Last updated on : October 2nd, 2022 at 02:36 pm
Taking good care of your gloves shouldn’t be hard work. If your gloves are made of great quality in the first place, you only have to do a little caring. A good pair should be able to retain its definition, shape, and resistance in the coming years to repay its purchasing cost. Nevertheless, I have firsthand experience in how a pair of gloves that have been taken care of can end up. Every glove is bound to need a little love and care from its owner to last long. And if you want to enjoy that longevity, you’ll want to know the proper way of caring for your gloves.
I know you have plenty of questions. Can you wash your gloves? How can you clean the ling of your gloves if there are any? Will your gloves shrink when they get wet? Well, you shouldn’t panic because I’ll be here to answer your every glove care-related questions. From how to wash your Kevlar gloves to how to prevent your leather gloves from stretching – I have put together the ultimate guide to caring for your gloves. please read here gloves for working in a freezer.
Different Gloves, Different Ways To Care
Not every glove is made with the same material and every material has different features. In turn, every material has its own requirements for caring. There are gloves that are meant to help you stay warm, while there are pairs will help you stay cool. You can find gloves that will aid you in performing your tasks, while there are pairs that help you relieve pain. There are gloves that are meant for easy tasks, while there are pairs meant for difficult work.
1. How to Take Care of Leather Gloves
Leather is a naturally flexible and durable material. It’s created from tanned skin and the rawhide of animals. The most common raw material being used is cattle hide. It can be produced at different levels of manufacturing; it can be manufactured at an artisan level or at an industrial level. The material can also be produced using different styles to create different types. It can also be designed in a wide range of ways.
How Can You Clean Leather Gloves?
Like every product made with high-quality leather, caring for your gloves made of leather should be done with the utmost care. It’s also my advice that you only wash or clean them only if it’s necessary.
The colors of leather materials are almost always delicate because animal skins are full blossom. This is because the skins go through dying and tanning additives. You can fix the color, but you should avoid using inappropriate chemicals when washing them.
However, there are instances that your gloves may get lightly marked. Gladly, I’ve figured a way that may work. Here it is:
- In a deep bowl, prepare a mixture of lukewarm water mixed with pure soap flakes.
- Have a soft cloth in hand that you can use to wipe down your leather gloves. Dip the cloth in the lukewarm solution and wipe down the gloves. Make sure to be gentle and use circular strokes.
- You should never wash leather gloves using a washing machine. It’s also my advice that you avoid fully submerging them in water.
- When you’re already done, wipe the leather gloves with a dry and soft piece of cloth. To fully dry them, hang them in a place where there’s a breeze but not direct sunlight.
- Before using the gloves, you may feel that they have stiffened a little bit. In my experience, it’s always best to put them on and off a couple of times before actually using them. This allows the material to stretch to your hands’ contours. please read here copper compression gloves arthrits hands.
How Can You Clean The Lining Of Your Leather Gloves?
Almost all of, if not all, leather gloves are lined with other materials to ensure their wearers’ warmth and comfort. There are companies that use cotton, while there are manufacturers those use silk, and some even use wool. Unfortunately, because of leather’s nature, the gloves cannot be fully submerged in water. This makes it hard to clean their lining.
It’s my advice that you avoid cleaning the gloves’ lining. You may end up damaging the lining if you try to do so. If you really need to clean the lining, it’s best that you take your leather gloves to a specialist dry cleaner.
How Can You Waterproof Your Leather Gloves?
You have to remember that leather is a piece of skin, thus it naturally has some form of resistance to the elements. As long as you don’t go dipping your leather gloves in water or other forms of liquid, then you’ll be just fine. However, there are products that you can use to further enhance the water resistance ability of your leather gloves. You can use products that are made of wax or are wax-like inconsistency to add an extra layer of coverage to your gloves. It’s worth noting that when using these products, you may be compromising the natural tint of your gloves. read more here best archery gloves.
What you need to remember is that, with or without additional waterproofing, if your leather gloves do get wet, you should never dry them using the help of external heat. Avoid drying your gloves using a dryer, hair blower, radiator, fire, or even direct sunlight. I cannot emphasize this any further, the best route is to let your leather gloves dry naturally. You can hang dry them or place them in an area where there’s some sort of breeze.
If you want, you can rub leather creme on your leather gloves once they get dry. This will help you keep your gloves soft. Leather cremes are easily available in the market and can be found in different shades of black, white, brown, and of course, natural.
How To Prevent Your Leather Gloves From Stretching?
In my experience, if your leather gloves are of high quality, you shouldn’t be worried about them stretching. The material is considered by most glove makers and manufacturers as a gift from the gods. It has a natural elasticity while recovery. This allows your hands to easily pass through them while reforming their shape to your hands’ contours.
It’s the skill glove cutter of a glove in picking the perfect piece of leather for the different parts of the glove and then know how to prepare the leather. With the skills of the glove cutter, the gloves can retain the perfect amount of elasticity that will have the makings of the best leather gloves.
It’s my advice that you make an effort in investing for a pair of high-quality leather gloves. However, properly caring for your gloves made of leather can help you go a long way.
