Washing Your GI
Gi wash before first use
The following is highly recommended for coloured Gi before first use and can be repeated every 3-4 months during heavy use.
- Fill a laundry tub or large container/bin with 7 to 8ltrs of cold water.
- Add 2-3 cups of white or brown vinegar to the water and mix the water.
- Turn your Gi inside out, placing the Gi into the water solution push the fabric under a few times to remove air pockets until the fabric is close to fully submerged.
- Allow the Gi to soak for 24Hrs.
- Remove from water vinegar solution, ringing as much of the solution out as possible.
- Place in washing machine with quality gentle detergent, wash on cold cycle.
- When drying, hang in a warm spot directly out of direct sunlight (direct sunlight will bleach and speed up decay of the Gi material.
Removing bad smells from Gi’s
To remove bad Odor or Gi funk from your uniform, follow these steps:
- Keep your Gi in the freezer a night before washing, this will kill any bacteria. (Make sure it is inside out)
- Use a quality laundry detergent.
- Add a cup of white vinegar to the wash.
- If there is still a funky smell coming from your Gi, repeat steps 1-3!
- Hang up your Gi in a warm and dry place after washing out of direct sunlight.
Looking after your Gi once in training cycle
Follow these steps for the long Gevity of your Gi.
- Wash your Gi immediately after training, limit the time it sits in your bag or on the floor in a wet sweaty smelly pile. Washing it immediately helps to reduce odours (bacteria) by limiting the amount of time the fabric fibres absorb sweat from multiple training partners.
- The age-old question, to wash a belt or not wash a belt. Some say always wash your belt because it too absorbs sweat and can become smelly!
Simply hang your belt up to dry when you get home. No, it doesn’t need to be washed, but can be if desired. - When stains appear on your Gi, massage a stain remover until soap bubbles or a paste appears on the fabric. (Don’t use a brush or anything abrasive as it will damage the material). If the stains are still present after washing, submerge the Gi overnight in a bucket filled with cold water and diluted stain remover. Or apply a small amount of white vinegar to the stain affected area.
- Avoid bleach. This will likely weaken the fabric fibres in a Gi and strip colours from the fabric.
- Turn your Gi inside out before washing. This can preserve the colours, patches and the overall condition of the outside of your Gi.
- Wash in cold water on a gentle setting. Washing in warm or hot temperatures can shrink your Gi (even pre-shrunk Gi’s!) and/or damage the collar, so wash the Gi using a cold temperature.
- When possible, always wash your Gi separately (Not with other clothes)
- Always use quality or mild detergent without softener. Using these types of detergents will avoid the effects harsher (commercial) detergents have on the fabric and will help your Gi last longer.
How to dry a BJJ Gi
- Remove your Gi from the wash immediately. This helps to reduce the chance of your Gi smelling.
- Hang to dry your Gi out of sight of direct sunlight.
- Do not putting your Gi in a tumble dryer! tumble drying will stress out the fabric, and warm/hot temperatures can and will shrink your Gi and warp the collar.
- Avoid direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can dry out your Gi fabric and reduce its overall durability by breaking down the material.
- To speed up drying, use a fan. If you need to speed up drying, consider hanging the Gi in a room with a fan.
- Do not iron a Gi. This can damage or ruin your fabric and patches. Instead fold your Gi and use your hand to smooth out any wrinkles before making folds.
