10 Ways to Use Salt to Clean Your Laundry

Salt is a wonderful stain remover. With salt you can remove grease stains, ink stains, blood stains and more. Using salt in your laundry will also help preserve bright colors and reduce the yellowing of white clothing.10 ways to use salt to clean your laundry

1. Remove grease stains on fabric by sprinkling the stain with salt. Allow the salt to soak up the grease and wipe off. Repeat if necessary.

2. Remove a fresh blood stain by covering it with salt. Then dab with a clod water cloth. Continue to add water until the stain is gone.

3. Remove ink stains by rubbing the stain with salt. Then soak the stain in milk over night. Then wash.

4. For mildew stains, use a paste made of lemon juice and salt. Spread the paste on the mildew and lay clothing out in the sun. The sun, salt and lemon juice will bleach the mildew.

5. To remove mildew stains on other fabrics use a solution of salt, vinegar, and water.

6. Remove wine stains from cotton fabric by sprinkling enough salt on the stain to absorb the wine. Soak the clothing for 2 hours in cold water. Then wash.

7. Treat yellowing of white cotton clothes by soaking in a solution of water, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Let stand for 1 hour. Then wash.

8. Remove sweat stains on white clothing by dabbing the areas with a sponge soaked in a salt water solution of 4 tablespoons of salt per 1 quart of water.

9. Prevent bleeding colors by adding 1/2 cup of salt to your wash cycle.

10. Bring colored rugs back to their vibrant colors by rubbing a salt water solution into the rug with a damp cloth. Use a gentle scrubbing motion.~ Do it Yourself Naturally

Taken from d.i.y. naturally

UNDERSTANDING JUDO UNIFORM

First of all it is important to purchase the correct size uniform. A uniform intended for a smaller person may fit initially but will become too small after a while because of shrinkage. If you have a uniform that is over sized for you, the best solution is to return it and exchange for one that will fit you. (Most companies will allow exchange as long as the uniform is new and hasn't been worn or washed) The reason is, because you maybe able to shrink the uniform to fit in the length. The width of a uniform does not shrink the same way and you are left with a uniform that maybe too baggy or loose fitting.

Judo Uniforms such as the Mizuno SHIAI jacket will fit you when new and will fit you the same way after multiple wash and dry cycles, provided that you have not increased in height and weight.

Other Mizuno Judo Uniforms models will come slightly over sized so that after you wash it a few time it will fit you correctly.

Most common mistake is made when a person picks up a uniform that is half or a size smaller and has a perfect fit but after a few wash and dry cycle finds that the uniform is too small to meet IJF regulation in competition (This is under IJF Referee rules, Judo Uniform) . Another most made mistake is purchasing a uniform that is one size larger and try to shrink it down to fit. This will ultimately end up with a uniform that is too loose and baggy in all dimensions.

What does preshrunk uniform mean?
A preshrunk uniform is make of fabric that has been either pre washed or weave in a way so that no signification shrinkage will occur. Some preshrunk uniform will still shrink a little if wash in hot water and dry in the dryer. Some examples are...

Mizuno Shiai Judo Uniform.
Washing this model in hot water and drying in the dryer will not shrink the jacket. You may see approximately 1 cm (less than half an inch) of shrinkage on the sleeves after drying in the dryer; but the sleeves will stretch back to its original size. The skirt part of the jacket will shrink up to 3 cm if wash in hot water and dry in the dryer. This is due to the different type of fabric being use. The shrinkage on the skirt is permanent.

The pants of the Shiai is not preshrunk and will shrink up to 10 cm (4 inches) if wash in hot water and dry in the dryer.

Adidas Judo Uniforms
Entire line up of Adidas Judo Uniform will shrink approximately 3 cm on the sleeves if wash in cold water and hang dry. If washed in Hot and dry in the dryer will have up to 7 cm of shrinkage on the sleeves. Adidas IJF Uniforms will shrink less due to Poly/Cotton constructions.

Fuji Judo Uniforms
Fuji Judo Uniform will shrink similar to the Adidas. Recommended to get half a size larger when purchasing double weave Fuji Judo Uniform.

Caring for your Judo and BJJ uniform

The manufacturers suggested care is to always wash your uniform in cold water and hang dry. Never use bleach to clean your uniform. Adhering to this method will provide you with the longest wear for your investment. Using liquid fabric softener may also reduce the life of your uniform. My favorite liquid detergent for white uniform is Tide Bleach Alternative.

Soaking in Oxiclean solution will help remove stains. One cup of baking soda in your wash will help keep your uniform white and remove odors. One cup of white vinegar in the wash will help kill mold.

Some of us have stains on the collar around the neck and shoulder cavity area. This maybe our body's oil due to our diet of high fat contented food. I use Spray and Wash or Shout directly on the stained area before each wash. Always wash your uniform as soon as you can after practice and your uniform will always stay clean and fresh.

Washing your uniform in warm or hot water may shrink your uniform significantly unless you have a preshrunk uniform.

Drying your uniform in a dryer will also shrink your uniform unless you have a preshrunk uniform. The tumbling action in the dryer will shorten the life of your uniform significantly.

While the uniform is still wet coming out of the washer. You can stretch the sleeves by pulling or snapping on it before hang drying. This will help to keep the length of the sleeves close to the original lenght. This method applies to all manufacturer.

Emergency Situation:
Standing on one end of the sleeves and pulling straight up on the other end will help stretch the sleeves approximately an inch to two if you need to pass the measurement test. Do that immediately before stepping into the competition area.