How to Remove Stains from Your BJJ Gi

If you train BJJ regularly, your gi will encounter blood (yours or your training partner's), sweat stains that build up over time, marks transferred from training mats, and dye that bleeds from coloured belts. The key principle across all stain types is the same: act quickly. Fresh stains are dramatically easier to remove than set-in ones.

Different stain types require different treatment approaches. Protein-based stains (blood, sweat) need cold water and enzyme cleaners. Dye-based stains need oxygen bleach and colour catchers. Using the wrong method — particularly hot water on blood — can make a stain permanent.

White gis show every stain but are the easiest to treat because you can use stronger products. Coloured gis hide stains better but require gentler methods to avoid fading or bleach spots.

Stain prevention starts with proper washing habits. If you have not already, read our complete gi washing guide.

Blood is the most frequent stain you will encounter in BJJ. Whether from a split lip, a scraped knuckle, or a training partner's cut, blood stains need immediate attention.

The critical rule: cold water only, immediately. Blood is a protein-based stain. Heat denatures the proteins and bonds them permanently to cotton fibres. Once a blood stain has been exposed to hot water or a hot dryer, it becomes extremely difficult — sometimes impossible — to remove.

What causes them: Friction with training mats transfers rubber, foam compounds, or mat dye onto gi fabric. These grey or dark marks typically appear on the knees, shoulders, and back of the gi.

Prevention: Mat cleanliness plays a role — academies with well-maintained mats produce fewer transfer stains. There is not much you can do individually beyond treating stains promptly after training.

Removal method:

1. Pre-treat the stained area with a sport detergent or stain remover — apply directly to the mark and work in gently with a soft brush
2. Leave the product on the stain for 15–30 minutes
3. Wash at the recommended temperature (30°C)

For stubborn mat stains:

1. Dissolve a scoop of Vanish Oxi Action in warm water (follow the packaging instructions for soak concentration)
2. Submerge the stained area and soak for 1–2 hours
3. Wash normally
4. Repeat if necessary — mat transfer can be persistent

Yellow discolouration is caused by body oils and sweat compounds reacting with cotton fibres over time. It is most visible on white gis, particularly in the collar, underarm, and upper back areas. This is a cumulative problem — each training session adds a small amount of residue that builds up if not properly managed.

Prevention (easier than removal):

• Wash your gi after every single training session — do not let sweat dry into the fabric
• Apply a baking soda paste to the collar and underarm areas before each wash as a preventative measure
• Use a biological detergent, which contains enzymes that break down sweat proteins

Removal for white gis:

• Vinegar and baking soda soak: Mix 250ml white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda in a basin of cold water. Submerge the yellowed areas and soak for 2–4 hours, then wash normally.
• Vanish Oxi Action soak: Dissolve a scoop of Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White (approximately £3.50 for 470g or £12–£15 for 1.9kg from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, or Morrisons) in warm water. Soak the gi overnight. This is highly effective for accumulated yellowing.
• Hydrogen peroxide spot treatment: Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide directly to the yellowed areas, leave for 30 minutes, then wash.

For coloured gis: Yellowing is less visible but still occurs. Use the vinegar and baking soda method, which is safe for all colours. Avoid hydrogen peroxide and oxygen bleach on dark gis unless you have tested on a hidden area first.

Over time, even regularly washed gis can develop a general grey or dingy appearance. This is caused by accumulated dirt, oils, detergent residue, and mineral deposits from hard water — common in many UK regions.

Restoration methods:

• Deep clean with sport-specific detergent: Products like Halo Proactive Sports Wash (approximately £8–£10 on Amazon UK) are designed to break down embedded sweat and oils that regular detergent misses.
• Oxygen bleach soak: For white gis, dissolve Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White or Astonish Oxy Plus (approximately £1–£2 from Poundland or Home Bargains) in warm water and soak for 4–8 hours. Then wash normally at 30°C.
• Vinegar rinse cycle: Add 250ml white vinegar to the rinse cycle to dissolve mineral buildup from hard water. This is particularly useful if you live in a hard water area (London, South East, East Anglia).
• Pure sodium percarbonate: Available in bulk from Amazon UK for approximately £5–£10 per kilogram, this is the active ingredient in Vanish and OxiClean without the fillers. Dissolve 2–3 tablespoons in warm water and soak for several hours. More concentrated and more cost-effective than branded products.

When discolouration is permanent: Very old stains that have been heat-set through repeated tumble drying or hot washing may not come out completely. Prevention through consistent cold washing and prompt stain treatment is the best approach. For tips on how drying affects stains, see our gi drying guide.

Coloured belts — especially blue, purple, and brown — can bleed dye onto a white gi during washing or even during training from sweat and friction.

