How to Properly Clean Your Boxing Gloves

Remove your gloves from your gym bag as soon as you can. When you wear boxing gloves, the bacteria on your hands transfer to the interior. These bacteria feed on the sweat inside the gloves, and as they multiply, they generate the foul odors commonly associated with unclean gym equipment. A gym bag provides an ideal environment for bacteria, as it lacks proper airflow. If you must store your gloves in a bag, take them out as soon as possible once you're home.

• Whenever possible, try to keep your gloves outside your gym bag. The more ventilation they get, the better, so transporting them outside the bag is ideal if you can.

Dry them off. As soon as your gloves come out of the gym bag, grab a towel or cloth and wipe them down to absorb any excess moisture. Wrap the towel around your hand and insert it into the glove. Move your hand around to soak up the sweat, then repeat with the other glove.

Disinfect the interior of the gloves. Once you've removed as much moisture as possible, use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water to sanitize and disinfect the inside of your gloves. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spritz the interior a few times.

• Both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar work for this purpose.
• To enhance antibacterial and antifungal effects, consider adding 5 to 10 drops of tea tree oil to the vinegar solution.
• Steer clear of harsh commercial cleaning sprays, as they can damage the gloves and cause skin irritation.
• Similarly, avoid sprays like Febreze, as they only mask odors without killing bacteria. They can also make your gloves stiff and uncomfortable.

Clean the exterior of the gloves. Lightly mist the outside of your gloves with the vinegar and water solution, ensuring the gloves are coated. Then, use a clean towel to wipe them down, removing any dirt, sweat, and extra cleaning solution.

Condition the gloves. Leather boxing gloves need regular conditioning to stay in optimal condition. Leather, being the skin of an animal, can dry out over time, similar to human skin. You can use various leather conditioners or opt for lemon essential oil.

• To condition your gloves, apply a small amount of conditioner or a few drops of oil to the exterior of the gloves. Using a lint-free cloth and circular motions, massage the oil into the leather. Afterward, wipe away any excess oil with a clean towel.

Let the gloves air dry. Since bacteria thrive in the sweat and moisture trapped inside your gloves, keeping them dry is essential to maintaining cleanliness. After sanitizing the inside with vinegar and wiping down the exterior, let your gloves dry completely.

• To air dry, fold back the wrist straps, open the gloves as wide as possible, and fasten the wrist straps to keep them open.
• Place the gloves in a well-ventilated area, such as near an open window or in front of a fan, to let them dry naturally.
• Even if you don’t clean and sanitize your gloves after every use, always allow them to dry fully between sessions. This helps prevent bacterial growth inside the gloves.

Stuff the gloves with newspaper. A quick way to help dry your gloves is by stuffing them with newspaper. The paper absorbs moisture and helps keep the gloves open for better airflow.

• Crinkle several sheets of newspaper into loose balls and stuff one into each glove. Leave them for a few hours, checking periodically. When the paper becomes damp, replace it with fresh newspaper balls.

Use a blow dryer. If you have back-to-back fights or training sessions and need your gloves to dry quickly, a blow dryer can help. Be sure to use the cool setting to avoid damaging the gloves or causing the leather to stiffen.

• Set the blow dryer to cool and direct the nozzle into the glove opening. Check every five minutes, and when one glove is dry, repeat the process for the other glove.

Eliminate odors with baking soda. Baking soda is an effective and natural deodorizer that can be used inside your boxing gloves to combat odors. Once your gloves are dry, sprinkle a pinch of baking soda inside each glove and let it sit for a couple of hours.

• To remove the baking soda, either shake out the gloves or use a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle to suck it out.

Use dryer sheets. After you've cleaned and dried your gloves, take a dryer sheet and wipe the inside of each glove. For added freshness, you can leave half a sheet in each glove until the next time you need them.

Incorporate cedar chips. Take a pair of clean cotton socks and fill each one with a handful of cedar chips (such as those used for smoking food or for pet bedding). Tie the socks loosely and place one sock inside each glove.

• If you prefer, you can use shaved pine instead.
• Cedar chips not only freshen the gloves, but they also help absorb excess moisture and bacteria.

Try essential oils. Essential oils are a wonderful way to add a pleasant scent to your boxing gloves, and certain oils also offer antibacterial and antifungal properties. To use, add 10 drops of your chosen essential oil to a spray bottle with one cup (240 ml) of water and lightly spray each glove once or twice. Some of the best essential oils for this purpose include:

• Lemongrass
• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Orange

• Hand wraps are a great way to keep your gloves cleaner and drier, as they will absorb most of the sweat from your hands. They're also easier to wash, but remember to clean them regularly.

The Freeze/Thaw method is an effective way to reduce bacteria and eliminate the associated odor.

1. Start by cleaning the items thoroughly, as dirt, grime, and sweat can shield bacteria and protect them from antimicrobial treatments. Place the items in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight.

2. The next day, take the items out and let them return to room temperature. Repeat this process multiple times, and the majority of bacteria will be eliminated. The more you repeat the freeze/thaw cycle, the more bacteria will be killed.

Bacteria tend to double approximately every 30 minutes, so keeping the gloves clean and dry, along with the preventative steps mentioned earlier, will help maintain a fresh smell. A brief period of neglect is all it takes for bacteria to grow back, as it's nearly impossible to completely rid the gloves of all bacteria. Washing your hands thoroughly before using the gloves will help prevent further buildup. Remember, dirt, oil, dead skin cells, heat, and moisture are the primary conditions where bacteria thrive, so removing these elements helps control bacterial growth.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135406002363 https://journals.asm.org/doi/full/10.1128/AEM.72.3.1784-1792.2006 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC373117/