If you do enough karting, your kart suit is going to get dirty. It’s pretty much unavoidable.
Whether it’s grass stains from an off-track excursion, tyre rubber from leaning against the kart, oil and grease from working in the paddock, or just the general combination of sweat, dust and grime that comes with a race weekend, keeping a karting suit looking clean can be a challenge.
And if you’ve got a light-coloured or predominantly white suit, every little mark seems to show.
The good news is that most everyday stains can be dealt with without resorting to anything too aggressive. The important thing is to clean stains as soon as possible and, most importantly, follow the care instructions supplied with your particular suit. FIA-approved karting clothing has specific care labelling, and manufacturers can use different materials and construction methods.
Here are some of the most common stains you’re likely to come across and what you can do about them.
First things first – check the care label
Before reaching for a stain remover, check the washing instructions inside your suit.
This is particularly important with FIA-approved protective clothing. Don't assume that because something works on an ordinary cotton T-shirt, it is suitable for your karting suit.
As a general rule, gentle washing and mild detergent are preferable, while bleach, harsh chemicals and fabric softeners should be avoided unless your manufacturer specifically says otherwise. Some manufacturers recommend washing at around 30°C and air drying, but your own suit's instructions should always take priority.
It's also a good idea to turn the suit inside out, fasten zips and Velcro and protect any printed or embroidered areas before washing.
Grass stains
Grass stains are one of the most common problems, particularly if you've had an excursion across the grass or had to get out of the kart at the side of the track.
Don't leave them until the end of the season.
Rinse the affected area with cool or lukewarm water as soon as possible to remove loose dirt. Then gently work a small amount of mild detergent into the stain using your fingers or a soft cloth.
Leave it for a short while before washing the suit according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Avoid scrubbing aggressively. It might seem like a good way to remove the stain, but you could end up damaging the fabric or the printed design instead.
Oil and grease
Oil and grease are probably some of the more stubborn stains you'll encounter in karting.
If you've been working on the kart, changing components or simply managed to brush against something oily in the paddock, try to deal with the mark before putting the suit through a wash.
First, remove any excess oil with a clean cloth. Don't rub it further into the fabric.
Apply a small amount of a mild detergent suitable for the garment to the affected area and gently work it into the stain. Allow it a little time to work before washing.
You may need to repeat the process for an older or particularly stubborn grease mark.
Don't be tempted to use petrol, brake cleaner, degreaser or other workshop chemicals on your suit. They may remove the stain, but they aren't designed for protective clothing and could damage the material.
If you've got a serious oil or chemical contamination that won't come out with normal cleaning, it's better to speak to the suit manufacturer.
Tyre rubber
Tyre rubber can leave particularly annoying black marks on a kart suit.
You might find them on the knees, legs or anywhere that has come into contact with the kart or tyres.
For fresh marks, gently wipe away as much of the residue as possible with a clean, damp cloth. Then use a small amount of mild detergent and gently work at the remaining mark.
Don't attack it with a stiff brush or abrasive sponge. A kart suit isn't the place for heavy-duty scrubbing.
For really stubborn tyre marks, several gentle treatments are preferable to one aggressive attempt.
Dirt and mud
If you've had an off at the circuit, you'll probably have more than just a stain to deal with.
Let any heavy mud dry and brush off the loose dirt first. This stops you simply spreading mud around the rest of the suit when you start cleaning it.
Once the excess has been removed, rinse the area and treat any remaining marks with mild detergent before washing normally.
If the suit is particularly dirty, you may need to repeat the process rather than trying to remove everything in one go.
Sweat and salt marks
Not every stain comes from the track.
After a long day in a kart, your suit can absorb a lot of sweat. You may notice white or slightly yellow marks around the collar, cuffs and other areas where the suit sits closely against your skin.
The best solution is regular washing rather than allowing sweat to build up over multiple race weekends.
Don't wait until the suit smells before washing it.
Turn it inside out and wash it according to the manufacturer's instructions. A thorough rinse is also important because detergent residue can remain in the fabric if the suit isn't rinsed properly.
Food and drink stains
We've all been there.
A coffee at 8am, a bottle of fizzy drink in the awning or a quick sandwich between sessions can easily result in a stain on your suit.
