How to Maintain Your BJJ Gi and Keep it Fresh

A dirty BJJ gi isn't just your problem. You train on top of other people, get grabbed, sweat, and spend an hour or more in close contact with your teammates. Showing up in a clean gi is part of being a good training partner.

The basic rule is simple: wash your BJJ gi after every training session and don't leave it wet in your gym bag.

I've spent enough years around jiu-jitsu to know that gi funk can get out of control fast. Sometimes the problem isn't that someone refuses to wash their gi. They're washing it, but they're leaving it in the bag too long, letting it stay damp, using the wrong products, or not getting it completely dry before training again.

In this guide, we'll go through how to wash a BJJ gi, how to deal with odor, what can shorten the life of your gi, and when it's probably time to replace it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Washing Your BJJ Gi

1. Don't Leave Your Gi in Your Gym Bag

Get your gi out of your bag as soon as you can after training. A sweaty gi sitting balled up in a warm, closed gym bag is exactly what you don't want.Ideally, wash it when you get home. If you can't wash it immediately, take it out of the bag and hang it somewhere with airflow until you're ready to wash it.

2. Check the Care Instructions

Before deciding on water temperature or putting your gi in the dryer, check the manufacturer's care instructions.Don't assume every BJJ gi should be treated exactly the same. Fabric, construction, color, and whether the gi is preshrunk can affect how it should be washed and dried.

3. Wash Your Gi After Every Training Session

If you trained in it, wash it.Don't hang up a sweaty gi and plan on wearing it for another class. Even if it doesn't smell bad yet, it has been exposed to sweat, skin, and the mats throughout training.

4. Use a Normal Laundry Detergent

Use an appropriate amount of laundry detergent for your machine and load. More detergent doesn't automatically mean a cleaner gi, and detergent buildup isn't something you want trapped in the fabric.Be cautious with bleach and other harsh products unless the gi manufacturer's care instructions specifically allow them.

5. Dry It Completely Before Wearing or Storing It

However you dry your gi, make sure it is completely dry before you put it away or wear it again.If you air-dry your gi, give it plenty of airflow. If the manufacturer allows machine drying, follow the recommended settings. Heat can cause shrinkage in some gis, so don't throw a gi into a hot dryer without knowing how the fabric will react.

How to Get Odor Out of a BJJ Gi

If your gi still smells after a normal wash, don't immediately assume it's ruined. First, look at your routine.A gi that sits sweaty in a gym bag for hours is much harder to keep fresh than one that gets washed or aired out soon after class. The same goes for a gi that gets put away before it's completely dry.

If odor keeps coming back:

• Get the gi out of your bag immediately after training.

• Wash it after every class.

• Make sure you're using the correct amount of detergent for your washing machine.

• Give the gi enough room in the washer to actually get clean.

• Make sure it dries completely before storing or wearing it.

• Check the gi's care instructions before trying additional laundry products or treatments.

Sometimes you become used to the smell of your own gear. If you're genuinely not sure whether your gi smells, ask a training partner you trust. Better yet, ask two.If they're both making the same face, you have your answer.

How to Make Your BJJ Gi Last Longer

BJJ gis take a beating. They're pulled, twisted, soaked in sweat, washed constantly, and dragged across the mats. You can't prevent normal wear, but you can keep it from getting worse.

A few habits can help:

Rotate your gis. If you train several times a week, rotating between multiple gis spreads the training and washing cycles across your gear instead of putting everything on one gi.

Don't let a wet gi sit around. Whether it's sweaty from class or damp from the wash, give it airflow.

Follow the care label. Follow the manufacturer's washing and drying recommendations, especially regarding heat and shrinkage.

Make sure it is completely dry before storing it. Don't fold a damp gi and put it in a drawer, closet, or gym bag.

Watch high-wear areas. Check the collar, cuffs, knees, seams, and other areas that take repeated stress.

If you're training often enough that laundry is becoming a constant problem, read our guide on how many BJJ gis you should own.

Common BJJ Gi Washing Mistakes

Most gi-care problems don't come from one terrible wash. They usually come from small habits repeated over time.

Leaving your gi in your gym bag.
Don't let a sweaty gi sit balled up for hours. Wash it when you can, or at least get it out of the bag and give it some airflow.

Skipping washes.
If you trained in your gi, wash it before wearing it again. Hanging up a sweaty gi and letting it dry doesn't clean it.

Ignoring the care label.
Don't assume every gi can handle the same water temperature, dryer settings, bleach, stain treatments, or other laundry products.

Using too much detergent.
More detergent doesn't automatically mean cleaner gear. Follow your detergent and washing machine recommendations.

Overloading the washer.
Your gi needs enough room for the washer to do its job. Stuffing a heavy gi into an already packed machine isn't doing your gear any favors.

Putting your gi away damp.
Make sure the jacket and pants are completely dry before folding, storing, or putting them back in your gym bag.

When Is It Time to Replace Your BJJ Gi?

A BJJ gi doesn't need to look brand new to keep training in it. Fading, normal wear, and a few stains don't automatically mean it's finished.

What matters more is whether the gi is still clean, structurally sound, fits well, and suits how you use it.

It may be time to retire a gi when:

• The fabric is becoming thin or tearing, especially around high-stress areas.
• Seams or reinforced areas are failing, and repairs are no longer practical.
• The collar, cuffs, or knees are badly worn.
• The gi no longer fits correctly because of shrinkage or changes in your body.
• A persistent odor remains after proper washing and drying, and you can't get the gi back to a condition you'd feel comfortable wearing with a training partner.

And here's one thing that doesn't automatically mean your gi needs replacing: a stain.

BJJ gear gets used. If a clean, structurally sound training gi has a permanent mark, that doesn't suddenly make it useless.

If your current gi really has reached the end of its life, you can browse our Toro BJJ gis to find a replacement.

Keep Your Gi Clean and Be a Good Training Partner

Taking care of your BJJ gi doesn't need to be complicated.

Wash it after every training session, don't leave it sitting wet in your gym bag, follow the care instructions for your specific gi, and make sure it's completely dry before you wear or store it.

Most importantly, remember that you're not the only person who has to deal with your gear. Jiu-jitsu is a close-contact sport. Keeping your gi clean shows respect for your teammates and your gym.

And if you're ever wondering whether your gi smells bad, ask somebody you trust.

If they hesitate before answering, you probably already know the answer.

And don't forget about your belt. Your BJJ belt gets exposed to the same sweat and training environment as the rest of your gear, so it needs regular cleaning too. Follow your belt's care instructions, and make sure it's completely dry before putting it back in your gym bag.

If you need a new belt for your next promotion, you can browse our adult and youth Toro BJJ belts.