How to Wash
a BJJ Gi
the Right Way

There’s always one person at the gym whose gi you can smell from across the mat. Don’t be that person.

The thing is, it’s usually not because they don’t wash it. They do. They’re just doing it wrong. They let it sit in a bag overnight, or they wash it in a full load with jeans and towels, or they’ve been drying it on high heat and now the sleeves stop halfway up their forearms.

Here’s how to actually take care of a gi so it lasts and doesn’t smell.

The Short Version

• Wash it after every single class
• Cold water
• Hang dry. No dryer.
• Don’t let it sit wet, ever

If you do those four things, you’re ahead of half the gym. The rest of this is the why and the fixes for when things go wrong.

Step 1: Get It Out of the Bag Fast

This is where most smell problems start. A wet gi zipped up in a bag is basically a petri dish. Bacteria loves warm, damp cotton.

As soon as you get home, pull it out. If you can’t wash it right away, at least hang it up somewhere it can air out. Even better, toss it in the wash that night.

Step 2: Wash It Cold

Most gis are cotton, and cotton shrinks with heat. Cold water cleans it fine with a decent detergent.

A few other things that help:

• Turn it inside out. Protects the patches and the outer fabric.
• Tie the pants drawstring. Otherwise it can slip out of the waistband in the wash and you’ll spend 20 minutes with a safety pin threading it back in.
• Don’t overload the machine. Gis are heavy when wet. They need room to actually move around and get clean.
• Skip fabric softener. It can leave a coating on the fabric that traps odor and makes it worse over time.

Step 3: Hang Dry It

This is the big one. The dryer is what shrinks gis. A lot of gis are pre-shrunk, but “pre-shrunk” doesn’t mean it won’t shrink at all on high heat.

Hang it on a hanger or over a drying rack. Outside in the sun is great if you can, since sunlight helps with odor too. Inside near a fan works. A thick gi can take most of a day to fully dry, so plan around it.

What If It Still Smells After Washing?

If you pull your gi out of the wash and it smells fine, but the second you start sweating in it that funk comes right back, the bacteria is living deep in the fabric. A normal wash isn’t killing it.

Try this:

1. Fill a tub or a big bucket with cold water.
2. Add about a cup or two of white vinegar.
3. Let the gi soak for an hour or so.
4. Wash it normally after.
5. Hang it in the sun if you can.

Some people swear by a sports detergent made for workout clothes. Those work too. Either way, the real fix is the habit: never let it sit wet.

Don’t Forget the Belt

There’s an old idea that you’re not supposed to wash your belt because it “washes away the knowledge.” It’s a fun story. It’s also gross. Your belt touches the same mats and the same sweat as your gi.

Wash it. Cold, hang dry, same as the gi. Your training partners will thank you.

Why a Second Gi Helps

If you’re training three or more times a week, one gi is going to be a problem. It won’t be dry in time for the next class, and you’ll be tempted to throw it in the dryer or wear it a little damp.

A second gi takes the pressure off. It doesn’t need to be expensive. A solid beginner gi works fine as your backup.

01 / SOLID SECOND GIBeginner Favorite

Fuji All-Around Gi

Fuji Sports

• Single weave, dries faster than heavier gis
• Holds up to lots of washing
• Size up if you’re between sizes

Check Price on Amazon →

This is the same gi I recommend in the best beginner gi guide. It’s a good first gi and an even better second one.

Bottom Line

Wash after every class. Cold water. Hang dry. Never leave it wet in a bag. If it still smells, soak it in vinegar. And if you’re training a lot, pick up a second gi so you’re not rushing the drying.