so very blue...

[burger boy]

Hello all,
Just tried on my new keikogi for the very first time last night. After wearing it for just an hour I was so very blue, I can only imagine what I'll look like after a full sweaty practice tonight!

Could anyone please pass along their washing tips and details?
I've heard you can wash it with either water and salt or water and vinegar, but how much of either, how to dry it, cold water or hot water, etc.?

I know that washing won't get rid of all of the blue, but it should help a bit.

Thanks in advance for the help.

burger boy smurf

[JSchmidt]

Soak it overnight in cold water with salt...some have uses vinegar.
You'll still get blue for a month or so, though.

Jakob

[Matthew Lagden]

soak it in water mixed with plenty of vinegar overnight. i used japanese vinegar for bogus authenticity but i don't suppose it matters.

run it through the washing machine as often as you can. don't accidentally put white towels in with it unless you want to have to buy your girlfriend a new set.

[JSchmidt]

Don't run it through the washing machine more than absolutly necessary!!
It'll wear out both colour and gi/hakama too quickly.

Jakob

[Hongsermeier]

Running it throught the wash helps, just don't use any soap. Gi only. For hakama, like said before soak in cold water with vinegar. Will smell bad but you will be less blue. Lay hakama flat for drying,to keep creases straight.

[Matthew Lagden]

i like that faded look! and i'm not standing next to jacob if you're not washing your kit after the sessions we've had recently!

in any case i find that my kit walks into the washing machine on its own at the moment.

[David J]

Originally posted by Matthew Lagden
i used japanese vinegar for bogus authenticity but i don't suppose it matters.

Should that be bogu's authenticity? :D

[Kendoka]

A salt and or vinegar solution is fine to fix the dye, then give the gi and hakama a rinse,then a soft HAND wash with some mild laundry soap or detergent and a final rinse.

And if they are good quality / expensive, try to avoid machine washing.

Have a look at the info at <http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/hakama_wash.htm>

You will still go blue though !

Richard

[Kendoka]

Forgot to say that the people at Mitsuboshi told me the same thing for my new grass indigo dyed gi and hakama.

<http://www.mitsuboshi-web.com/english/kendo/index.html>

Richard