Keeping your boxing gloves clean will help prolong their life span and stop you from having smelly hands. When it comes to cleaning and maintaining boxing gloves, there are essentially three broad steps involved in the process:
Firstly wash the exterior of the boxing glove with a damp cloth, next dry with a towel before applying some protectant to keep them fresh.
1. Washing the gloves
2. Drying the gloves
3. Applying a protectant to the gloves
Let’s take a look at each of these steps in more detail:
Washing the Gloves
Ideally, you should wash your boxing gloves after every use. This will help to remove any sweat, you can wash the glove using a damp cloth with a little soap on.
Once you have finished washing the gloves, be sure to dry them off with a towel.
Drying the Gloves
It is important that you allow your boxing gloves to dry completely before using them again. The best way to do this is to hang them up in a well-ventilated area.
If you are in a hurry, you can use a hairdryer on a low setting to speed up the process.
Applying a Protectant to the Gloves
Once your gloves are dry, you will need to apply a protectant to them. This will help to keep the leather in good condition and prevent the gloves from drying out.
There are a number of different products such as…
All of these steps—cleaning and drying the exterior, drying/cleaning/drying the interior, and conditioning your boxing gloves—should be carried out after every use to suitably sanitize your gloves and preserve your investment.
Also, you should definitely think about hanging your boxing gloves in a clean dry environment.
Refrain from keeping your gloves in a dark and cramped gym bag where germs and bacteria can flourish, but instead use such bags only to transfer your boxing gloves to and from the gym.
Tips on How to keep Boxing gloves Clean
With some conscious effort, you may be able to keep your boxing gloves from smelling. Here are some tips to avoid being the “stinky glove person.”
Wash Your Hands
It sounds simple enough, and possibly even irrelevant given that you are about to get super sweaty. Hands carry a lot of bad bacteria, and though it may not seem like a big deal now when that bacteria is introduced to the awesome environment of a hot and sweaty glove. Keeping a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer is a quick way to help keep your gloves boxing gloves from smelling as a precaution before you even put them on.
Wear Hand Wraps
Before we even get to gloves, let’s address wraps. If you think you are too tough for wraps, we assure you are not. Not only do wraps provide crucial protection for the hand and wrist, but they also serve sanitary purposes. Think about a pair of shoes that is repeatedly worn without socks. That smell is hard to get rid of and the same can be said of gloves worn without wraps. Like feet, hands also sweat and profusely so during any intense boxing class.
Wraps help to soak up a lot of that sweat and are much easier to wash than gloves. They can easily be thrown in the washing machine with the rest of your workout clothes. If using traditional cloth wraps, in order to keep them from getting tangled you can purchase small mesh bags that allow the wraps to get fully cleaned without strangling the rest of your clothes.
Folding the Velcro back so that the glove is as open as possible will also be very helpful. Hanging them up in an open area with a lot of airflows is also ideal. You may even stuff them with newspaper to help soak up the sweat and absorb moisture.
Baking Soda – Known universally for its odor-killing power, a sprinkle of baking soda in your dry gloves should help alleviate some of the remaining odor. Let the powder sit for a couple of hours and then remove by holding the gloves with the open side down and clapping them together.
Soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water
Soak them in a mixture of vinegar and water. The vinegar will help remove any dirt or bacteria, while the water will help keep them moist. Let them soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse them off with cold water.
After you’ve soaked them, you can add a little bit of dishwashing soap to help clean the gloves. Let them soak for another 30 minutes and then rinse off your gloves with cold water again.
Let them dry in the sun, but make sure they’re completely dry before using them again
Use a toothbrush to scrub off any dirt or grime
If the gloves are really dirty, you can use a toothbrush to scrub off any dirt or grime. Just make sure you clean the toothbrush afterward so that it doesn’t get dirty.
Apply baking soda to stubborn stains
If there are any stubborn stains on your gloves, you can try applying baking soda. Just sprinkle a little bit of baking soda on the stain and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then rinse it off with cold water.
Why Should You Clean Your Boxing Gloves?
It’s important to clean your boxing gloves and clean or wash your headgear because they can harbor bacteria and dirt that can cause infections or skin irritations. By keeping them clean, you can help reduce the risk of getting sick or injured.
Boxing gloves are used in boxing, which is a sport practiced by many people. Therefore, the gloves are important because they help protect your hands while also improving performance.
1. Remove the gloves from your hands
2. Fill a sink or bucket with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap
3. Place the gloves in the water and let them soak for a few minutes
4. Use a sponge or cloth to scrub the gloves, paying special attention to any dirt or blood stains
5. Rinse the gloves thoroughly under running water
6. Allow them to air dry, preferably by hanging them on a clothesline
Why Do Boxing Gloves Smell?
Take a minute to enjoy that fresh smell of new boxing gloves. Without proper care, it will not last long, and they will start to smell.
Boxing gloves smell because bacteria from your hands stays in the gloves and begins to produce foul odours.
To keep this smell at bay, you can take some preventative measures to reduce the formation of bacteria associated with unwanted odours.
What are the benefits of Clean boxing gloves?
There are a number of great reasons to keep your gloves clean, sanitized, and properly maintained, and besides who wants to use smelly boxing gloves?.
Some of the most glaring reasons to perform these chores are outlined below:
Improve Performance
In the heat of battle, especially over time, it can become covered with perspiration and oils. In combination with each other, these substances can lessen the effects of your punches, thus hindering your ability to land those punches squarely.
