Caring for boxing gloves: how to wash and get rid of the smell

Athletes involved in boxing and other mixed martial arts sooner or later face the problem of an unpleasant odor from boxing gloves, which appears after prolonged use. The smell appears due to the accumulation of sweat, dirt and various microorganisms and their waste products, primarily skin fungi.

If it is easy to deal with the smell of ordinary clothes, then in the case of this part of combat equipment it is more difficult. Getting your gloves wet can simply ruin them. To prevent this from happening, you need to use proven methods for caring for gloves.

Eliminate odor

You should not wash boxing gloves. It is better to try to eliminate the unpleasant odor in other ways.

Antiseptic

One of the simplest remedies is an antibacterial spray, which can be purchased at any sports store, or a common deodorant for shoes. Its contents should be sprayed inside the glove and the procedure repeated 2-3 times.

It is better to use an antiseptic a couple of hours before training to reduce the spray from coming into contact with the skin of your hands.

Vinegar

A cotton pad or piece of cotton wool should be soaked in 6 percent table vinegar or apple cider vinegar, then placed inside each glove and left for 2-12 hours. Then the tampon is removed, and the equipment should be left in the fresh air to ventilate. The vinegar smell will go away in a few days.

Tea

Place a dry tea bag in each glove at night. Instead, you can also use dried plants: oak bark, chamomile, mint or lavender, which must first be wrapped in gauze. These components have an antibacterial and drying effect.

Activated carbon

10 tablets are wrapped in cotton cloth or gauze and placed inside the equipment for 10-12 hours. During this time, the coal should absorb the unpleasant odor.

Soda or talc

2 teaspoons of baking soda, talcum powder or baby powder are poured into a fabric bag, after which it is placed in gloves. These bulk materials absorb odor and eliminate bacteria, so your gear should stop smelling.

Salt

This method involves soaking, so it should not be used frequently. 10 grams of salt are dissolved in a liter of warm water, after which the gloves are left in the liquid overnight.

Hydrogen peroxide

A bottle of peroxide is poured into the piece of equipment, shaken well and poured out. Then the equipment needs to be ventilated for 2-3 days.

Cold

To get rid of the smell in boxing gloves, experienced athletes recommend freezing. To do this, the equipment is wrapped in polyethylene and placed in the freezer for 8 hours. During this time, bacteria and fungi die, and the smell disappears. Then the product is dried for 1-2 days. It is worth noting that low temperatures damage the skin, so this method should not be used often.

You can also try using a shoe dryer. It can be replaced by a special device designed for sterilizing children's dishes, clothes and food jars.

Some athletes suggest fighting the odor using a microwave oven, but this method is very questionable, because heating can ruin the gloves. For those who decide to try this product, it is better to set the minimum power.

Dry cleaning

Using this method is noticeably better than the previous two, but also has some risks . This method will not remove complex stains, but is well suited for regular maintenance:

1. After training, you need to remove your gloves from your bag as quickly as possible.
2. Using a clean, dry towel, carefully wipe the outside of each of them, removing all moisture.
3. The same must be done with the inside. To achieve the best effect, you need to wrap your hand in a towel, insert it into the glove and move it well inside. This way, the towel will absorb all the accumulated moisture and sweat.
4. To eliminate bacteria, gloves can be placed in a cold room overnight.

Temperatures below zero Celsius negatively affect the outer coating of the product.

Washing recommendations

If it is impossible to do without wet washing, you need to start it in warm weather. This is due to the fact that gloves take a long time to dry (2-3 days), and during this time bacteria and fungi can multiply in them. It is worth noting that equipment made from genuine leather is strictly not recommended to be washed - only leatherette products can be subjected to this procedure.

The detergent should be liquid because it will be easier to rinse out of the item. Additionally, if the powdered product does not completely dissolve in water, it may leave scratches on the surface.

Manual option

It is better to wash by hand as it is considered more gentle. Only warm water is suitable for it. It is not advisable to use cold or hot. To wash boxing gloves, you need a gentle gel for delicate fabrics, baby shampoo or another neutral detergent without parabens and sulfates. In extreme cases, baby soap will do.

