How to Clean Your BJJ Gi: The Complete Guide for Grapplers

Everything you need to know about washing, drying, and maintaining your jiu-jitsu gi—from your first wash to keeping it fresh after years of training.

Your BJJ gi takes a beating. You sweat in it, roll in it, get choked with it, and ask it to survive hundreds of training sessions without falling apart or smelling like a biohazard. Proper gi care isn't just about keeping it clean—it's about extending its life, maintaining hygiene, and showing respect for your training partners.

This guide covers everything: pre-wash odor treatment, washing instructions, drying methods, shrinkage prevention, odor elimination, and the common mistakes that ruin gis or leave them permanently funky. Whether you just bought your first gi or you're a seasoned black belt with a closet full of them, this guide will help you keep your training gear in top condition.

Why Gi Cleaning Actually Matters

Let's start with the obvious: your gi gets disgusting during training. But the importance of proper gi care goes beyond just removing visible dirt.

• Hygiene for you and your training partners. You're rolling with other people, putting your gi in direct contact with their skin, face, and sometimes open wounds like mat burns. A poorly cleaned gi that harbors sweat residue and training-related buildup creates hygiene concerns for everyone you train with.
• Fabric integrity and longevity. A quality gi is an investment—often $80 to $200 or more. Proper washing extends its life significantly. Improper washing (harsh detergents, hot water, machine drying) breaks down fibers, causes excessive shrinkage, and can destroy a gi in months instead of years.
• Odor control. Once a gi develops that permanent sour smell that won't wash out, it's extremely difficult to reverse. Prevention through proper cleaning is far easier than trying to salvage a gi that's been improperly maintained for months.
• Respect for the training space. Showing up with a clean, well-maintained gi demonstrates respect for your training partners, your instructor, and the martial art itself. It's part of being a good training partner.

The Golden Rule: Wash It Immediately

The single most important gi cleaning habit is simple: wash your gi as soon as possible after training. Not tomorrow. Not when you get around to it. Immediately.

Here's why timing matters:

• Sweat and moisture create the perfect environment for odor-causing issues. When you leave a sweaty gi sitting in your gym bag for hours (or worse, overnight), you're creating ideal conditions for permanent odor problems to develop. The same principle behind the 4-hour hygiene window for your skin applies to your training gear.
• Dried-in sweat and residue is harder to remove. Fresh sweat washes out easily. Sweat that's had 12-24 hours to dry into the fabric fibers requires more aggressive washing and may never fully come out.
• Stains set over time. Blood, mat dirt, and other stains are exponentially easier to remove when fresh versus after they've sat for days.

If you absolutely cannot wash your gi immediately after training, at minimum:

• Remove it from your gym bag immediately when you get home
• Hang it in a well-ventilated area (not balled up, not in a closed bag)
• Apply a hygiene spray designed for gear to high-sweat areas
• Wash within 24 hours maximum

But the best practice? Just wash it right away. Make it non-negotiable.

Pre-Wash Treatment: Dealing with Odors Before They Set

The Spray-Down Method

Many experienced grapplers spray down their gi immediately after training, before it even goes in the gym bag. This intermediate cleansing step addresses sweat and odor before they have time to set into the fabric.

How to do it:

• Immediately after training, while changing out of your gi, lay it out flat
• Apply a body and gear spray to the entire inside surface (the side that touches your skin)
• Pay special attention to high-sweat areas: underarms, collar, back, crotch area
• Flip and lightly spray the outside
• Let it air for 2-3 minutes before folding and placing in your gym bag

Why this works: A quality hygiene spray with witch hazel and natural ingredients helps address sweat and odor immediately, before your gi sits in a dark gym bag creating perfect conditions for funk to develop. Think of it as a bridge treatment until you can wash it properly at home.

Important note: This is NOT a replacement for washing your gi. It's a pre-treatment step that makes washing more effective and prevents odor from setting in during the time between training and washing.

The Vinegar Pre-Soak (For Stubborn Odors)

If your gi already has odor issues, or if you're trying to prevent them in a particularly sweaty gi, a vinegar pre-soak can help.

How to do it:

• Fill a large bucket or your washing machine basin with cold water
• Add 1-2 cups of white vinegar
• Submerge your gi and let it soak for 30-60 minutes
• Drain the vinegar water and proceed with your regular wash

When to use this: Once a month for regular maintenance, or immediately if you notice your gi starting to develop persistent odor that regular washing isn't eliminating.

The Right Way to Wash Your Gi

Water Temperature: Cold or Warm, Never Hot

Use cold water (preferred) or warm water maximum. Never use hot water unless you're intentionally trying to shrink your gi.

Why cold water?

• Prevents shrinkage (gi fabric is typically cotton, which shrinks in hot water)
• Preserves fabric integrity and color
• Uses less energy
• Actually cleans just as effectively with proper detergent

The only time to consider warm water is if you have extremely stubborn stains or odor issues that cold water isn't resolving. But even then, warm (not hot) is your maximum temperature.

