How to Clean Leather Gloves: The Ultimate Guide

If you are searching for the best gloves either for motorcycle, gardening, work or anything else, leather gloves are undoubtedly the best.

As compared to others, these gloves are more durable and stronger meaning that they are highly reliable.

However, these gloves require frequent maintenance for them to serve you for many years.

In this article, we shall guide you on how to clean leather gloves and other important maintenance tips you need to know when using these gloves. Read our comprehensive guide to learn more.

How to Clean Leather Gloves: Everything You Need to Know (Tips & Steps)

Unlike when you are cleaning gloves which are made of other materials such as cotton, leather gloves require a lot of attention. When cleaning them, you need to ensure that the soap you are using is not formulated using a harsh chemical that might damage your gloves.

Such chemicals remove natural oils from the leather which makes the gloves uncomfortable and stiff. Again, removing these oils affects the durability of the gloves. Always use mild soap when cleaning your gloves.

How to Remove Stains from Leather Gloves

In case your leather gloves have stains, you can use white vinegar plus a water solution to remove the stains. When doing this, you should use a cotton ball that is coated with the solution and then rub it on the gloves. Using a soft microfiber cloth, wipe the solution and allow the gloves to dry.
Using a damp cloth, lather the soap and then coat the leather gloves ensuring that the soap gets in between the fingers. After this, wipe the soap off using a clean damp cloth and allow the gloves to dry. You should also pull them on severally to allow them to stretch and take their original shape. Never use external heat or sunlight to dry them. The leather becomes too stiff and brittle when it dries too quickly.

Cleaning Leather Gloves Using Vinegar

This method is highly recommended if you want to sanitize the interior of the gloves thoroughly. The good thing about vinegar is that it is able to kill up to 99% of bacteria and up to 80% of viruses. Before you start cleaning the gloves, make sure that you have white vinegar, a spray bottle, water, a clothing brush and a towel for drying.

Steps

Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle.
Turn the gloves inside out when cleaning the lining of the gloves.

Spray them thoroughly using the mixture in the spray bottle but don’t soak the material.
Allow the spray to sit on the leather gloves for 15-20 minutes. After this, pat the gloves to dry.
You should allow the lining material to air dry and then remove any remaining residue, dirt or dust using a clothing brush. You can also use a towel instead of a clothing brush in case you don’t have the brush.

Cleaning the Gloves Under Running Water

Put your leather gloves on to make your work easier when cleaning. This also gives you more control.
Place your hands under a running faucet for about 3 seconds and then turn on the faucet or tap to lukewarm water. When still wearing the gloves, run your hands under the running water for a few seconds. Make sure that the entire surface of your gloves is wet.
Rub the leather gloves gently using mild soap and then rinse them under a running tap to remove the soap. Ensure that all the soap has been removed before you turn the water off.

How to Prevent Stretch with Leather Gloves

Leather is an elastic material meaning that it may stretch after some time. Therefore, it is not easy to prevent your leather gloves from stretching. To be on the safe side, you should only buy top-quality leather gloves but you have to make sure that you have picked the correct size.

You also need to ensure that the gloves you have picked fit your hand correctly meaning that they should not be too tight. Again, they should not leave a lot of space around the fingers. In case your gloves are not fitting you properly or are too tight, you may need to stretch them a bit as follows.

Place them at the edge of a table and stretch each finger separately. You should be gentle when doing this to avoid damages. Stretching leather gloves frequently prevents them from becoming torn, deformed and it also enables them to maintain their appearance.
You can also use a natural lubricant when stretching the gloves. In case you will need to use them frequently, it is good to have 2 or 3 pairs instead of only one. This will allow each pair to breathe and it also enhances their durability.

How to Disinfect Leather Gloves

Using your leather gloves frequently may lead to the accumulation of germs and viruses. To avoid such problems, you need to sanitize and disinfect your gloves after every use. Follow these steps.

Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda on each glove and ensure that it reaches the fingers.
Hold the gloves facing upside down and cover the opening. Shake gently to distribute the baking soda evenly on the gloves.
Allow the baking to sit on the gloves for a few hours then shake to remove the powder.

Turn your leather gloves inside out and remove the remaining powder using a brush or towel.

How to Condition Leather Gloves

Conditioning leather is a process that allows the material to maintain natural oils or moisture which may have been lost when cleaning. This means that leather conditioning helps to return the natural oils of the material to prevent drying out. This also helps to remove creases enabling the material to stretch. To do this, you will need a reliable conditioning agent such as vegetable oil, coconut oil or mink oil.

After cleaning your leather gloves, you should now choose the type of conditioning agent you want to use.

Use a lint-free or soft cloth and apply the conditioning agent to it.
Using your fingertips, apply it to the leather in a small circular movement. This helps to remove creases that may have formed on the leather.
Repeat this process on the entire surface of the leather gloves.

Once you are done, use a piece of cloth to polish the leather. This helps to bring back the shiny appearance of the leather and it will also help to remove the excess conditioning agent.