First, it is better to soak the gloves for an hour in a warm, weak solution of a mild detergent. You can also add a teaspoon of soda to the water. If there is grease contamination on the textile cuffs of the equipment, the fabric should first be rubbed with a solution of dish soap.

If any dirt remains after soaking, you can lightly rub it. After washing, you should rinse the item several times in cold water, adding conditioner at the end to really remove the smell. In this way, you can wash not only gloves, but also a boxing helmet.

You cannot twist or press hard on the equipment, otherwise cracks may appear on the surface of the leatherette, or the seams may burst. To get rid of excess moisture, you need to lightly press the equipment with your hands, pressing it against the basin or bathtub.

Using the machine

It is often not recommended to resort to machine washing, but in case of heavy soiling it can still be done. The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. First, the item is soaked in the same way as when washing by hand.
2. The sports accessory is then sent to the car. It is advisable to wash it not separately, but together with soft clothes, as this will reduce the risk of damage.
3. The temperature is set to no more than 30 degrees, minimum speed and short time. Spin cannot be used.
4. A little gel for washing delicate items is poured into the powder compartment, after which you should turn on the machine.

To remove excess water, the equipment should be lightly squeezed. Better yet, just hang the gloves over the bathtub until the liquid drains.

In the washing machine

What you need to know if you decide to use a washing machine:

1. 
   Each glove must be placed in special bags. This minimizes the risk of damage to the drum coating.

2. After loading, you should select the most delicate washing mode; the “Hand Wash” function is recommended.
3. The temperature is not higher than 40 degrees. Optimal is 30 degrees Celsius.
4. Using the spin mode is strictly prohibited.
5. You also cannot unscrew them: the water must drain on its own. To speed up this process, you can lightly squeeze the gloves several times.

This is an extreme measure; if there is an opportunity not to do this, refrain. Washing in a washing machine may damage the product.

Drying and further care

After washing, gloves should be dried thoroughly. To do this, they should be placed in the fresh air so that they are not exposed to direct sunlight, but are blown by the wind.

You can dry your equipment in your apartment, but you should hang it away from heating devices and sources of open fire. Exposure to the sun or proximity to batteries will cause the surface of the gloves to crack. You can also use a shoe dryer.

To prevent the equipment from losing its shape, it can be stuffed with crumpled newspapers. They should be replaced with dry paper after getting wet.

Before using the sports accessory, be sure to wait until it is completely dry. After this, it is advisable to protect its surface from cracking by soaking it in glycerin or castor oil. The latter option is best used a few hours before training, as it does not have the most pleasant aroma.

If after washing the gloves do not have time to dry completely, although it is time to go to training, you should not use them. Mixing water with sweat creates favorable conditions for bacteria to grow. It's better to buy a second pair as a replacement.

Manually

The process is practically no different from the previous method:

• gloves must be soaked in warm, soapy water for several hours; it is not recommended to carry out this procedure for more than four hours;
• clean the outer part with the non-abrasive side of the sponge;
• The inside is cleaned using a soft brush;
• It is forbidden to twist them; the best option would be to let the water drain naturally or, to speed up the process, lightly squeeze several times.

This option is slightly better than the previous one, but due to the fact that a large amount of water is still used, also use it with caution.

How often should you clean boxing gloves?

Simply drying your boxing gloves between workouts should be enough to keep them fresh longer. However, cleaning your gloves from time to time is important to increase their overall lifespan. How often you should clean your gloves depends on how often you train.

Use the guidelines below to plan your boxing glove cleaning routine:

If your gloves smell, it is best to wash them more often to ensure they remain usable for a long time.

Danger of getting wet

Boxing gloves are a multi-layer construction covered with genuine leather or its substitute. The inside of such equipment is stuffed with horsehair, cotton wool or polyurethane to soften impacts and protect the athlete's hands.

Getting completely wet is dangerous for this sports accessory due to its multi-layer structure and the nature of the materials. When wet, the filler may clump together and stop protecting the limbs upon impact, which can lead to injuries in the future.

In addition, this part of the equipment is difficult to dry. If moisture accumulates in the filler, mold fungi and pathogenic microorganisms will begin to develop in it, which cause an unpleasant musty odor and can damage the skin of the athlete’s hands.

