Everyone wants to talk about submissions, guard passing, and strength training. Almost nobody talks about what happens after class.
That’s a mistake.
If you train long enough, you’ll probably know someone who’s dealt with ringworm, staph, or impetigo. Spending a few extra minutes cleaning your gear is a lot easier than spending weeks off the mats.
I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for eight years and, thankfully, I’ve never had a skin infection. I can’t say this routine is the reason, but I can say it’s the routine I’ve followed after nearly every class. It takes about ten minutes before I continue with my day, and at this point it’s just part of training.
Dirty gear goes straight into the washer
I keep two bags with me every time I train.
One is my regular duffel bag that carries all of my gear. Inside that, I keep a separate laundry bag for anything that’s dirty. It’s one of those things I wish I’d bought years earlier. Instead of my entire gym bag smelling like sweaty gear, everything dirty stays contained until I get home.
As soon as I get home, the dirty gear comes out and goes straight into the washing machine. Whether it’s a gi or no-gi gear, I don’t let sweaty clothes sit overnight. The longer sweaty gear sits, the harder it is to get the smell out.
I add about one cup of white vinegar to the wash along with my normal detergent and start the cycle immediately.
The laundry bag goes into the washer and dryer with the rest of my gear every single time. Since all of my dirty gear stays contained inside that bag, my duffel stays surprisingly clean.
Before putting everything back together, I give the inside of my duffel bag a quick spray with my homemade gear spray. It’s just a little extra insurance to help keep everything smelling fresh.
Clean everything that touched your face
My mouth guard goes straight into a retainer cleaning solution. While that’s soaking, I wash the mouth guard case and my water bottle with soap and water.
These are easy things to overlook, but they’re also things that spend an hour or more in or around your mouth every class.
Wipe down your electronics
I wear a Fitcent heart rate monitor armband during training because chest straps just aren’t practical for Jiu Jitsu.
The fabric armband goes into the wash with the rest of my clothes, but the heart rate sensor gets sprayed down with Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner and wiped clean. I do the same thing with my phone since it’s usually covered in sweat by the end of class.
Spray down your flip flops
Before I head to the shower, I spray my flip flops and the inside of my duffel bag with my homemade gear spray.
Here’s the recipe I use:
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 10 drops tea tree oil
- 10 drops doTERRA On Guard
- Optional: 5 to 10 drops lavender or eucalyptus oil
I give the bottle a quick shake before each use and lightly spray everything down.
Then I shower
The last thing I do is shower as soon as I get home.
By this point everything is either clean, soaking, or in the wash, and I don’t have to think about it again until the next day.
Get everything ready for the next class
My gi, belt, rash guard, and shorts all get hung to dry overnight. It takes a little longer, but I’d rather extend their life than throw everything in the dryer.
The next day I fold my gi, roll up my belt, pack my no-gi gear, put my clean mouth guard back in its case, reconnect my Fitcent heart rate monitor armband, and repack my gym bag.
When it’s time to leave for class, everything is already clean, organized, and ready to go.
Things I’d Never Do
There are a few habits I avoid completely.
- Walk barefoot off the mats.
- Especially into the bathroom and then back onto the mats.
- Leave sweaty gear sitting in your gym bag overnight.
- Wear a rash guard or gi twice without washing it.
- Skip washing your belt.
Yes, Wash Your Belt
This one always seems to spark debate.
Your belt spends the entire class dragging across the same mats as everyone else’s. It absorbs sweat, picks up dirt, and comes into contact with every surface your gi does. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be washed just like the rest of your gear.
I’ve heard people say they don’t wash their belt because they’ll “wash away their knowledge.”
You won’t.
You’ll wash away sweat and bacteria.
If your stripes fall off in the washing machine, put new athletic tape on. You know how many stripes you’ve earned.
Wash your belt.
None of this is complicated. It just became part of training.
I don’t think about brushing my teeth. I just do it.
Cleaning my gear is the same way.
Gear I Use
These are the products I’ve settled on after years of training. None of them are expensive, but they’ve all earned a permanent place in my gym bag.
Heavy-Duty Laundry Bag
Keeps all of my dirty gear contained inside my gym bag.
Fitcent Heart Rate Monitor Armband
I originally bought it because chest straps aren’t practical for Jiu Jitsu. It’s been the best option I’ve found for tracking heart rate while rolling.
Retainer Cleaning Tablets
I use these to soak my mouth guard after every class.
Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner
For wiping down my heart rate monitor sensor and phone.
Drying Rack
I use this to hang my gi, belt, rash guard, and shorts overnight.