Nobody wants to train with someone who doesn’t wash his or her gi. No only can it emit an unpleasant odor, but dirty gis are the number one cause for skin infections in BJJ. If you want to avoid contracting things like ringworm or staph, it’s highly recommended that you partake in healthy gi-washing habits. In the following sections, we’ll show you how to do this the right way.
Items That You Can Use
Here are some items that you can use to wash your Jiu-Jitsu gi:
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Lemons
- Dishwasher Detergent
Let’s look at a few of these individually.
Washing a Gi With Vinegar
Vinegar is designed to help freshen and whiten your gi. When using this substance, add exactly 1 cup of vinegar to your regular laundry detergent. Don’t place more this this amount. Don’t worry about the smell of vinegar in the beginning because your gi will definitely not come out smelling like that (it will actually smell close to brand new).
This is another amazing tool that you can use to freshen up a dirty gi. To use it, add a ½ cup of baking soda to some water and use the paste to apply directly to the areas on your gi that are stained. If the gi isn’t too badly stained, they should come out after a thorough wash.
Always Make Sure That Your Gi Dries Completely
Fungi thrive in moist environments. It’s for this reason that they are often found in sweaty gis. Even if you wash your gi with the best solution possible, it’s still likely that leftover fungi will remain. Because of this, make sure that you not only adequately dry your gi in the dryer, but that you also place it in the sun so that it can catch some UV radiation. This should help kill out any remaining fungi
What Can Happen If You Don’t Wash Your Gi?
First off, note that most quality academies require that their students wash their gis after each practice. If you can’t afford to wash your gi after each practice then you should definitely consider investing in a second gi (this will lessen the pressure of having to wash everyday). When you don’t wash your gi, you not only put yourself at risking for skin infections like staph or ringworm, but you also put your training partners at risk.