How to wash boxing gloves?

Sports equipment is used mercilessly and is expensive, and boxing gloves are no exception. How to care for them correctly, keep them clean and not spoil them, read on.

Is it possible to soak boxing gloves in water?

Any excess contact with water is undesirable – the product consists of different parts sewn together, stuffed with:

• horsehair;
• foamed polyurethane;
• cotton wool

All this tends to clump, losing its shape and losing the ability to protect the athlete and his sparring partner from injury. Gloves are difficult to dry, and if water lingers inside, bacteria will grow.. In addition to the risk of catching a fungus, there is a possibility of getting something with such an odor that all you have to do is throw it away.

The outer covering also does not like water - leather or leatherette may not survive washing, especially if the product is washed in a washing machine at maximum speed. If the material does not deteriorate immediately, the cracks formed on the rough skin will do their job: holes will soon form.

Advice! Storing it in a separate place, dry and dark, will help extend the life of boxing equipment.

If you had to wash: rules

Most often, this decision comes when the item begins to emit a distinct odor of sweat (bandages reduce the risk of encountering such a side effect, but people sometimes forget to use them). You can’t avoid washing even after street battles. What to do? The likelihood of buying new gloves will decrease if you follow these simple rules:

• We wash only in water with a temperature close to body temperature and with a gentle gel;
• do not twist or wring out - just lightly press to the bottom of the basin;
• If you decide to machine wash, select the no-spin mode at minimum temperature and use a liquid detergent.

The main condition for washing without loss is speed of all manipulations, eliminating long contact with water.

Advice! Don't have any special detergents at hand? You can wash them with baby shampoo. Or “adult”, but without excess chemicals.

How to get rid of an unpleasant odor without washing?

Many athletes cope with other methods of dealing with the costs of training.

Traditional ways to remove odor

You can treat gloves if they “stink” freezing method, placing them in a regular freezer overnight. To enhance the effect, the skin is treated with antibacterial cream and wrapped in polyethylene. Then, after hanging the gloves, leave them there for a couple of days.

Important! Extreme modes are harmful to the skin, so you can’t often do this with your equipment.

Coping with the problem and vinegar, table or apple cider vinegar. The concentration should not exceed 6%! Apply with a cotton swab, after which the cotton remains inside for a while. Then air the product in the fresh air - the smell of vinegar will go away in a few days.

Among the athletes there are true extreme sports people who manage to get rid of the smell of sweat using... microwaves! If you decide to do this, choose the minimum mode, otherwise the safety of the product’s leather will be questionable.

Young fathers have another non-trivial way - they send gloves to device for sterilizing children's dishes!

Industrial products

If you don't want to experiment with your equipment, visit a large sports store. Among his products are sprays with antibacterial effect in a convenient bottle that allows you to spray the product inside the glove. A couple of procedures performed in a row will neutralize the smell of sweat and defeat the infection.

Drying rules

The same rules apply for gloves as for all leather items (or leatherette). They are dried:

• away from sunlight;
• without using batteries;
• stuffing the products with old newspapers or any hygroscopic material.

It is ideal to dry gloves in the wind, but not in the sun. The drying process will take at least two days. After drying the equipment, treat its material with glycerin, castor oil or a special product for leather - colorless shoe polish will do.

Important! Never use an item that is not fully dried - the combination of moisture and sweat will create truly resort conditions for bacteria! To avoid this, it's good to have a second pair.

To wash less often: care rules

Prevention is the best way to ensure a long service life for your equipment. Hence the first rule of the athlete: come home from training - immediately unpack your bag! Sweaty clothes and shoes will generously “share” moisture and bacteria with gloves.

Advice! The habit of putting your boxing pair in a separate bag or special case will help prevent contact with a sweaty T-shirt or shorts.

Drying your gloves after each workout will delay the time when cleaning is required. Crumpled newspapers will do. Do you have an electrical device for drying shoes? Let's get to work!

Use aids: An antibacterial spray is useful before every workout, and your hands can be treated with an antiseptic liquid from the pharmacy. Bandages will also help, especially if you don’t forget to wash them.