Detergent Selection: What Works Best

Use a mild, unscented detergent designed for athletic wear or sensitive fabrics. Avoid:

• Heavily scented detergents (the fragrance can irritate skin during training)
• Detergents with harsh chemicals or brighteners
• Excessive amounts of detergent (more is not better)

How much to use: Less than you think. Use about half the recommended amount on the bottle. Excess detergent doesn't rinse out completely and can build up in fabric fibers, actually contributing to odor problems over time.

Special consideration for athletes: Some grapplers prefer using a specialized natural bar soap for hand-washing their gi or pre-treating problem areas. Cold-process soaps with natural ingredients like coconut oil and tea tree oil provide thorough cleansing without harsh chemicals.

The Washing Cycle

Settings to use:

• Cycle: Normal or delicate (avoid heavy-duty cycles that are too aggressive)
• Water level: High (gives your gi room to agitate and rinse properly)
• Spin: Normal (not ultra-high speed, which stresses fabric)

What to wash with your gi: Ideally, wash your gi by itself or with other athletic gear only. Don't wash it with regular clothes, towels, or anything that produces lint. Your gi will pick up that lint and you'll spend your next training session covered in fuzz.

Washing multiple gis together: You can wash 2-3 gis together if needed, but make sure there's enough water and space for proper agitation and rinsing.

Skip the Fabric Softener

Never use fabric softener on your gi. This is non-negotiable.

Why?

• Fabric softener coats fibers and reduces absorbency (making your gi less effective at managing sweat)
• Creates buildup that traps odors
• Can make your gi slippery, which affects grips
• Leaves residue that can irritate skin during training

If you want your gi to feel softer, use white vinegar in the rinse cycle (1/2 cup). It naturally softens fabric without coating it.

The Extra Rinse Cycle

Always run an extra rinse cycle. This ensures all detergent is completely removed from the fabric. Detergent residue contributes to odor problems and can cause skin irritation during training.

Most modern washing machines have an "extra rinse" button or setting. Use it every time you wash your gi.

Drying Your Gi: The Make-or-Break Decision

Air Drying (The Best Method)

Air drying is the gold standard for gi care. It prevents shrinkage, preserves fabric integrity, extends gi life, and uses zero energy.

How to air dry properly:

• Remove your gi from the washing machine immediately when the cycle finishes (don't let it sit wet)
• Shake out the gi to remove wrinkles and help it lay flat
• Hang it on a sturdy hanger or drying rack
• Ensure good air circulation around the entire gi
• Avoid direct sunlight for colored gis (can fade the color)
• White gis can benefit from sun exposure (natural bleaching and freshening)

Drying time: Expect 24-48 hours depending on humidity and air circulation. Plan accordingly—if you train every day, you need multiple gis in rotation.

Pro tip: Use a fan pointed at your drying gi to speed up the process and improve air circulation.

Machine Drying (Use With Caution)

Machine drying will shrink your gi. That's not a maybe—it's a certainty. The question is how much shrinkage you're willing to accept.

If you must machine dry:

• Use the lowest heat setting (tumble dry low or air fluff)
• Remove the gi while it's still slightly damp (don't dry completely)
• Hang to finish air drying

Expect gradual shrinkage over time even with low heat.

When machine drying makes sense:

• You intentionally want to shrink a gi that's too large
• You only have one gi and train daily (sometimes you need it dry quickly)
• You live in a very humid climate where air drying takes too long

The reality check: Many grapplers machine dry their gis on low heat and accept the gradual shrinkage as the trade-off for convenience. Just know what you're signing up for and don't be surprised when your gi gets tighter over time.

Managing Shrinkage

All cotton gis will shrink to some degree, even with cold water washing and air drying. Here's how to manage it:

• Pre-shrinking a new gi: When you first get a new gi, wash it in cold water and air dry it 2-3 times before training in it. This allows natural shrinkage to occur before you've gotten used to the fit.
• Intentional shrinking: If your gi is too large, you can intentionally shrink it by washing in warm water and machine drying on medium heat. Do this gradually—one wash/dry cycle at a time—and try it on between cycles so you don't over-shrink it.
• Preventing excessive shrinkage: Stick to cold water, air drying, and removing it from the washer immediately. Don't let a wet gi sit in the washing machine for hours—this creates wrinkles and can contribute to shrinkage when you finally dry it.

Common Gi Washing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Let's cover the mistakes that damage gis or leave them smelling funky, even after washing.

Mistake #1: Leaving Your Gi in the Gym Bag

The error: Training ends, you toss your sweaty gi in your bag, and it sits there overnight (or for days) before you wash it.

Why it's bad: A dark, enclosed gym bag full of sweaty gear is the perfect environment for odor-causing buildup. Once that sour smell sets into your gi, it's incredibly difficult to remove.

The fix: Remove your gi from your bag immediately when you get home. At minimum, hang it to air out. Ideally, wash it right away. If you can't wash it immediately, apply a hygiene spray to buy yourself some time.

How Many Gis Do You Actually Need?

This is a practical question that affects your washing routine: if you only have one gi and train 4-5 times per week, you're going to struggle with proper gi care.

