always reappears...

anyone know how to treat it? or get rid of it?
White is not a color, but that's for another debate. The white is salt from your sweat. You can't really get rid of it permanently, but you can clean is on a regular basis.

[bullet08]

never really bothered to clean my salt stain on my men. other than the look, what is the reason for people obsessing over the salt stain on the men?

pete

[bobdonny]

Like this...

https://www.kendoshop.com/Eng/index.php?channel=view&cate=104100000&number=1001
Love the way he tries to look baddass wearing a sock ;)

[tango]

Personally, I'd say just not to worry about them. To my knowledge, it's not damaging the armor for them to stay there..

Who do you fear more --- the guy with a brand-new looking bogu or the guy who looks like he's put his armor through more years of practice than you've been alive?
:D :D :D

[runsyi]

My dojo had a visit from a boguyasan from Tokyo who recommended soaking the men to clean it. I did this on both of my men. The first time I immersed the whole thing in plain water and changed the water when it got cloudy. I soaked it for about 2 hours. Then someone on the forum mentioned that soaking the lacquer would harm it. So when I soaked my other men I made sure the water didn't reach the lacquer. That time I was also soaking a hakama so I just used the same 2:1 water/vinegar solution I normally use and soaked it for 5 hours, not changing the water. Both men came out fine but the second one still smells strongly of vinegar. In conclusion... if you have a day to kill soaking it and at least two days where you can just leave it out to dry, then soaking is a good option for cleaning.

About the hakama... what I do is fold it, place it in a mesh bag, and put it in the washer on the delicate cycle with a bit of Woolite Dark. Then I hang it from the hem.

[rottunpunk]

i was thinking its about time i washed my iai hakama (only had them 6 or 7 years and theyve decided to go smelly-bahh)
anyways, so when chidokan did his last pair the stitching came away at the top, and im scared all the creases will come out.
does the peg thing work?
and what the smeg is woolite?

cheers for any hakama cleaning advicy stuff
:p

[mark]

and what the smeg is woolite?
:p

Woolite is a cold water detergent used to clean delicate washables such as wool sweaters.

[rottunpunk]

ok cheers. ill have a look for some next time im shopping.
:p

[nebosuke]

never really bothered to clean my salt stain on my men. other than the look, what is the reason for people obsessing over the salt stain on the men?

pete

Not sure about your local federation but around here when it is shinsa time they tell you to look after your appearance. The reality is that it should be something you always do as it's just proper hygene and respect for your equipment, as well as a reflection upon you, your dojo, and your sensei. Not just something to worry about around promotion time.