How to wash boxing gloves: can they be washed in a washing machine, how to clean them by hand inside and outside, how to dry and care for them?

Sports uniforms have a fairly high price, including boxing gloves.

Considering their complex design (several layers of material, filling and outer upholstery made of leather, or leather substitute in budget options), you need to pay due attention to the features of caring for them.

In this article, we will look in detail at whether and how to wash boxing gloves in a washing machine and by hand, how to dry them properly, what cleaning agent to choose, and how to get rid of the unpleasant odor inside.

Is it possible?

Due to the design features, both hand and machine washing are highly not recommended . The fact is that a large amount of water has a detrimental effect on the material from which they are made.

High-quality gloves can deteriorate, for example, the skin becomes rough, the filling gets lost. With cheap models the situation is even worse; after washing they can only be thrown away.

This is due to a number of factors:

A large amount of water, incorrect choice of mode when washing in a washing machine, errors when washing by hand, as well as violation of drying rules can lead to natural leather hardening and losing its elasticity, and leatherette simply cracking.
The filler will absorb a large amount of moisture, and during the drying process it will clump into clumps.
Since drying gloves takes a long time, during the drying process the fabric can begin to rot, and harmful bacteria can form on the inside of the upholstery, which can cause irritation, allergic reactions and an unpleasant odor.

If washing still cannot be avoided, you need to reduce its amount to a minimum, while following certain rules.

Basic principles for washing boxing gloves

It is impossible to clean boxing gloves without wet cleaning, especially when tournaments are held outdoors. To preserve not only the appearance, but also the integrity of sports equipment, consider the following rules:

Use only warm water. You can't take hot or cold.
As a detergent, take a special gel intended for washing. A simple baby shampoo or regular shampoo is suitable if it does not contain parabens or sulfates.
Do not press or twist the equipment. Remove any remaining moisture by lightly pressing the gloves together.
After washing, do not leave the gloves wet, otherwise an unpleasant odor will quickly appear and bacteria will begin to develop inside.
Do not dry the product in direct ultraviolet rays or near a heat source. Place crumpled newspaper inside to quickly absorb excess moisture.
Rub the tops of gloves made from natural or artificial leather with glycerin after washing. Castor oil is also suitable.
When using an automatic washing machine, turn off the spin cycle and use a special liquid powder.
Dry the product on the balcony or under a canopy, avoiding direct exposure to the sun.

Drying gloves takes several days. During this time, rapid proliferation of bacteria may begin. Carry out washing only in warm weather.

Features of choosing a detergent

The main thing is not to use low-quality, cheap powders. It’s better to give up the powder altogether, because... Even if you choose an expensive brand, when washing, grains may become clogged in the filler or pores of the skin, and it will not be possible to rinse them properly.

A good option for washing would be:

shampoo;
fabric softener;
mild detergent;
cream-gel for delicate fabrics.

Using fabric softener will better remove third-party odors.

In the washing machine

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

Each glove must be placed in special bags. This minimizes the risk of damage to the drum coating.
After loading, you should select the most delicate washing mode; the “Hand Wash” function is recommended.
The temperature is not higher than 40 degrees. Optimal is 30 degrees Celsius.
Using the spin mode is strictly prohibited.
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.

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.

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.

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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.

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

Wet processing

This method is the best of all those presented above. To maintain a neat appearance and overall service life, it is necessary to perform several actions after each training or fight:

When you get home, immediately take the gloves out of your sports bag, or better yet, wear them separately. The more they are ventilated, the better.
Make a solution using two glasses of warm water and a teaspoon of detergent. Adding a couple of drops of ammonia will help you more effectively get rid of complex stains.
The outer part is wiped with a small piece of cloth slightly moistened in the solution. After this, the procedure is repeated, but using a soft, dry cloth.
To clean the inside, use a vinegar solution: to do this, mix water and apple cider vinegar or regular table vinegar (1:1 proportions). For a disinfecting effect, you can add two or three drops of essential oil to the mixture. Pour this liquid into a container and spray it with a spray bottle, then wipe thoroughly with a dry towel.

It is not recommended to use deodorants to eliminate bacteria, as they only mask the unpleasant odor and can make the gloves uncomfortable.

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.

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:

After training, you need to remove your gloves from your bag as quickly as possible.
Using a clean, dry towel, carefully wipe the outside of each of them, removing all moisture.
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.
To eliminate bacteria, gloves can be placed in a cold room overnight.

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

Prevention

Since prevention is better than curing diseases, take steps to prevent the proliferation of harmful microorganisms.