Promote Proper Hygiene
Let’s face it. Boxing gloves can become very dirty and odorous over time, and properly cleaning them after each use can significantly stem that problem, if not eliminate it. This means cleaning and sanitizing both the outside and inside of the gloves to tackle any germs and bacteria that may be lingering.
Safety
If the shoe—or the glove—was on the other foot, chances are you would prefer that your opponents and sparring partners clean their boxing gloves and properly disinfect and sterilize them before they are used on you. This is not only being a good sport, but it just may prevent your opponent from being unduly harmed by the grit and bacteria on an uncleaned pair of boxing gloves.
Protect Your Investment
One of the best reasons for disinfecting and maintaining your boxing gloves is to make them last longer. By properly maintaining your boxing gloves you can ensure they’ll be of use to you for many years to come.
Methods To Clean Your Gloves
Even with the most stringent preventative measures, your boxing gloves can still get dirty and smelly. You will need to clean them thoroughly from time to time to deodorize them and restore their freshness for fresh-smelling gloves. Here are a couple of cleaning methods to stop your gloves from smelling:
Use Anti-Bacterial Spray To Kill Germs – You can stop germ and bad bacteria buildup within your boxing gloves by applying the anti-bacterial spray. Deodorize boxing gloves using a light mist anti-bacterial spray, essential oils, or any glove deodorizer. If your gloves have become too dirty and have developed a thick stench, you will need to give them a spray to remove all the bad bacterial build-up. After spraying, you should hang your gloves in the direct sunlight or where there is some fresh air for gloves to gloves air dry. This will freshen them up for your next training session or match. You can clean your boxing gloves regularly with this method.
The Saltwater Soak – The saltwater soak approach is great for stopping the buildup of foul-smelling bad bacteria, it will kill bacteria and remove unwanted boxing glove smell or you can also use saline solution overnight.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is effective for cleaning professional boxing gloves, as well as shoes, bags, punching bags and etc. This will help prevent bacteria boxing gloves stinky odor-causing bacteria breeding. Apple cider vinegar is one of the effective way to prevent boxing gloves stink and keep it smelling fresh.
Use Baking Soda – Baking soda is commonly used for cooking, but boxers, fighters, and trainers use it to clean and deodorize their gloves, too. To clean boxing gloves with baking soda, you will need a pair of old socks, baking soda, and some paper towels.
Dryer Sheets – They will not do anything to assist in the drying process, but they will make your dry gloves fresh and clean. You may wipe out the glove with a dryer sheet or just leave one in each glove. This method of odor mitigation can be paired with any of the other tips we have given to help keep your boxing gloves from smelling.
Cedar Chips – Take a pair of clean socks and stuff them with cedar chips like the kind that can be used for smoking food or for animal bedding. Tie the socks at the end and stuff one in each glove. Not only do they smell great but they help soak up moisture and bacteria.
What Not To Do
Going regularly to the gym for boxing or MMA training with warm environments means your gloves will get sweaty—and might start to get smelly boxing gloves as bacteria grows in them. You want your punches, not your odor, to be what knocks out your opponent.
Regular cleaning and preventative glove maintenance will keep your boxing gloves smelling fresh. But some boxers, fighters, and trainers take extreme cleaning methods that cause damage. Here are some things you shouldn’t do to your gloves:
Don’t wash your gloves in a washing machine: Doing this can rip your gloves apart.
Don’t use silica gel inside your gloves: It can harm your gloves and won’t clean them.
Don’t leave your gloves in the sun for too long: A little sun is OK, but too much can shrink your gloves and make them crack easily.
How Often Should You Clean Boxing Gloves?
No one wants smelly boxing gloves. You should clean your boxing gloves after every session. Give them a quick wipe down and air dry them to take out moisture and increase their lifespan. You should not put your sweaty gloves in your gym bag or plastic bag. Let them breathe in fresh air after training.
If you do put your boxing gloves in your bag or plastic bag, you should wipe them first with a clean towel. This will absorb excess moisture. If you find that the inside of your gloves is soaked with sweat, insert a dry towel or cloth for a couple of minutes to absorb any moisture from the glove.
Another method is to use a dusting of baby powder to absorb excess moisture. Once you have wiped the gloves down and taken out excess moisture, move them to a cool and dry place. Keep them in a place with cool temperatures and good air circulation to increase their lifespan and reduce any boxing glove odor.
Should You Wash Your Boxing Gloves In A Washing Machine
No, you should never wash your professional boxing gloves in a washing machine. To properly clean your gloves, wiping them down is best. The machine wash can damage your gloves.
Washing boxing gloves in a machine is not recommended because soaking them in water and cleaning agents speed up the wear and tear of the casings and foams inside your gloves, decreasing their lifespan.
Washing machines can also rip your boxing gloves and other fighting equipment to shreds.
Do you need a gym bag to keep your boxing gloves clean?
Refrain from putting your gloves in your gym bags. After a sweaty training session, bacteria begins to build up. Gloves that go straight from the punching bag to a gym bag are full of bacteria that will eventually make your gloves stink. Keep your boxing gloves in an open and ventilated area after using, do not place them in the bag immediately to prevent a stinky smell or bad smells. Make sure it is dry completely before storing them to your small cotton bags.
Conclusion:
Cleaning your boxing gloves is important for a few reasons. Not only can it help reduce the risk of getting sick or injured, but it also helps keep them in good condition so that they can last longer. By following the tips we’ve provided, you can clean your gloves quickly and easily. So make sure you give them a good cleaning after every use!