Workout clothes get stinky after a while, and the gi is no exception. Training hard means sweating a lot, and that adds up over time!
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So how do you dry your gi? How do you keep it from getting stinky? Have you ever rolled with someone wearing a smelly gi?
I believe that no matter what, over time and regular use, your gi will inevitably develop a smell. However, you can take steps to delay it.
As you can see in the picture above, I hang my gi out to dry after every workout. I do the same with my belt, and contrary to some advice I’ve received, I also wash my belt.
One thing that I believe really speeds up the gi smelliness is using it multiple times without washing. I advise you to wash and dry your gi after every use. Don’t wear it to train more than once without washing it. If you do, it will probably get smelly.
I remember rolling with someone who clearly reused his gi. After a few minutes, I had to step away because the smell was pretty strong. We weren’t that close, so I didn’t say anything. I have an older gi that has a bit of musk to it, but it still smells clean. This other gi had that sort of smell you get when clothes sit damp in a hamper. Not pleasant.
Since I started training, I have purchased five gis, and a buddy gave me one that didn’t fit him anymore. I always use a fresh gi when I train. Also, you can find good gis for around $40 now. If you think they’re too expensive, I understand. But washing and drying your gi regularly only costs a couple of dollars.
You might think you can get away with using the same gi multiple times, but honestly, it ends up smelling bad and everyone can tell. Do your laundry and dry your gi after training.
I’ve seen some guys using sprays on their gis after training, saying it helps keep them bacteria-free, but I haven’t tried or researched those. If you have any tips, please share them below!
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