How to wash your gi
Wash your gi after every class. Use cold or cool water and a mild washing powder, then hang it up to dry. Hot water and a hot dryer can shrink a cotton gi.
Why you wash it every time
A sweaty gi grows bacteria and fungus. A dirty gi can help spread skin infections, like ringworm and staph. These infections can spread to your partners too. Read hygiene and skin infections.
Step by step
- Take the gi out of your bag as soon as you get home.
- Turn the jacket and trousers inside out.
- Wash with cold or cool water. Many gi labels say 30°C (86°F) or lower.
- Use a mild washing powder or liquid. Do not use bleach unless the label allows it.
- Hang the gi up to dry in the air, out of strong sun.
- Make sure it is fully dry before you wear it or pack it.
Hot or cold water?
Most gis are made of cotton. Hot water and a hot dryer make cotton shrink. That is why most gi makers say wash cool and air dry. Always read the label first.
The belt
Wash your belt too. Many people wash it less often than the gi, but it touches your partners as well. Wash it cool and let it air dry.
If your gi smells
- Wash it sooner after class.
- Make sure it dries fully, in a place with fresh air.
- Soak it in cool water with a cup of white vinegar before you wash it. Many people do this.
- Do not hide the smell with perfume. Clean it instead.
Jin trains on Monday and Tuesday. He has only one gi. On Monday night he washes it on a cool wash and hangs it near an open window. On Tuesday morning it is still damp, so he hangs it in a warm, dry room until class. Now he plans to buy a second gi.
Can I put my gi in the dryer?
Most gi makers say no, or only on low heat. Heat shrinks cotton. Air drying is safest.
How do I shrink a gi that is too big?
A warm wash and a dryer shrink cotton. Do it slowly, a little at a time, and check the fit after each wash.
Can I wear my gi twice before washing it?
No. Wash it after every session, even a short one.
What is the best way to dry a cotton gi?
Train it on the Path
The Before you roll unit turns this into short lessons: you see a position and pick the best move.