How to Properly Wash Motorcycle Gloves
Motorcycle gloves are an important piece of gear for any rider. Just like winter running gears, they provide protection against the wind and rain and help keep your hands warm on cold days. To keep them in good shape, you must clean them regularly. This blog post explains how to properly clean motorcycle gloves.
Gloves are a part of your motorcycle protective gear. They keep your hands from getting hurt if you fall and make it more comfortable to ride for a long time.
If you’ve been wearing your gloves for days, they’ll likely be dirty and smelly. Cleaning them will remove the dirt and make them last longer. If this is your first time washing gloves, these are the measures to take.
There are different motorcycle gloves that you can find on the market. The two most common materials for gloves are textile and leather. Textile gloves also have some leather parts. Before you wash your gloves, you need to figure out what material they are made from. Each type of material requires a unique cleaning process.
How to Clean Motorcycle Gloves Made of Textiles/Fabric
You are responsible for keeping your fabric or textile gloves clean if made of fabric or textile material. These gloves are easy to clean and do not need any additional soap; just a neutral detergent and water will do. Your textile gloves may be washed in two simple steps:
1. Wash Them
You can wear your fabric gloves when you are cleaning your hands. Put them on, and then put your hands in a bucket of water with some cold water and neutral detergent. Rinse your hands like you normally would.
You can also wash them when not wearing them. Place them over a running faucet, ensuring that both the palm and back are in touch with the water.
Use your hands to work the inside of the gloves.
When cleaning your textile gloves, use neutral soap and avoid detergents that contain solvents or abrasives. These chemicals might damage your gloves.
2. Dry Them
You’ve finished cleaning your gloves. Now it’s time to dry them. Assure that you are performing this task in a well-ventilated place where the air may circulate freely and drive away any unpleasant odors. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight since the UV rays may cause damage.
If your gloves have some leather parts, like padding, do not use the following method to clean them. The shape of these leather parts will change when they dry.
How to Wash Leather Motorcycle Gloves
Leather requires extra attention. This means that cleaning leather gloves may require a little more effort than washing textile gloves. The following are the steps for cleaning leather gloves:
1. Remove Any Dirt or Grime That Has Accumulated on the Surface.
Water-resistant gloves can be rinsed with water after they have been used. But leather gloves cannot be rinsed because the water will make them wrap and stiffen when they dry, so you need to clean them without soap or water.
You will need some oil-based soap and a clean, soft cloth. Use the cloth to rub on your leather gloves in small circles.
If any spots or stains do not disappear after scrubbing, apply additional soap to the area and rub it for a few more seconds to see if the stains disappear.
2. Dry Them
After wiping away the dirt and filth from the surface of your leather gloves, you’ll want to properly dry them. To accomplish this, they should be placed in a well-ventilated room that is not exposed to direct sunlight. The sun might cause the gloves to fracture.
Drying leather gloves over a high heat source is not a good idea. The animal hide can be damaged, and it will not work. Dryers are not good for drying your gloves either. Hang the gloves on clothes hangers to dry, but make sure that they are hanging in the right way so that air can flow inside and out of the gloves to dry them quickly.
3. Condition Them
After you have dried the gloves, you will need to condition them with a good leather conditioner. This will help replace the oils you removed from the leather when washed with water. Additionally, it will help prevent the formation of cracks in the gloves, which can occur when they become wet. This will make the gloves last longer.
How do I use conditioner? Dip a clean, soft cloth in the conditioner and rub it all over your gloves. Then rub the front and back of your gloves. Make sure you also put some on the seams and stitches.
Wait 30 minutes after curing all surfaces of your gloves to allow the conditioner to penetrate the leather. You’re done washing your leather gloves!
Extra Tips:
- You can disinfect your gloves by spraying them with a small amount of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
- To avoid any bad smells on your gloves, try sprinkling some baking soda and cornstarch inside them.
- Store your leather gloves in a clean, dry, and temperature-controlled place. This will help the leather stay in good condition until you can use them again.
Why Clean Motorcycle Gloves?