Getting wet is no less dangerous for the surface of the equipment, since it deteriorates from moisture. The skin or its substitute becomes rougher, and instead of folds and bends, cracks appear on them.

During intense training, even minor damage turns into tears due to the load on the material, so it is not recommended to immerse this sports accessory in water.

Cleaning the bandages

To keep your gloves from getting wet as little as possible, it is recommended to use boxing wraps. They are wrapped around each hand before putting on the protective equipment, due to which the multilayer accessory becomes dirty more slowly. Washing boxing bandages can be much easier because they are made of fabric. It is advisable to clean them after each workout.

Because boxers' hands sweat a lot during physical activity, the fabric becomes saturated with secretions, and if it is reused without cleaning, the skin of the upper extremities stops breathing and sweating increases. There are a few things to consider when caring for your bandages:

• They can be washed either by hand or in a machine;
• when using the machine, you should choose a temperature of no more than 35 degrees and a delicate wash mode, otherwise the bandages may lose their shape;
• for cleaning it is better to use mild detergents;
• when machine washing, it is advisable to place the bandage in a special mesh so that it does not stretch;
• It is not recommended to iron this part of the equipment.

After cleansing, the bandages must be straightened and dried thoroughly. So that they have time to dry completely, it is better to have a spare pair. Drying is recommended to be done away from radiators and radiators, and also not under the influence of sunlight.

Is it washable?

Leather boxing gloves are not recommended to be washed.

When moisture gets inside, the filler gets knocked down and its shape is lost. Water and detergents impair the elasticity of the skin, which leads to the formation of cracks.

They should be washed with a wet cotton swab or a piece of soft cloth, such as flannel. If the contamination is strong, then cleaning must be done using special products.

We recommend: How to properly wash sneakers in the washing machine, by hand and in the dishwasher

Manually

The outside of the gloves should be washed with soapy water or leather cleaner. You can use a soft sponge. Try to prevent water from getting inside. It is better to clean the inside with a soft brush. After this, dry thoroughly.

In the automatic machine

This method should be used in exceptional cases.

1. Place each glove in a separate laundry bag.
2. Set to manual mode without spin.
3. Use only liquid soap. You can add conditioner.
4. Dry for 2-3 days in the shade.

Pollution prevention

You can prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors and dirt if you take proper care of your boxing gloves. To do this, you need to follow simple recommendations for their care and storage:

1. After returning from training, it is worth developing the habit of always disassembling your sports bag. Do not leave gloves in close proximity to sweaty clothing or shoes.
2. When carrying this accessory in a bag with sports equipment, you should allocate a separate bag or case for it. This will help protect your gloves from bacteria that appears on dirty clothing.
3. In 75% of cases, the appearance of an unpleasant odor can be prevented if the equipment is thoroughly dried after each workout. To do this, you should stuff it with crumpled newspapers or paper towels, since this material absorbs sweat well. You can also use a shoe dryer or hair dryer, but do not set the temperature too high.
4. For prevention purposes, you should regularly use an antibacterial spray or antiseptic pharmaceutical gel, which can be applied both to the hands before using the equipment and to the inside of the gloves themselves.
5. Don’t be lazy about using bandages, because they are much easier to wash. Additionally, you can sprinkle your hands with talcum powder before exercise to reduce sweating.
6. Do not store gloves in a plastic bag or closed bag between workouts. This will cause the unpleasant odor to appear much faster. It is better to leave them hanging in a well-ventilated room away from sunlight.
7. You should periodically wipe the surface of the equipment with a damp soft cloth to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating on the gloves.
8. If the surface of the accessory becomes dull or begins to crack, it should be regularly lubricated with colorless leather cream or glycerin. Such products will make the outer material more elastic.

When using boxing gloves, it is easier to prevent contamination than to wash them, because this equipment may not withstand immersion in water. It is better to keep them clean and tidy at all times, and then the equipment will last for many years.

Why is water dangerous?

The first question to consider before cleaning is whether boxing gloves can be washed in principle. In fact, I don’t recommend washing leather items. There are a number of reasons for this: