How to wash leather gloves?

Leather gloves are an elegant wardrobe item. Like any clothing, gloves tend to get dirty; to maintain their proper appearance, it is necessary to carefully care for them. The easiest way is to wash them. But numerous sources claim that this is absolutely impossible to do. What should I do? Read further in the article.

Is it possible to wash them at home?

“Natural leather should not be wetted“. This myth can often be found on the Internet. In fact, this can and should be done if you do not want to wear dirty gloves.

Pay attention to the following nuance. Leather is a flexible and elastic material. When exposed to moisture, it stretches even more and is more susceptible to deformation, so the gloves will have to be carefully washed and dried. Washing must be done quickly, there is no need to soak the gloves in hot water for several hours, otherwise after such manipulations you will definitely have to say goodbye to them.

Important! Before washing, look at the label on the product: it usually indicates how to wash or clean the gloves. If the label is missing, do a small test: wet the least visible area of ​​the glove: if the leather behaves normally, that is, it does not stretch or shrink excessively, you can wash the entire pair.

Washing process

Before washing, inspect the gloves externally: if they are not completely dirty, you can wash individual areas. If you cannot do without a full wash, then take all precautions.

To carry out the procedure you will need:

• basin with water;
• detergent (better use mild baby soap or glycerin soap);
• terry towel or microfiber.

First you need apply soapy water. Dissolve a little solid or liquid soap in warm water. Pay attention to the water temperature - 35°C is enough, otherwise the skin will warp or shrink several times. Next, put gloves on your hands and start washing. Don't ignore this step: if you wash your gloves as normal, they will definitely become deformed. They are provided with a good frame on their hands.

The washing movements should be as if you were simply soaping your hands. Make smooth and light movements, do not press too hard or twist your fingers. Force should be applied only in areas where rough seams are located.

Don't wash your gloves for too long. The color of the water will become a guide: as soon as it stops darkening, you will understand that all the dirt has gone. note that some skin may stain, so it takes a long time to shed. Distinguish paint from dirt in water.

After these manipulations, all you have to do is rinse the pair thoroughly without removing it from your hands. There’s no point in “gurgling” for a long time - a couple of minutes is enough. You can use either running water from the tap or prepare a basin with clean water at room temperature in advance.

Important! Do not wring out gloves under any circumstances! Shake off excess water without removing them from your hands. Lay a towel on a flat horizontal surface: carefully place wet gloves on one edge, and cover them with the other end. Press down lightly, but do not place anything on top. Leave in this position until excess moisture is absorbed.

Features of washing light and dark leather

The washing method largely depends on the color of the leather product. Light and white leather is much more delicate than dark leather, so it should be treated more carefully and cleaned in a gentle way. Do not completely wet light-colored gloves, as there is a high probability that yellow stains will appear on them.. You can clean them using a solution of milk and soda:

• from these ingredients prepare a mixture similar in consistency to gruel;
• gently wipe the skin.

Light, delicate skin can be cleaned with ammonia. For this, 2 tbsp. l. ammonia should be diluted in 8 tbsp. l. ordinary water. Use the resulting solution to wipe off stains well. For greater effect, add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to the solution.. With their help, long-standing or stubborn stains are removed well.

If your pair of gloves is made of dark brown or black leather, then there should be no problems with cleaning it. Try preparing a solution from:

• 5 tsp. hydrogen peroxide;
• 5 tsp. washing powder or washing gel;
• 1 tsp. ammonia;
• half a glass of ordinary water.

Mix all the ingredients and apply the soap solution to the surface using cotton wool or a small sponge. Pay special attention to greasy stains. After this, rinse the pair with cool water or wipe with a sponge soaked in water. This method is also quite gentle because it eliminates complete soaking in water.

What to do with the lining? How to treat from the inside?

Over time, gloves become dirty not only on the outside, but also on the inside. You can wash the fabric lining in the same way. To do this, turn the gloves inside out and wipe them with a soap solution or a mixture of water with peroxide and ammonia.

Important! If the gloves are very worn, you can wash them entirely. To do this, turn the pair inside out and place them in a bowl of water. Do not soak for a long time: a few minutes is enough.

Soapy water should be washed off with clean, cool water. You can use a vinegar solution, which will further clean the lining.

How to dry leather gloves correctly?

To maintain its shape, it is very important to follow the drying rules. This procedure largely determines whether you will be able to wear them later.

Never wring out leather products. It is better to leave them in a horizontal position so that excess moisture drains naturally. You can leave them wrapped in a terry towel for a while so that the water is absorbed.

Further drying should not occur in a normal lying position. Ideally, use a special frame in the shape of a hand onto which the gloves are pulled. You can make it yourself using thick wire. After this, all that remains is to wait for it to dry completely.

Important! Never dry leather items on a radiator or near other heat sources! This also applies to direct sunlight. Hot, dry air will cause the skin to become rough and cracked.

How to treat after drying?

After the gloves dry naturally, do not rush to put them on immediately. Dry and dehydrated skin needs to be nourished. Castor oil or glycerin will help with this (you can use regular hand cream). Apply a little grease to a cotton pad and quickly wipe the surface. Don't use too much oil, otherwise it will not be able to absorb, and greasy stains will remain on the gloves. Leave the gloves on the form for another half hour until the product is completely absorbed.

Advice! Shoe departments sell leather shoe care creams. They are equally suitable for caring for leather gloves.

How to refresh and add shine to your skin?

Leather gloves usually begin to shine after they are lubricated with a rich cream. If this does not happen, just take a clean woven cloth and rub the leather with gentle movements (in the same way as you wipe your shoes). After such manipulations, the skin will look its best.