HOW TO WASH AND DRY YOUR AIKIDOGI

Washing　

Dogi Jacket is usually made of cotton. Cotton shrinks after washing. The degree of shrinkage is different from the condition of cotton like Unbleached and Bleached and the quality of the cotton. 

Unbleached Jacket such as IWATA 200S, IWATA 300W and IWATA500 shrinks a lot for the first wash, but after the first wash, it becomes the same size as bleached jacket. (In other words, when you get a blend new unbleached jacket IWATA, it is too big for you but it is normal. It is very important to wash your unbleached jacket before the first use!) 

Bleached Jacket such as IWATA 200AS, IWATA 300AW, IWATA 600 shrinks a little by little, because it is already shrunk. However, it is natural to shrink a little and eventually about 6-10cm a year. (It is also different from the intensity of your training and the frequency of washing)

The other feature is washing temperature.

Less than 30°C: As it is noticed in the care label, the max temperature for washing correctly is 30°C.  The higher the washing temperature is, the more the shrinkage is as well.

Dogi does not shrink the same degree in all directions.  In general, the gi shrinks more in width than in length. A high temperature causes the damage of cotton fabric and reduces the robustness and the durability of dogi.

For the smell or smear, you might not be get rid of these even though you washed your jacket correctly because you use your kimono for years or because you left your dogi in your bag after your training for a long time, for example.  In this case, you can use bleach but once or twice a year. 

Drying

Lightly stretch your dogi after you take it out from the washing machine.  You can remove the small folds, which are done during the washing, especially spinning, by stretching your gi. When you do the spinning your jacket, it is better to set a low speed spinning because the spin is so fast that your dogi will be damaged. It is better to avoid a drying machine because the cotton is damaged by the high temperature.

Hang the jacket on a hanger like a letter “T”.

It is better to dry outside in shade and to avoid the direct sunlight. If you dry your kimono under the direct sunlight, it damages the cotton and reduces the durability of kimono.  However, if you dry faster your jacket, you can dry your dogi under the sunlight with inside out.