Preventive actions:

Let them dry completely. After training, you should immediately hang the products in a well-ventilated area. Complete drying of the fabric prevents the growth of microbes. If this is not done, sweat will serve as a good environment for fungus and bacteria. As a result of the activity of harmful microorganisms, the gloves will stink.
The second way to prevent bacterial growth is to wipe the inside with dry towels. This will keep moisture to a minimum.
After use, do not put it in your bag. First put them in a plastic bag, wash and dry them at home, and only then put them in your bag.
Use boxing wraps. They will absorb all the sweat and you won't need to wash your gloves too often. This method is very good, but you will have to wash the boxing wraps often. Otherwise they will smell unpleasant.
Spray inside with special products once a week to avoid stench.

Prevention is the best solution to a problem. Thanks to it, you can solve the problem of frequent washing and remove unpleasant odors.

How to dry?

Regardless of whether the gloves have been washed or not, they must be dried after training .

There are also several rules for this procedure. The main thing is not to leave them to dry on heaters, and also to minimize their exposure to open sun.

Drying the product in the sun is not completely prohibited, but it is recommended to leave it for 30 minutes , since the sun's rays have a negative effect on the skin.

Next, let's look at 3 common ways to dry boxing gloves:

Using newspapers

This effective folk method will remove excess moisture inside the product.

To do this you will need:

open gloves as much as possible;
crumple the newspaper into a small ball and place it inside each glove; you can also use toilet paper;
leave for a while and check periodically;
if the newspaper has absorbed moisture, you need to replace the layer with a dry one;
repeat this procedure until completely dry.

On the shoe dryer

This method involves allowing the product to dry on its own. You need to open the base of the gloves as wide as possible and secure the Velcro or lacing. Then hang it up or just put it on top of the dryer and wait for it to dry.

To speed up the process, you can place the dryer near a running fan, in a draft, or near an open window.

Using a hair dryer

If you need to dry your gloves very quickly, a regular hairdryer will come to the rescue if you have one at hand.

The main thing is to turn it on in cold air mode , since warm air can harm your gloves.

Direct the hair dryer inside the glove and dry it for a while, about 3-5 minutes, then check the result.

If necessary, continue the procedure until completely dry . Then you can move on to another glove.

Drying

After washing, the equipment should be dried for several days. To speed up the process, gloves should be stuffed with old newspapers. They will help maintain their shape and absorb moisture.

The place for drying should be chosen in the shade so that the gloves are not exposed to sunlight. But there must be free access of air. You cannot place equipment on a radiator or near heating devices.

This can cause the top coating to crack or become deformed. When the gloves are completely dry, the leather covering should be lubricated with castor oil, colorless shoe polish or glycerin.

How to dry gloves correctly

How to eliminate unpleasant odor inside?

To reduce the amount of effort required to eliminate odor, follow 3 rules:

Wear your gloves outside of your gym bag so they get more fresh air and the odor doesn't linger.
First, wrap the bandages, and then put on gloves. This will reduce the amount of moisture inside the product.
Do not neglect the care rules after each use.

Traditional methods

In every home there are many available means that can be used to eliminate foreign odors, for example:

After completing the initial treatment, place one tea bag inside the gloves. They will absorb sweat and refresh the product.
A vinegar compress will help get rid of bacteria and remove odor. Simply soak a piece of cotton wool in vinegar and place it inside each glove. Afterwards, the product must be well ventilated.
If the previous two can be used daily, then this method is more radical and is suitable for severe contamination. You need to pour a bottle of hydrogen peroxide inside the gloves, shake the gloves well and leave for a couple of minutes. Then dry them and ventilate them in fresh air for 3 days.

Chemicals

If you don’t trust traditional methods, you can go to the nearest household goods store and buy the following products:

Antibacterial spray Salamander . Eliminates and prevents the appearance of unpleasant odors for a long time. It is recommended to use 2-3 hours before training.
Deodorant in the form of pillows NoStink . An alternative to the traditional method using tea bags. Simply place one pad inside each glove.
Collonil spray . It will get rid of the smell for a long time. Among all, it has the highest price.

Freezing

If something stinks and you can't get rid of the unpleasant odor, try putting it in the freezer.

At first glance, freezing a pair of boxing gloves doesn't exactly sound like an ideal cleaning method. Rest assured - this is a fairly popular and simple method, plus it is effective and safe.

If the gloves smell bad, put them in the freezer for 2 days. Low temperature kills all bacteria.

This method also inhibits mold growth.

If your gear is made of genuine leather, place it in a sealed plastic bag first for added protection.