During a match, boxing gloves are essential to protect your hands and the opponent's face from superficial injuries; the problem is that they can then give off bad odors due to bacteria and sweat. Regularly washing and taking care of your gloves will not only keep them clean and odor-free, it will also make them last longer. To keep them clean, the first thing to do is make sure you dry them after each use, otherwise you will create a breeding ground for bacterial growth.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Clean and Disinfect the Gloves
Step 1. Remove them from the gym bag as soon as possible
When you use gloves, bacteria from your hands are transferred to their inner surface. Bacteria feed on sweat and proliferate, causing that smell of dirty gym equipment. Since no air circulates in the bag, it is a breeding ground for bacterial proliferation. If you put them back in your bag after a match or workout, take them out as soon as you get home.
If possible, always leave them out of the bag. The more air they get, the better. So if you can avoid putting them in your bag, go ahead
Step 2. Dry them
Immediately after removing them from the bag, dry them with a cloth or towel to absorb excess moisture. Wrap your hand with the towel and put it in the corresponding mitt. Rotate it to absorb sweat better. Repeat with the other glove.
Step 3. Clean the inside of the gloves
After drying it, sanitize and disinfect it with a solution that is half water and half vinegar. Transfer it to a spray bottle and spray it several times into your gloves.
- You can use white or cider vinegar.
- For greater antibacterial and antifungal efficacy, add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil.
- Avoid using harsh sprays - they can damage gloves and irritate the skin.
- Similarly, avoid sprays that only mask bad odors, without actually killing bacteria. They can also make gloves stiff and uncomfortable.
Step 4. Clean the outside of the gloves
Spray the vinegar and water solution onto the outer surface. Use enough to coat each glove with a thin layer of product. Then, wipe with a clean cloth to wipe off dirt, sweat, and solution residue.
Step 5. Apply conditioner
Many boxing gloves are made of leather, so they need to be softened to keep them in ideal condition. Leather is a product of animal origin, so it can dry out just like human skin. There are many leather conditioners on the market, otherwise you can use lemon essential oil.
To soften the gloves, apply a small amount of conditioner or a few drops of essential oil to the outer surface. Work the product with a lint-free cloth in circular motions. Once you're done, wipe off the excess with a clean cloth
Part 2 of 3: Allowing the Gloves to Dry
Step 1. Let the gloves air dry
Since the sweat and humidity inside the gloves cause bacterial growth, keeping them dry is essential to always keep them clean. After sanitizing the inside with vinegar and cleaning the outside, let them dry completely.
- To air dry them, fold the wrist strap back, stretch the gloves as far as possible, and close the strap backwards to keep them wide open.
- Lay out your gloves or hang them in a well-ventilated room, near an open window or in front of a fan.
- While you don't sanitize and clean your gloves every time you use them, you should always let them dry between uses.
Step 2. Fill them with newspaper
This procedure also helps you dry them earlier. The newspaper will absorb the excess moisture inside the gloves and leave them open to allow air to pass through.
Lightly ball 2 sheets of newspaper. Slip them into your gloves and leave them for a couple of hours. Check them regularly: when they are soaked in water, replace them
Step 3. Use a hair dryer
If you have set several meetings or workouts in a short amount of time and therefore need your gloves to dry quickly, a hair dryer will do the trick. Be sure to adjust it for a cool blast of air, as the heat can damage the gloves and harden the leather.
Set the blast of cold air and slip the nozzle into your glove. Check the humidity level every 5 minutes. Once it has dried, repeat with the other
Step 4. Do not expose the gloves to the sun
The sun's rays are undoubtedly effective for drying various items of clothing and linens, but it is best to avoid them for boxing gloves. Exposing them for a short time can dry them and kill bacteria, but just like human skin, overdoing it can ruin gloves and leather.
If you want to dry them in the sun, do not leave them unattended and avoid direct sunlight. Don't expose them for more than 20-30 minutes at a time
Part 3 of 3: Improving the Smell
Step 1. Neutralize bad smells with baking soda
It is a universal deodorant, so it can eliminate bad smells inside the gloves. Once dry, sprinkle a handful of baking soda inside each glove and let it sit for a couple of hours.
To get rid of the baking soda, tap on your gloves or put a handheld vacuum in them
Step 2. Use fabric softening wipes
After cleaning and drying the gloves, take a softening wipe and wipe them inside. If you want, you can also leave half a wipe in each glove until the next use.
Step 3. Use cedar shavings
Take a pair of clean cotton socks and fill them with a handful of cedar shavings (the ones you use to smoke food or for an animal's litter box). Loosely tie the ends of the sock and tuck it into a glove.
Cedar shavings will not only give the gloves a good smell, they will also absorb excess moisture and bacteria
Step 4. Use essential oils
They are great for scenting anything, including boxing gloves. Also, some have antibacterial and antifungal properties, so they will help you clean your gloves better. Pour 10 drops of your favorite into a spray bottle and mix it with 250 milliliters of water. Make 2 sprays in each glove. Here are some of the best antibacterial and antifungal essential oils:
- Lemongrass;
- Eucalyptus;
- Peppermint;
- Orange.
