8 Steps To Clean Boxing Gloves Inside & Out: Rid The Smell!

The steps to cleaning boxing gloves include scrubbing off dirt from outside the boxing gloves and spraying the inside and outside of the gloves with a spraying solution made of water, vinegar and essential oil.

Boxing is a popular sport that people of all ages can enjoy. While boxing is fun and challenging, it can also be dirty and smelly. Cleaning your boxing gloves is essential to keep them in good condition.

Many boxers show me their reeking gloves and ask me how they can clean them properly to keep them in the best condition. I wrote this article to answer that question.

Before you start cleaning your gloves, you should have a few basic things. These include cleaning products, deodorizers, towels, and an old toothbrush.

You should have some of these products on hand before you start the process of cleaning your boxing gloves:

1. Water – to rinse the loves properly
2. Soap Water – to clean dirt buildup.
3. Tooth Brush – to clean the stains from the gloves.
4. White distilled vinegar – to create a cleaning solution.
5. Deodorizer / Cleaner Solution – to eliminate bacteria. I used the trupod Lavender Deodorizer for this.
6. Spray bottle – to put the solution in. 
7. Towel – to scrub off the dirt as well as dry.
8. Essential Oil (Optional) – for a pleasant smell. I used the LagunaMoon Essential Oils Set for this.
9. Leather Polish (Optional) – to keep them soft. I used the Leather Honey Conditioner for this.

Step 1: Use Soap Water to Scrub off Dirt From Outside the Boxing Gloves

Cleaning the outside of the gloves is the first thing you should do after using them. This is especially important if they’ve been covered in mud or other debris. Doing this first is essential so you can get most of the dirt off the gloves before applying the solution or any kind of deodorizer. 

Wring out the dirt and debris with a cloth or paper towel, then scrub it off with a gentle soap solution. Make sure to reach all the corners and crevices. Wet your gloves thoroughly before hand-washing them. This will help remove any dirt, sweat, or residue that may have built up over time.

Ensure you get into your gloves’ nooks and crannies when cleaning the outside. The cloth will not be as helpful in this cleaning process, so using an old toothbrush would be a great idea, as it can help dislodge any built-up dirt, sweat, or bacteria from the gloves.

 

Step 2: Rinse the Outside of Boxing Gloves

Rinsing the outside of your boxing gloves is the next step. The outside of boxing gloves should be clean. It should not have mud or sweat on it as it can create bacteria on the outside of the glove, which can harm your opponent as the outside of the glove makes contact with your opponent’s body.

After you have used soap water to scrub the outside of the gloves, make sure to rinse them out carefully.

The soap water should not enter the inside of the gloves as it can make the insides of the gloves very wet, and that can cause them to die out sooner. It can damage the inner net, which can be very uncomfortable when you use the gloves again, forcing you to buy new boxing gloves.

Cleaning the inside of your gloves should be your priority, but cleaning the outside is just as important. The exterior of your gloves can have dirt, mud, and other harmful materials, considering where you have the boxing match.

It is essential to rinse the outside of the gloves first with a little bit of soapy water to ensure that there is no dirt on them. After this, you can make a solution to clean the gloves from the inside and outside of your gloves. 

Rinsing the outside of the gloves makes sure that there is no dirt left on them that can create bacteria, which can be harmful to you and your opponent if it touches the skin.

 

Step 3: Create the Spray Solution. 

The best solution for cleaning your gloves is a 50-50 solution of vinegar, water, and a few drops of tea tree oil, mixed in a spray bottle.

You will also need a kit deodorizer for a much more effective antibacterial effect. Cleaning your gloves with this solution will give you a fresh smell and eliminate any bacteria in the gloves. 

Mix water, distilled vinegar, and about ten drops of tea tree oil into the spray bottle and mix them well. Once the vinegar is dried, you won’t be able to smell the strong essence of vinegar. It is being used as an anti-bacterial component. 

After you are done drying the glove, spray the glove with the kit deodorizer and wipe that off as well. This will help get rid of any bacteria that is left on the gloves.  

 

Step 4: Thoroughly Spray the Cleaning Solution Inside and Outside of the Boxing Gloves

When you have your solution in a spray bottle, grab your gloves and soak the inside and outside of the gloves, particularly in all the areas where the fabric and the leather are, with the solution. Make sure it soaks right through the fabric.

You have to make sure that you spray your solution all over the gloves. If you miss any part of the glove, it will create bacteria in that part, which will cause your gloves to smell. After spraying your gloves thoroughly, let them soak in the solution for a few minutes before continuing to the next step.