Minimum recommendation based on training frequency:

• Train 1-2 times per week: One gi is manageable (wash immediately after each training)
• Train 3-4 times per week: Two gis minimum (allows proper air drying time)
• Train 5+ times per week: Three gis minimum (essential for rotation)
• Compete or attend seminars: Add one extra gi as a backup

Having multiple gis in rotation eliminates the pressure to machine dry, prevents rushing the washing process, and ensures you always have a clean gi ready. It's an investment in proper hygiene and gi longevity.

Special Gi Care Situations

Competition Gis and White Gis

• Wash separately from colored gis or clothing
• Occasional use of oxygen-based bleach (not chlorine bleach) can help maintain brightness
• Sun drying naturally brightens white gis
• Treat any stains immediately—they're much more visible on white fabric

Brand New Gi: First Wash

When you get a new gi, follow this first-wash protocol:

• Wash in cold water by itself (some gis release dye, especially darker colors)
• Skip detergent or use minimal amount on first wash
• Air dry completely
• Wash 2-3 more times before training to allow natural shrinkage to occur

Then wash as normal before each training session.

Tournament or Travel Situations

• Bring multiple gis if possible (one per session)
• If you must re-use a gi, apply hygiene spray between matches and hang to air
• Never wear a wet gi from an earlier session—let it dry or use a fresh one
• Wash all tournament gis as soon as you return home

Building Your Gi Care Routine

Let's put all of this together into a simple, repeatable routine:

Immediately After Training:

• Remove gi and apply hygiene spray to inside surface and high-sweat areas
• Place in gym bag (or carry separately if going straight home)
• When you arrive home, remove from bag immediately

Washing Process:

• Shake out gi and check for stains (treat if needed)
• Optional: vinegar pre-soak for 30 minutes if odor is developing
• Load into washing machine (by itself or with other athletic gear only)
• Add minimal detergent (half the recommended amount)
• Cold water, normal cycle, extra rinse
• Start wash immediately

Drying Process:

• Remove from washer as soon as cycle finishes
• Shake out wrinkles
• Hang on sturdy hanger with good air circulation
• Use fan if available to speed drying
• Allow 24-48 hours to fully dry

Between Training Sessions:

• Store clean, dry gi in a well-ventilated area (not stuffed in a closed bag)
• Inspect periodically for any wear, tears, or developing odor issues
• Keep rotation of 2-3 gis if training frequently

Products That Support Proper Gi Care

While proper washing technique is most important, having the right products makes gi care easier and more effective:

For Immediate Post-Training Treatment:

Body and gear spray designed for athletes helps address sweat and odor before your gi sits in a gym bag. Look for formulas with natural ingredients like witch hazel that work on both skin and gear, rather than harsh alcohol-only sprays that damage fabric over time.

How to use: Spray the entire inside surface of your gi immediately after training, focusing on collar, underarms, back, and crotch areas. One 8oz bottle provides 1,000+ sprays and lasts 3-6 months with regular use.

For Hand-Washing or Spot Treatment:

Natural bar soap made with cold-process methods and botanical ingredients provides thorough cleansing without harsh chemicals. Many grapplers keep a bar for pre-treating gi collars, cuffs, or particularly sweaty areas before machine washing.

Available in three formulations:

• Coconut + Mango: Tropical scent with mango seed butter
• Sandalwood + Bourbon: Warm, woodsy scent with cocoa seed butter
• Original: Classic formulation with sea salt and pumice for extra texture

For Your Post-Training Hygiene:

Remember, gi care is only part of proper training hygiene. Your personal cleansing routine matters just as much. Following the 4-hour hygiene window for post-training showers helps maintain skin health and prevents issues that no amount of gi washing can address.

When to Retire a Gi

Even with perfect care, gis don't last forever. Here's when it's time to retire a gi:

• Permanent odor that won't wash out: If you've tried vinegar soaks, enzyme treatments, and everything else and your gi still smells after washing, it's done
• Fabric integrity issues: Significant thinning, multiple tears, holes that keep getting bigger
• Shrinkage beyond usability: If your gi has shrunk so much that sleeves are halfway up your forearms and pants are at mid-calf, it's time
• Competition compliance: If you compete, check that your gi still meets size regulations (sleeve and pant length requirements)

A well-maintained gi can last 3-5 years of regular training. A poorly maintained gi might only last 6-12 months. The difference is almost entirely in how you wash and dry it.

Final Thoughts: Respect Your Gear, Respect Your Training Partners

Proper gi care isn't complicated, but it does require consistency and discipline—the same qualities that make you better at jiu-jitsu.

The basics never change:

• Wash your gi immediately after training
• Use cold water and minimal detergent
• Air dry whenever possible
• Address odor problems immediately
• Treat stains right away
• Keep multiple gis in rotation if you train frequently

Your gi is your uniform. It represents your commitment to the art, your respect for your training partners, and your personal standards as a martial artist. Taking care of it properly is a small but meaningful way to show that you take your training seriously.

A clean, well-maintained gi that smells fresh and fits properly makes training more enjoyable for everyone on the mats. And that's worth the extra effort of doing your laundry correctly.