Washing your gi correctly is half the battle. The other half is what happens after it comes out of the wash — and what happens when it goes back into your bag.
Most gi damage that isn’t caused by training is caused by storage. Mildew from a damp gi left in a closed bag. Fabric breakdown from folding along the same crease for months. Color fading from exposure to sunlight. A gi that survives years of hard training can be ruined by two weeks of sitting in a closed bag after a sweaty session.
This guide covers both scenarios: the routine between sessions, and proper long-term storage for gis you’re not currently training in.
Short-Term Storage: Between Training Sessions
The Number One Rule: Never Leave a Damp Gi in a Closed Bag
This is where most gi damage happens. You finish training, roll your gi up, put it in your bag, drive home, and leave the bag in the car or by the door until the next session. By the time you unpack it, the smell is already set in and the mildew has started.
A damp gi in a closed bag is a perfect environment for bacteria and mold. The fabric retains heat and moisture, there’s no airflow, and the conditions are ideal for the kind of microbial growth that causes permanent odor — the kind that survives washing and never fully comes out.
The fix is simple: get the gi out of the bag as soon as you get home and hang it somewhere with airflow. It doesn’t need to be washed immediately — though washing after every session is the right practice — but it needs to be out of the bag and able to breathe.
Hang It, Don’t Fold It
A gi hanging on a wide hanger dries faster and maintains its shape better than one folded on a shelf or draped over a chair. Use a sturdy hanger with enough width to support the jacket’s shoulders without creating a point of stress at the shoulder seams. A wooden or padded hanger is better than a wire hanger, which can distort the shoulder line over time.
Hang the jacket and pants separately. Stacking them on the same hanger traps moisture between the layers.
Where to Hang It
Avoid direct sunlight. UV exposure fades colored gis — blue and black gis are particularly susceptible. A white gi in direct sun for extended periods will eventually yellow. Hang your gi somewhere with good airflow but out of direct sunlight.
A well-ventilated room or closet is ideal. A bathroom with a towel rail works if you leave the door open for airflow. A laundry room with good ventilation is fine. What doesn’t work is a closed closet with no airflow, the back of a door in a humid room, or anywhere with restricted circulation.
How Long Can You Leave It Between Washes?
After a training session, the gi should be washed before its next use. The sweat, skin cells, and mat bacteria that accumulate during training don’t disappear with drying — they remain in the fabric and continue to break it down. Training in an unwashed gi is also inconsiderate to training partners.
The one exception is a gi worn for a very light session — drilling without significant sweat output. In that case, hanging it to fully air out and wearing it once more before washing is reasonable, though washing after every training session remains the better practice.
Between Sessions: The Routine
The short version of correct between-session storage:
- Remove from bag immediately after returning home
- Hang jacket and pants separately on a sturdy hanger
- Hang in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight
- Wash before next use
- After washing, hang to dry fully before folding or storing
Do not put a gi away — folded on a shelf or back in the bag — until it is completely dry. Even slightly damp fabric in an enclosed space will develop mildew.
Long-Term Storage: Gis You’re Not Currently Training In
Long-term storage applies to gis you’re rotating out for a season, holding as backups, or keeping for sentimental reasons. The conditions that matter change slightly when a gi is going into storage for weeks or months rather than days.
Wash It First — Thoroughly
Never store a gi that hasn’t been recently washed. Residual sweat, skin oils, and bacteria left in the fabric will break down the fibers over time and create permanent odor that no amount of washing will fully remove. Before putting a gi into long-term storage, wash it as you normally would and confirm it is completely odor-free before folding.
Dry It Completely
This cannot be overstated. A gi going into long-term storage must be bone dry. Any residual moisture — even in the thick cotton weave of the collar and lapel — will develop mildew in a closed storage environment. After washing, hang the gi for at least 24 hours before checking for dryness. The collar and lapel are the last areas to dry fully; check these specifically before folding.
Fold Correctly
For long-term storage, a folded gi takes up significantly less space than a hanging gi and is appropriate since the gi won’t be going back on a hanger every few days. Fold neatly and avoid folding along the same crease every time — repeated stress along a single fold line will weaken the fabric there over time.
The simplest approach: fold the jacket in thirds lengthwise, then fold in half. Fold the pants in half lengthwise, then roll loosely rather than folding flat. Rolling the pants reduces sharp crease lines and is easier to fit in a storage container.
Storage Location
Cool, dry, and dark. The enemies of stored fabric are moisture, heat, and UV exposure. A cool closet or drawer away from exterior walls (which can conduct moisture) is ideal. Avoid attics and garages, which experience significant temperature and humidity variation.
Breathable storage, not airtight. A gi stored in an airtight plastic bin or sealed bag traps any residual moisture and creates a low-oxygen environment that can promote mildew if the gi isn’t perfectly dry. Use a breathable cotton storage bag, a pillowcase, or a loosely closed drawer. Cedar blocks placed near stored gis help repel insects and absorb moisture without sealing the fabric off from airflow.
Not on the floor. Floor-level storage is more susceptible to moisture transfer, particularly in basements or rooms with concrete floors. Store gis at least a shelf height off the floor.
How Long Can You Store a Gi?
A properly washed, fully dried gi stored in appropriate conditions will keep indefinitely without damage. There is no practical shelf life for a well-stored gi. Gis that are damaged in storage are almost always damaged by moisture — either from insufficient drying before storage or from a humid storage environment.
Common Storage Mistakes
Leaving a damp gi in a gear bag. The most common source of permanent gi odor. There is no recovery from mildew that has been allowed to establish itself fully in gi fabric.
Storing a gi that wasn’t washed before its last use. Training bacteria and sweat left in fabric over months of storage cause fiber breakdown and permanent odor. Always wash before long-term storage.
Hanging in direct sunlight to dry faster. Sunlight does dry fabric faster, but UV exposure fades and weakens the fibers over time. Use indirect light or airflow instead.
Folding a gi that isn’t completely dry. The collar and lapel are thick and hold moisture long after the rest of the gi feels dry. Check specifically before folding.
Using airtight containers for long-term storage. Any residual moisture in an airtight container has nowhere to go. Use breathable storage.
Gi Storage and Gear Bags
Your gear bag is not a storage location — it’s transport. A gi left in a gear bag between sessions, even a clean dry gi, is in a bag that retains bacteria and moisture from previous uses. Get the gi out of the bag when you get home.
If your bag itself has developed persistent odor from previous damp gis, washing the bag and leaving it open to air out fully before its next use is necessary. A bag that smells will transfer that smell to clean gear.
For more on keeping your gear bag clean and your gi in good condition, see the guide on how to wash your BJJ gi.
The right storage habits extend the life of your gi significantly. A gi that costs $60–150 and lasts three years with proper care costs less per session than one that’s replaced every year due to preventable damage.