Prevention:

• Wash your belt separately from your gi for the first 3–5 washes
• Always use cold water — heat accelerates dye release
• Some practitioners soak new belts in cold water with 250ml white vinegar before first use to help set the dye
• Use a colour catcher sheet in the wash — these absorb loose dye from the water before it transfers to other items

Recommended colour catchers available in the UK:

• Dylon Colour Catcher — The most widely available brand. Approximately £2.50–£4.00 for a pack of 10–24 sheets. Stocked in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Boots, and Superdrug.
• Dr. Beckmann Colour & Dirt Collector — Similar product, available from most UK supermarkets for approximately £2.50–£3.50 for a pack of 10–12 sheets.
• Supermarket own-brand versions — Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Asda all stock their own colour catcher sheets at lower price points.

Treating existing dye transfer:

1. Rinse immediately in cold water
2. Soak the affected area in a Vanish Oxi Action solution for 1–2 hours
3. Wash normally — the sooner you treat dye transfer, the better your chances of full removal

Here is a summary of the most effective and widely available stain removal products for BJJ gis in the UK, organised by category:

Enzyme-based cleaners (best for blood and protein stains):

• Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils — Blood, Milk & Ice Cream: Approximately £2.50–£3.50 per bottle. Available from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Wilko, and Amazon UK.
• Bio One Enzymatic Cleaner: Made in Britain, uses natural enzymes. Available on Amazon UK for approximately £5–£8.
• Biokleen Bac-Out Stain & Odour Remover: Plant-based enzyme formula. Available on Amazon UK for approximately £8–£12.

Oxygen-based bleach (best for general discolouration and yellowing — safe for whites and colours):

• Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White (powder): The UK standard for oxygen bleach. Approximately £3.50 for 470g or £12–£15 for 1.9kg. All major supermarkets.
• Vanish Oxi Action Colours: Colour-safe version for blue and black gis. Same price range.
• Astonish Oxy Plus: Budget alternative, approximately £1–£2 from Poundland, Home Bargains, and B&M.
• Pure sodium percarbonate: The active ingredient without fillers. Approximately £5–£10 per kg from Amazon UK. Most cost-effective for regular use.

Household essentials:

• Hydrogen peroxide (3%): Approximately £1–£3 per 200ml bottle from Boots, Superdrug, or Amazon UK. Effective on blood stains and safe for white gis.
• White vinegar: Under £1 per litre from any UK supermarket. Natural antimicrobial and deodoriser.
• Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda): Approximately £0.65–£1.50 per box from any UK supermarket. Gentle abrasive and odour neutraliser.

What NOT to use:

• Chlorine bleach on coloured gis: Will strip colour immediately and damage the fabric
• Fabric softener: Coats fibres, traps bacteria, and reduces absorbency — makes stains harder to remove in future washes

White gis require more attention to staining but benefit from being the easiest colour to treat. You have the widest range of products and methods available.

Routine maintenance:

• Monthly soaks in Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White or Astonish Oxy Plus keep whites bright and prevent gradual yellowing
• Hydrogen peroxide can be used liberally on white fabric without colour concerns
• Sun drying after washing provides a free, natural bleaching effect
• Always separate white gis from coloured gis and new coloured belts during washing

Restoration for severely discoloured white gis:

1. Fill a bathtub with warm water (not hot — you still want to avoid shrinkage)
2. Add a generous amount of Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White or 3–4 tablespoons of pure sodium percarbonate
3. Submerge the gi and soak for 4–8 hours or overnight
4. Wash normally at 30°C
5. Air dry in direct sunlight if possible

Avoid using chlorine bleach regularly — while it whitens effectively, it weakens cotton fibres with repeated use and can cause yellowing over time if used in excess.

Coloured gis require gentler stain treatment to avoid creating a worse problem than the stain itself — namely, bleach spots and accelerated fading.

Rules for coloured gi stain treatment:

• No chlorine bleach — ever. It will strip colour instantly and leave permanent white patches.
• No hydrogen peroxide unless you have tested it on a hidden area first (inside the collar hem or inside a seam). Some dark dyes react with peroxide.
• Always wash in cold water — heat accelerates colour fading beyond normal wear.
• Turn inside out before washing to protect the outer surface from abrasion and colour loss.

Safe stain treatment for coloured gis:

• Use Vanish Oxi Action Colours — specifically formulated for coloured fabrics. Safe for soaking and pre-treating without colour damage.
• White vinegar and baking soda methods are safe for all colours
• Enzyme cleaners (Dr. Beckmann, Bio One) are generally colour-safe
• The salt paste method for blood stains is gentle enough for any colour

Accept that some fading is inevitable with coloured gis over time, regardless of care. Avoid sun drying coloured gis, as UV exposure accelerates fading. For more on gi colour rules in competition, see our BJJ gi colour rules guide.