Glove Care: Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Gloves Performing for a Lifetime
Good gloves—whether they are soft Italian leather driving gloves or heavy-duty synthetic work gloves—are an investment. They protect your hands, keep you warm, and improve your grip. Yet, most of us toss them on the entryway table (or worse, stuff them in a pocket) and forget about them until the next use.
Here is a practical, human-readable guide to keeping your gloves in fighting shape, broken down by material and style.
The Golden Rules (For All Gloves)
Before we get into specific materials, there are three rules that apply to literally every pair of gloves you own:
- Never wring them out: Twisting gloves like a wet dishrag ruins the seams and warps the fit. Squeeze them gently from the fingertips down to the wrist instead.
- No direct heat: Never put gloves on a radiator, a heater, or blow-dry them. High heat cracks leather and melts synthetic fibers. Let them air dry.
- Store them flat: Balpling them up traps moisture inside, which leads to bad smells and mold.
1. Leather Gloves (Dress, Driving, and Heavy-Duty Work)
Think of leather like your own skin. It needs to breathe, and it needs moisture to stay flexible.
The “Quick Clean” (Weekly Use) You don’t need to wash leather often. Usually, a quick spot clean is enough.
- Brush it off: Use a soft-bristled brush to knock off dried mud or dust.
- Wipe it down: Use a damp (not soaking) cloth with a tiny drop of mild soap (like Castile soap) to wipe away surface grime.
The Deep Clean & Condition (Seasonal) If your leather gloves get soaked or feel stiff/crunchy, they are “thirsty.”
- Wash: Put the gloves on your hands and wash them with lukewarm water and mild soap, just like you are washing your hands.
- Dry: Take them off, gently squeeze out water, and lay them flat on a towel away from the sun.
- Condition (Crucial Step): Once they are almost dry but still slightly cool to the touch, rub in a leather conditioner, balm, or wax. This replaces the natural oils that water stripped away.
- Pro-tip: Don’t have leather conditioner? In a pinch, a tiny amount of coconut oil works on work gloves (though it may darken the leather).
2. Synthetic & Knit Gloves (Running, Gym, and Gardening)
These are usually nylon, polyester, spandex, or acrylic. They are durable but hate high heat and harsh chemicals.
Machine vs. Hand Washing Check the tag. Most synthetics can handle a washing machine, but hand washing will double their lifespan.
- The Velcro Trap: If you must machine wash gloves with Velcro straps, close the straps first. Otherwise, the Velcro will tear up the other fabric in the wash.
- Use a Mesh Bag: Put them in a delicate laundry bag to prevent them from getting lost or stretched.
- Cool Water Only: Hot water breaks down the elastic fibers (spandex), making the gloves loose and baggy over time.
Drying Lay them flat. Hanging them by the fingertips while wet can stretch the fingers out, ruining the fit.
3. Technical & Waterproof Gloves (Skiing and Snowboarding)
These usually feature membranes like Gore-Tex or coatings (DWR) that repel water.
The “Detergent” Warning Standard laundry detergent is the enemy here. It leaves a residue that clogs the breathable pores of the fabric, making your waterproof gloves wet and sweaty inside.
- Use Tech Wash: Buy a specific cleaner for waterproof gear (like Nikwax).
- Spot Clean First: Most of the time, just wiping the outside shell is enough.
- Inside Out: If the inside smells, turn them inside out to wash the liner, but try not to puncture the waterproof membrane between the layers.
4. Dealing with the “Stink” (Inside Maintenance)
Sometimes the outside looks great, but the inside smells like a locker room. This is caused by bacteria from sweat.
- The Baking Soda Trick: When the gloves are dry, sprinkle a little baking soda inside and shake them around. Let it sit overnight, then shake/vacuum it out.
- Anti-Bacterial Spray: A quick spritz of a distinct alcohol-based sanitizer (or specialized gear spray) inside the glove can kill the bacteria.
- Don’t ignore dampness: If your hands were sweaty, don’t throw the gloves in a drawer. Prop them open so the inside can dry completely.