Cleaning your motorcycle gloves is important and much easier than detailing your motorcycle! Just like the rest of your gear, taking care of your gloves will help them last longer and work better. Here are a few quick reasons why washing your gloves is critical:
1. To Prevent Them From Wearing Quickly
If you do not clean your gloves, the dirt will build upon them. This dirt will slowly wear away at the material of your gloves, whether it is textile or leather. The dirt can even make your gloves dirty and cracked.
These cuts short their lifespan and ability to provide you with a comfortable riding experience, so you need to find a new pair.
2. To Maintain Their Effectiveness
Apart from the dirt on your hands, the oil and grease can also affect how well your gloves work.
You can’t stop your hands from getting oily. But you can clean your gloves with soap and water to get the oil off.
3. Extend Their Lifespan
You want your motorcycle gloves to last for a long time and protect your hands, right?
You must look after your leather gloves. This means cleaning them and conditioning them to keep them in good condition for a long time.
If these gloves get too dry, they might crack and feel hard against your skin. If they get too wet, they will deteriorate and lose their effectiveness.
Maintaining your gloves properly will keep them happy, and they will want to work for you for many years.
How Often to Wash Your Motorcycle Gloves
In general, depending on how frequently you wear your gloves, it is a good idea to wash them regularly. If you use them every day, you should wash them every week. If you only use them occasionally, you can wait a month to wash them.
If you ride your bike a long way, and your gloves are sweaty because of it, you should rinse them right away instead of waiting until the end of the week.
You should clean your motorcycle gloves every time you wash the other parts of your motorcycle gear.
Final Verdict
If you want to keep your biking gloves from wearing out, you need to clean them often. This will remove the dirt, which will help keep them from deteriorating. If they are kept clean, they will last a long time and be more effective.
For more information about the best motorcycle gloves, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Wash Motorcycle Gloves
Can I machine wash motorcycle gloves?
We can wash them in the machine. As is customary, we advise against wearing them with delicate clothing.
How Do You Clean Smelly Motorcycle Gloves?
Just fill a sink with cold water. Pour in some Milton (or other brands) and soak your gloves, boots, or smelly trainers for two hours. Then wash them normally.
Can I Put My Gloves in the Washing Machine?
All gloves manufactured from these materials are machine washable. Use cold water and moderate laundry detergent when laundering cotton, polyester, or wool gloves. Use warm water and a light detergent on nylon. Additionally, you can soak them in water and wash them by hand with a moderate detergent.
Can Leather Motorcycle Gloves Be Washed?
If your boots are leather with a man-made lining, turn them inside out and hand wash them with some detergent for delicate clothing. Rinse them well and let them dry naturally. Do not put them on a radiator or in the microwave to dry.
How Do You Wash Alpinestars Motorcycle Gloves?
To remove sweat from your gloves, wash them with soap and water. Rinse the gloves well with clean water, avoiding excessive pressure. You can soak the gloves in clear water for a few minutes to loosen them up and draw the sweat out. Now, using soap and water, wash the inside of the gloves.
Can You Wash Dirt Bike Gloves?
Put on the fabric gloves that you wear when you are riding. Immerse your hands in a pail of cold water and a mild detergent. Gently scrub the dirt off. Alternatively, wash them without gloves.
What Makes the Gas Smell Out of Gloves?
Replenish the bucket with 1 cup cola and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Put the gloves together. Allow the gloves to soak for at least 12 hours. Thoroughly rinse the gloves and then hang or lay them out in the sun to dry.
How Do You Get the Smell Out of Gloves?
Put one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into your hand or onto a clean towel. Rub it inside your gloves thoroughly. Then let them dry overnight in a well-ventilated area. In the morning, you should not smell the vinegar anymore. If you do, repeat the process.
How Often Should You Wash Gloves?
Throughout the winter, mittens and gloves should be washed at least three to five times. But if you are using them in a store, wash them more often.
How Do You Clean Leather Motorcycle Gloves?
To clean the interior of the gloves, use soap and water. Dilute soap in water; do not immediately apply soap concentrate to gloves. Hand soap that is antibacterial in nature works effectively. Allow a few minutes for the gloves to soak in the soapy water.