How to Keep Your Boxing Gloves Clean: Tricks for Hygiene and Longevity
Keeping your boxing gloves clean is essential for maintaining their longevity and ensuring a hygienic environment for use. Whether your gloves are made of leather or synthetic materials, proper maintenance can help extend the life of your equipment while preventing odors and damage. Here are some effective tricks to keep your boxing gloves clean and fresh for every training session.
Tricks to Keep Your Boxing Gloves Clean
1. Wipe After Use
Use a Damp Cloth: After each workout, wipe the inside and outside of your gloves with a damp cloth to remove sweat and dirt. Dry Thoroughly: Allow them to air dry completely, preferably in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.2. Use Glove Deodorizers
Commercial Deodorizers: Consider using glove deodorizers or sprays designed for athletic gear to help combat odors. DIY Options: You can also use a mixture of baking soda and essential oils. Sprinkle it inside the gloves, let it sit overnight, and shake out the excess.3. Store Properly
Open Air: Store your gloves in a place that allows air circulation. Avoid sealing them in a gym bag immediately after use. Use a Glove Bag: If you need to transport them, consider using a mesh bag that allows airflow.4. Keep Them Dry
Avoid Moisture: Always ensure your gloves are dry before storing them. If they get wet, allow them to dry completely before putting them away. Use Newspaper: If your gloves are damp, stuff them with newspaper to help absorb moisture.5. Regular Deep Cleaning
Soap and Water: Occasionally clean the exterior with mild soap and water. Use a soft cloth or sponge to avoid damaging the material. Disinfecting Wipes: For a quick clean, use disinfecting wipes on the outside. Ensure they’re safe for the material of your gloves.6. Avoid Excessive Heat
No Direct Heat: Never dry your gloves with a hairdryer or place them near a heater as excessive heat can damage the material.7. Check for Wear and Tear
Regular Inspection: Periodically check your gloves for signs of wear such as cracks or peeling and address any issues promptly.Tips for Sanitizing Your Boxing Gloves After Use
1. Get the Gloves out of Your Gym Bag
When you put on your boxing gloves, the bacteria on your hands get transferred to the inside of your gloves. Since there is no airflow inside a gym bag, it’s a great place for bacteria to grow. Remove your gloves as soon as you get home from the gym if possible.2. Wipe Them Out
Immediately after the gloves come out of your gym bag, wipe them out with a cloth or towel to absorb excess moisture. Wrap your hand in the towel and stick that hand into its glove. Move your hand around to help sop up the sweat. Repeat with the other glove.3. Clean the Inside of the Gloves
After you wipe out as much moisture as you can from inside the gloves, sanitize and disinfect them with a half-and-half vinegar and water solution. Transfer the solution to a spray bottle and give the inside of the gloves several spritzes. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to clean your gloves. For additional antibacterial and anti-fungal action, add five to 10 drops of tea tree oil to the vinegar and water solution. Avoid harsh cleaning sprays on your gloves as they can damage the gloves and cause a reaction with your skin. Similarly, avoid products like Febreze as they only mask smells and don’t actually kill bacteria. They can also make your gloves stiff and uncomfortable.4. Clean the Outside of the Gloves
Spray your vinegar and water solution onto the outside of the gloves enough to coat each glove with a light mist. Then wipe them down with a clean towel to remove dirt, sweat, and any extra cleaning solution.5. Condition the Gloves
Many boxing gloves are made of leather, which means they should be conditioned to keep them in tip-top shape. Apply a small amount of conditioner or a few drops of oil to the outside of the gloves. Using a lint-free cloth and circular motions, work the oil into the leather. When you're finished, wipe the outside of the gloves down with a clean towel to remove any excess.Proper Drying Techniques for Your Boxing Gloves
1. Air Dry the Gloves
After you sanitize the inside of the gloves with vinegar and clean the outside, allow the gloves to dry out completely. Fold the wrist straps back open, up the gloves as wide as possible, and attach the wrist straps so the gloves stay open. Lay the gloves out or hang them to dry in a well-ventilated room near an open window or in front of a fan.2. Stuff Them with Newspaper
Another way to dry out gloves faster is by stuffing them with newspaper as the newspaper will absorb excess moisture inside and keep the gloves propped open to allow air in. Crinkle up a few sheets of newspaper into two loose balls and stuff one as far as possible into each glove and leave them for a couple hours. Check on the paper regularly and when you notice it has become saturated with moisture, replace it with fresh paper balls.3. Use a Blow Dryer
If you have multiple fights or practices scheduled within a short time and need to dry your gloves out quickly, a blow dryer is a good way to do it. Make sure you use a blow dryer with a cool setting as heat can damage the gloves and harden the leather. Turn the blow dryer on to its cool setting and direct the nozzle inside the opening of a glove. Check on the moisture situation in five-minute intervals, and when one glove is dry, repeat with the other.4. Avoid Leaving Your Gloves in the Sun
While the sun is a great way to dry out many things, boxing gloves are not one of them. If you want to use the sun to help dry your gloves, don’t leave them unattended in direct sunlight and don’t leave them out for more than 20 to 30 minutes at a time.Making the Gloves Smell Nice
1. Neutralize Bad Odors with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a universal deodorizer and it can be used inside your boxing gloves to eliminate odors and neutralize bad smells. When your gloves are dry, sprinkle a few pinches of baking soda inside each glove and let it sit for a couple hours. To remove the baking soda, either bang out the gloves or stick a skinny vacuum cleaner nozzle in there.2. Use Dryer Sheets
After cleaning and drying your gloves, take a dryer sheet and wipe down the inside of each glove with the sheet. If you want, you can even leave a half-sheet in each glove until the next time you need them.3. Use Cedar Chips
Take a pair of clean cotton socks and fill each one with a handful of cedar chips like the kinds you use for either smoking food or for animal bedding. Loosely tie off the ends of the socks and stuff one sock in each glove. You can also use shaved pine if you prefer. Not only will the cedar chips make your gloves smell great, they’ll also absorb excess moisture and bacteria.4. Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are a great way to make anything smell nice and boxing gloves are no exception. Furthermore, certain essential oils are also antibacterial and anti-fungal so they’ll also help clean your gloves. Add 10 drops of your preferred essential oil to a spray bottle with one cup 240 ml of water and give one to two sprays in each glove. The best antibacterial and anti-fungal essential oils include: lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, and orange.