How to Waterproof Leather Gloves

Leather is usually water-resistant but it is not waterproof. This means that the material is able to keep water out but it allows the water in when exposed to a lot of moisture or when submerged. You can waterproof your leather gloves by following this procedure;

Steps

In case the leather gloves are dirty, you should start by cleaning them using a damp cloth. Never clean leather gloves in a machine.
There are several types of wax you can use to waterproof leather gloves but Nikwax Fabric and Leather Proof Waterproofing is the best.
You should start by squeezing the Nikwax Fabric and Leather Proof Waterproofing Wax on the gloves. After this, rub it into the leather as you pay close attention to the seams. Allow the wax to sit on the glove’s surface for a few minutes and then remove the excess wax using a damp cloth.

How to Clean Leather Gloves with Cashmere Lining

Most leather gloves contain a cashmere lining and such gloves should never be placed in a washing machine for cleaning. When cleaning them, you should do the following.

Turn them inside out ensuring that the cashmere lining is exposed.

Lather up a clean cloth using soapy water. Scrub the fabric gently.
Rinse the cloth and wipe until the soapy residue have disappeared
Avoid soaking the gloves in water to protect the leather.

Squeeze any moisture and lay the gloves flat to air dry.

How to Clean Smelly Leather Gloves

In case your leather gloves are smelly and you are wondering what to do to get rid of the odor, you should do the following.

Rub small amounts of any oil-based soap such as saddle soap on a soft cloth.

Clean the whole surface of your glove by rubbing the cloth in circular movements.
Allow the gloves to dry and then polish them using a microfiber material.
Once they are dry, sprinkle some cornstarch and baking soda on the inner part to eliminate unpleasant smells. This also helps to soak up oils.

Disinfect the inside part by spraying hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.

Common Types of Damages and Injuries Leather Gloves May Sustain

Some of the damages and injuries your leather gloves might be exposed to include.

Drying out. If you don’t take care of your leather gloves, they are likely to dry out which affects their durability. Leather gloves require moisture which means that you need to allow them to breathe. They need frequent airing and oiling to maintain their original appearance. Otherwise, they become rough and develop cracks when they dry out since they are made of thousands of individual fibers. When you don’t take care of them, these fibers rub against each other and this results to wear and tear.

Mold and rot. Another thing that can damage your leather gloves is mold and rot. This happens when they are stored in a damp place or when they are filled with oils or water. This affects their appearance as well as their health. Apart from that, they will start to produce an unpleasant odor. The best way to prevent this is ensuring that you have stored them in a dry place. In case you are not using them frequently, you need to check their condition from time to time to ensure that there is no buildup of water, nutrients or oils.
Chemical damage. This usually happens when you wash the gloves with the wrong detergent. It also happens when you expose them to sunlight for a long period.

How to Protect Your Leather Gloves from Damages

Below are some of the things you should avoid if you want to enhance the durability of your leather gloves.

Avoid cleaning the gloves with hot water. Instead, you should wipe them using a damp cloth.
Avoid exposing them to sunlight for long hours.
Ensure that they do not get into direct contact with heat or hot surfaces.

Never clean leather gloves in a washing machine to avoid damages.
Avoid dry cleaning the gloves because this can damage them.
You should not immerse them completely in water when cleaning.

Never touch corrosive elements when wearing leather gloves
Only use detergents that are friendly to leather when cleaning.

How to Store Leather Gloves

After cleaning your leather gloves, you should store them in a cool and dry place away from sunlight or direct heat. This ensures that they are not exposed to chemicals. Again, you should lay them flat to prevent discoloration or wrinkling. Some of the best places you can keep your leather gloves include, in a dry cupboard, shelves or cabinets.

How Do You Clean Leather Gloves at Home?

There are different methods you can use to clean your leather gloves at home. You can wash them using saddle soap and cold water. After this, you just need to lay them to air dry.

Can You Wash Leather Gloves in a Washing Machine?

If you want your leather glove to last for a long time, you should avoid cleaning them in a washing machine.

How Do You Clean Leather Work Gloves?

When cleaning leather gloves, you will need to use mild soap and water. In case they have stains; you should use white vinegar and water when cleaning them.

How do You Rejuvenate Leather?

The best way to rejuvenate leather is by apply leather honey on the faded part. Leather honey helps in bringing back the original color.

Is Coconut Oil Good for Leather Gloves?

Yes, you can use coconut oil to condition your leather gloves.

Does Water Ruin Leather Gloves?

Most leather gloves have a protective layer that keeps them safe from excess water. Small amounts of water or spills may not damage the gloves but it makes them stiff.

Conclusion

If you own leather gloves, you need to know how to maintain them so that they can serve you for many years. For example, cleaning them may seem easy but you need to be very careful not to damage them. Make sure that you are using the recommended cleaning items because leather is highly sensitive. It is our hope that after reading this guide, now you know how to take care of leather gloves including how to clean them.

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