How to Wash a BJJ Gi: The Complete Washing Guide

Your BJJ gi is exposed to sweat, bacteria, fungi, and close skin-to-skin contact every time you step on the mats. Without proper washing, these microorganisms multiply rapidly and create real health risks for you and your training partners.

Hygiene and infection prevention: Skin infections are a genuine concern in grappling sports. Research published in the Journal of Athletic Training shows that combat sport athletes face elevated rates of skin infections including ringworm (tinea), staph, and impetigo. Studies on wrestlers — whose skin contact is comparable to BJJ — found fungal infection prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 77% depending on the study population. MRSA colonisation among contact sport athletes has been measured at around 6% in pooled analyses, with wrestling showing rates as high as 22%. While not all colonisation leads to active infection, an unwashed gi is a breeding ground for these pathogens.

Gi longevity: Proper washing technique directly affects how long your gi lasts. Washing in cold water, avoiding harsh chemicals, and air drying can keep a quality gi in rotation for years. Neglect the care routine and you will notice fabric breakdown, colour fading, and weakened stitching much sooner.

Performance and grip: A clean gi maintains its intended grip characteristics. Residue buildup from sweat, detergent, or fabric softener changes how the fabric handles, affecting both your grip and your opponent's ability to grip you fairly.

Training partner respect: Nobody wants to roll with someone whose gi smells. It is basic mat etiquette — a smelly gi is disrespectful to your training partners and your academy. The IBJJF rulebook explicitly requires competitors to present clean, odour-free gis at weigh-in.

For a broader look at gi fabrics and how they affect care, see our BJJ gi materials guide.

What you do in the first hour after training makes a significant difference. Bacteria thrive in warm, damp environments — a sweaty gi stuffed into a sealed gym bag is the ideal breeding ground. Studies on textile contamination show bacterial populations can double every 20–30 minutes in warm, moist conditions. Within a few hours, your gi can go from slightly damp to genuinely hazardous.

As soon as you get home:

• Remove the gi from your bag immediately
• Hang it up or spread it out to allow airflow
• If you can wash it straight away, do so — this is always the best option

If you cannot wash immediately:

• Hang in a well-ventilated area — never leave it bundled up
• Spray with a 1:1 white vinegar and water solution to inhibit bacterial growth
• Place it in the washing machine drum (lid open) ready for the next wash cycle

Pre-treatment for visible stains:

• Blood: Rinse immediately under cold water — never use hot water on blood as heat sets protein stains permanently
• Sweat marks: Soak the affected areas in cold water with a tablespoon of baking soda
• Mat transfer marks: Gently scrub with a soft brush and cold water

For heavily soiled gis, a 30-minute cold water soak before washing helps loosen dirt and sweat buildup. For more detailed stain advice, read our complete stain removal guide.

The washing machine is the most practical way to clean your gi after each session. Follow these steps for the best results:

Step 1 — Turn your gi inside out. This protects any patches, embroidery, and the outer surface from pilling and abrasion during the wash cycle.

Step 2 — Set the temperature to cold (30°C maximum). Cotton begins to shrink noticeably at temperatures above 40°C, with significant shrinkage occurring at 60°C and above. Keeping the wash at 30°C or below virtually eliminates shrinkage risk. For more on this, see our BJJ gi shrinkage guide.

Step 3 — Add your detergent. A standard liquid or powder detergent works perfectly well. Sport-specific detergents are designed to break down sweat and body oils more effectively, but they are not essential for every wash.

Step 4 — Use the correct amount of detergent. Follow the dosage on the packaging. Over-using detergent causes residue buildup in the fabric, which traps odours and irritates skin.

Step 5 — DO NOT add fabric softener. This is critical. Fabric softener coats the fibres with a waxy residue that reduces the fabric's absorbency, weakens the cotton over time, and makes the gi slippery — which affects grip during training.

Step 6 — Select your cycle. A gentle or normal cycle is sufficient for routine washing. Use a heavy-duty cycle only for gis that are particularly dirty or have been soaked beforehand.

Step 7 — Wash alone or with similar items. A gi is heavy, especially when wet. Wash it alone or with other gis and athletic wear only — never with delicate clothing that could be damaged by the gi's weight.