 

Step 5: Wipe the Outside and Inside of the Boxing Gloves

After soaking the glove, simply dry it with a clean towel or a rag. Dry all the external areas of the gloves thoroughly. Then put the towel inside the glove and move it in a circular motion to dry the insides.

Make sure the towel or rag you use is clean and bacteria-free. Otherwise, you will just be using a bacterial cloth to clean your gloves, which defeats the whole point of this glove cleaning process. 

Soak up as much moisture as you can. Wipe the inside and outside of the gloves. Ensure you wipe them in all the nooks to eliminate bacteria and sweat. 

 

Step 6: Polish With Leather Polish

Use leather polish if you want the leather of the boxing gloves to not be dry and rough. Use a soft towel to apply the polish to the leather. Make sure the gloves are dry when you do so.

This will help your gloves remain soft and not get hard over time, as this can destroy the leather and be uncomfortable to wear.

With a soft towel or rag, polish the gloves’ leather. Make sure the outside of your gloves are dry and do not have any solution left on them. Do not be in a hurry while doing this.

Take your time and be gentle with your gloves. Be careful not to get any polish inside the glove as you gently rub the polish onto the gloves, as it can be difficult to clean. 

 

Step 7: Leave the Gloves to Dry

Drying the gloves after applying the leather polish is very important. If you use the gloves right after applying the polish, it can ruin the leather. Make sure to polish your gloves a few hours or a day before using them. Simply hang them to dry for at least a day to do the trick.

Drying the gloves can be a little tricky for some people. Some people opt to leave the gloves outside in the sun right after applying the polish, as the material used to make boxing gloves is unsuitable for this heat level. Therefore, do not put the gloves out in the sun after cleaning or polishing them.

One of the easiest ways to dry the gloves is to blow dry them. The one thing you should keep in mind is not to use high heat, as it can melt the polish on the gloves and ruin them.

 

Step 8: Apply Essential Oil (Optional)

Not only do essential oils offer many advantages, but they also have a lovely scent. Add ten drops into a cup of water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray it twice and let it dry.

Boxing gloves can benefit from using essential oils, including peppermint, orange, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. Additionally, several organic essential oils have antifungal and antibacterial qualities that might be useful in cleaning your gloves. 

Simply add ten drops of essential oil into a cup of water, then pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Spray each glove only twice, then wait for it to dry.

Make sure not to use a lot of essential oils on the gloves, as they can irritate your skin if you use them more than necessary, because one way or another, you or your opponent will come into contact with the gloves on your skin.

Using dirty gloves can cause a bacteria infection on your hands and make them smelly. Keeping them clean prevents that, making the gloves last longer and improving their performance.

When it comes to boxing, proper hygiene is key. It’s important to clean your gloves regularly to avoid any potential injuries and keep your hands safe. Here are a few reasons why cleaning boxing gloves are so important:

1. Bacteria Infection on Your Hands – Bacteria can grow rapidly in dirty gloves. If you don’t clean them regularly, this bacteria can cause skin infections and other health problems
2. Prevent smelly hands – This prevents embarrassment and hygiene problems.
3. Make them last longer – Cleaner gloves are less likely to tear and get damaged, making them last longer. 
4. Improve the gloves’ gripping power – Dirty gloves are full of built-up oil and sweat, which makes them slippier when punching. This does not provide a good experience as your punches won’t hit as hard. 
5. Prevent cuts while boxing – This is similar to the point above. Dirty gloves are slippery, which may cause you to bruise your opponents more and leave them with bacteria infections.

Not only is cleaning your boxing gloves important, but you also need to ensure that you keep them safe from smelling. To do this, hang them out to dry after a session, clean them regularly and use a breathable bag when storing the gloves.

Let’s go into a little bit of detail:

1. Use a breathable bag when storing your gloves – This ensures the boxing gloves can dry after use and prevent bacteria from growing.
2. Use a moisture absorption product – Store a moisture absorption product together with your gloves in the bag. These products will absorb the moisture causing your gloves to dry faster and make them fresher. Something I love to use is the Meister Glove Deodorizer, as it is inexpensive and comes in many pleasant fragrances.
3. Regularly cleaning them – Wipe them after use with disinfectant products and spray the cleaning solution.
4. Air them out after use – The most common smell from boxing gloves is because they are wet. Regularly air them out at home by hanging them in a dry place at home with lots of air circulation.

Cleaning your boxing gloves is an important task that should be done regularly to keep them in good condition. Following the simple steps, I mentioned above will help you clean your boxing gloves in no time and make them shine like new!

Boxing is a popular sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. While boxing is fun, it can also be dirty and frustrating. Learning how to clean boxing gloves can help make the process a little easier, and I hope this article helped you learn something new.