The sooner you deal with it, the better.
Blot up any excess liquid rather than rubbing it into the fabric. Rinse the area with cool or lukewarm water and then gently treat it with mild detergent.
Don't use hot water straight away, particularly if you don't know what caused the stain. Heat can make some stains more difficult to remove.
Blood
Hopefully this isn't something you'll have to deal with very often, but cuts and scrapes can happen in karting.
If there is blood on the suit, rinse the stain with cold water as soon as possible. Avoid hot water, which can cause blood proteins to set into the fabric.
Once you've removed as much as possible with cold water, gently treat the remaining mark with mild detergent and wash according to the suit's care instructions.
If the stain is old and particularly stubborn, don't start experimenting with aggressive chemicals. Speak to the manufacturer or a professional cleaner familiar with protective racewear.
Muddy water and general track grime
Sometimes it's impossible to identify exactly what you've picked up.
The suit just comes back from the circuit looking like it's been through everything from the paddock to the gravel trap.
In this situation, don't try to identify every individual mark.
Remove loose dirt first, rinse the suit thoroughly and then wash it using the recommended programme and detergent. For particularly dirty suits, a second wash may be more effective than trying to attack individual marks with strong cleaning products.
What about white kart suits?
White suits look fantastic when they're clean.
They also have a habit of showing absolutely everything.
If you've got a white FIA kart suit, regular cleaning is much better than trying to restore it after months of accumulated dirt.
Don't automatically reach for bleach or strong whitening products. Protective racewear isn't the same as a normal white shirt, and harsh chemicals can damage materials, finishes, logos and printed areas.
Instead, deal with stains individually and wash the suit regularly using the manufacturer's recommended method.
What NOT to use on your FIA karting suit
When you're faced with a stubborn stain, it's tempting to reach for whatever happens to be underneath the kitchen sink or in the workshop.
I'd avoid that.
In particular, don't use:
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Bleach unless specifically approved by the manufacturer
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Strong solvents
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Petrol or fuel
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Brake cleaner
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Workshop degreasers
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Abrasive cleaning pads
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Aggressive scrubbing brushes
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Fabric softener unless specifically permitted
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Very high washing temperatures
Your kart suit isn't just another piece of clothing. It's protective equipment, so keeping the materials in good condition is more important than getting one stubborn mark out.
Don't forget about the printing
Modern kart suits can contain a lot of printed graphics, logos and sponsor branding.
When you're cleaning stains, remember that you're not just cleaning the fabric.
Aggressive rubbing, harsh chemicals and excessive heat can potentially damage printed or embroidered areas. Turning the suit inside out before washing can help protect these areas.
If you've invested in a fully customised suit covered in your team's colours and sponsor logos, it's definitely worth taking a little extra care of it.
How to dry your kart suit
Once you've washed it, resist the temptation to speed things up with a tumble dryer or radiator.
Air drying is generally the safer option, but again, check your manufacturer's instructions because drying recommendations can vary between garments. Some manufacturers specifically recommend drying away from direct sunlight and heat.
This is particularly important with brightly coloured suits, as prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can contribute to fading.
Hang or lay the suit as recommended by the manufacturer and allow it to dry naturally.
The golden rule: clean it sooner rather than later
The easiest stain to remove is usually the one you don't leave sitting there for weeks.
If you get home from a race weekend and your suit is covered in grass, mud, oil and general paddock grime, don't throw it in the kit bag and forget about it until the next race.
Give it a clean while the stains are still fresh.
A few minutes of cleaning after each race weekend can make a huge difference to how your suit looks after an entire season.
And if you've got a stain that simply won't shift, don't risk damaging an FIA-approved suit trying increasingly aggressive cleaning products. Check the manufacturer's advice or speak to a professional cleaner who understands protective racewear.
After all, your kart suit is there to protect you on track. Keeping it clean is important, but keeping the protective properties of the suit intact is even more important.
Looking for a new custom FIA karting suit?
At Delta Racewear, we can create custom karting suits designed around your team colours, sponsor logos and individual requirements.
Whether you're looking for a completely new team design or want your karting suits to match your existing teamwear, we can help with the design and production from start to finish.