Step 8 — Run the cycle.

Step 9 — Remove immediately after the cycle finishes. Do not leave a wet gi sitting in the drum. Dampness promotes bacterial growth and can cause musty odours to set in within hours.

Hand washing is useful when travelling, staying somewhere without a washing machine, or caring for a particularly delicate or expensive gi. It is more labour-intensive but equally effective when done properly.

1. Fill a bathtub or large basin with cold water
2. Add a standard dose of liquid detergent and mix until dissolved
3. Submerge the gi fully and press it down to ensure it is completely saturated
4. Agitate gently for 5–10 minutes, paying extra attention to the collar, armpit areas, and crotch — these areas accumulate the most sweat and bacteria
5. Drain the soapy water
6. Refill with clean cold water and rinse the gi thoroughly — repeat until no soap remains
7. Squeeze out excess water by pressing the gi firmly — do not wring or twist, as this can stretch and distort the fabric
8. Roll the gi in a large dry towel and press to absorb additional moisture
9. Hang to air dry

Hand washing is also a good option for pre-shrunk gis that you want to treat with extra care. For drying instructions after hand washing, see our complete drying guide.

After every single training session. This is non-negotiable. Wearing the same gi to two sessions without washing is unhygienic and disrespectful to your training partners.

If you train multiple times per day, you need either multiple gis or the ability to wash and dry between sessions. Most regular BJJ practitioners own between 2 and 4 gis. Owning at least two allows you to rotate while one dries, and three is ideal if you train more than three times per week.

Why rotation matters:

• Each gi gets adequate drying time between sessions (especially important in the UK climate)
• Fabric wears more evenly across multiple gis, extending the lifespan of each
• You always have a clean, dry backup ready

Competition gis should be washed after every match day, even if you only competed in one or two matches. Sweat, stress, and adrenaline mean competition gis often need more thorough cleaning than training gis.

Looking for your next gi? Browse our best BJJ gis available in the UK.

Avoiding common mistakes is just as important as following the correct steps. Here is what to steer clear of:

• Hot water (40°C+): Causes shrinkage and can permanently set stains — especially protein-based stains like blood
• Bleach on coloured gis: Chlorine bleach destroys both fabric integrity and colour. Only use diluted bleach on white gis, and sparingly
• Fabric softener: Coats fibres, reduces durability, traps bacteria, and makes the gi slippery
• Leaving wet in a gym bag: Bacteria and mould thrive in warm, sealed, damp environments. Your gym bag after training is their paradise
• Washing with regular clothes: A wet gi is extremely heavy and can damage lighter garments in the same load
• Too much detergent: Excess detergent leaves residue in the fabric that traps odours and irritates skin
• Ironing: Unnecessary for gi fabric and can damage patches and embroidery
• Dry cleaning: The chemicals used in dry cleaning can damage gi fabric, weaken stitching, and affect the cotton's natural properties

Prevention is always easier than cure when it comes to gi odour. Build these habits into your routine and you should rarely face a smelly gi:

Prevention:

• Wash immediately after every training session
• Air dry fully before storing — never store a damp gi
• Store in a ventilated area, not a sealed bag or airtight container
• Rotate between multiple gis to allow complete drying between uses

Treating stains before they set is far more effective than trying to remove them after washing and drying. Here are the most common stain types in BJJ and how to handle them:

Different gi colours require slightly different care approaches to maintain their appearance over time.

Proper drying is just as important as proper washing. Here are the key points:

• Air drying is always preferred — hang on a sturdy hanger or drying rack
• Avoid direct sunlight for coloured gis (causes fading)
• Direct sunlight is beneficial for white gis (natural bleaching)
• Tumble dryer on low or no-heat setting only if absolutely necessary — expect some shrinkage
• In the UK, indoor drying is the norm for much of the year. Invest in a good drying rack and consider using a dehumidifier or fan to speed up drying in winter

Recommended drying racks for gi weight include the SONGMICS 4-Tier Airer (41kg capacity, approximately £28–£35 on Amazon UK) and the Argos Home 20m 3-Tier Jumbo Airer (19kg capacity, approximately £25–£30).

For the full guide on drying techniques, including quick-dry methods for UK weather, read our complete gi drying guide.