2. How to Take Care of Rubber Gloves
When working on your household chores, wearing rubber gloves can significantly protect you from dirt and chemicals. But what can you do to protect your rubber gloves from deteriorating or getting broken easily? While rubber gloves are really cheap and can be easily replaced, it still can be annoying to find that they are leaking or no longer working properly. It’s also a bad sign when your rubber gloves start smelling since they may be already housing germs and molds. Since nobody wants to wear moldy or leaky gloves, let me teach you the ways of caring for your gloves made of rubber.
#1. Rinse Your Rubber Gloves’ Outer Layer Thoroughly
The very dirt and chemicals that your rubber gloves are protecting you from are the same dirt and chemicals that stay on its outer layer. Dedicate some time to cleaning your rubber gloves after using them. It’s my advice that you wash them while still wearing them to avoid getting in contact with the dirt and chemicals that you’re washing away.
Hang them dry after and make sure that they’re completely dry before using them again. In my experience, it’s best that you turn the rubber gloves inside out before using them and let them dry. The moisture inside the gloves can end up encouraging the growth of bacteria or mold.
#2. Make Sure Your Rubber Gloves Are Protected When Being Stored
Let’s be honest, most of us just put our rubber gloves in just any place that we find +convenient. We place them in kitchen drawers or even on top of our fridge and only remember them when we need them. However, what I discovered is that properly storing your gloves not only keeps them clean but also prolongs their lifespan.
It’s best that you avoid placing your rubber gloves where there’s a stream of direct sunlight or anywhere where there’s a heat source. If you place them where it can be hot, they may end up melting. It’s also advisable that you avoid storing them in cold or moist areas since it encourages the growth of molds. You should also avoid storing them anywhere near sharp objects as they may end up getting punctured or sliced. What I did was store them in a box and placed that box in an area where there’s room temperature.
#3. Use Different Pairs For Different Tasks
In my experience, it’s best that what you use when washing dishes is different from what you used when cleaning your bathroom. You don’t want that the dirt, chemicals, and bacteria that you scrubbed away from your toilet and may be on your rubber gloves would transfer to your plates.
It can be easier if you have a different pair for every task that needs rubber gloves. If you often get confused about which is which, I advise you to use a different color for every task. It would also help you prevent contamination if you store them in separate places. Having separate boxes for every pair greatly helped me in doing this.
#4. Make Sure Your Hands Are Clean Before Putting Your Rubber Gloves On
Cleanliness always starts with you. This is why one of the best ways to care for your rubber gloves is by making sure that your hands are clean before using them. Dirty hands may end up making your gloves dirty, which in turn defeats your gloves’ purpose.
I have practiced washing my hands and wiping them dry before putting my rubber gloves on. This helped me prevent contamination inside the gloves. Ensuring that your hands are clean is essential in caring for your gloves made of rubber.
3. How to Take Care of Woolen Gloves
The process of caring for your gloves that are made of wool is not as simple as you think. Wool is a delicate fiber and can be easily ruined by rough handling, harsh ingredient, and high temperatures. There are also plenty of different kinds of wool, and each needs its own special way of caring.
Although gloves made of wool do not need to be frequently washed. However, whenever they’re washed, you need to take special steps.
Here are the different kinds of wool and the ways caring for your gloves made of them:
3.1 Merino Wool Gloves Care Tips
Merino wool is not only a lightweight material but is also an odor-resistant one. They make great outdoor gloves since they are breathable and can easily wick away moisture.
a. Machine-Wash of Merino Wool Gloves
If the pair that you have purchased can be washed using a washing machine, make sure to wash them on a delicate cycle. Use a gentle detergent and warm water.
To prevent them from running, put them inside a pouch. You should also rinse them using warm water.
Do not wring them, instead wrap them in a towel and let the towel absorb the moisture. Do not use a dryer to dry, instead lay them flat and air dry them.
b. Hand-Wash of Merino Wool Gloves
Fill a basin or a deep bowl with warm water mixed with mild detergent. Dip your gloves in the solution and leave them there for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse the detergent off by using warm water.
Avoid wringing your gloves. Gently squeeze them with the help of a towel. The towel will absorb the water. Then, air dry them.
3.2 Cashmere Wool Gloves Care Tips
Cashmere wool is made from the fiber taken from cashmere goats. It has a fine texture making it soft and light but strong. They provide you great insulation while is quite durable.
a. Machine-Wash
When washing your cashmere gloves in a washing machine, make sure to put them inside a pouch. The pouch will protect your gloves from getting in contact with other fabric or objects that may damage them. Make sure to use cold water and only a small amount of mild detergent.
Set your washing machine on a delicate spin and short spin cycle. Never use an external heater to dry your cashmere gloves. It’s my advice that you air dry them.
b. Hand-Wash
Turn your cashmere gloves inside out. Lather a clean piece of cloth with soapy water and scrub it on your gloves. Make sure to use circular strokes to avoid stretching them.
Rinse the piece of cloth and wipe your cashmere gloves with it. Wipe your gloves until there’s no residue left.
Avoid wringing the gloves and let the air do the heavy lifting.
3.3. Acrylic Wool Gloves
Gloves made of quality acrylic wool are durable. The material can keep your harms warm even during winter. This man-made fiber can efficiently dissipate moisture and offers its wearers plenty of choices since they’re available in different colors.
a. Machine-Wash
Make sure to put your acrylic gloves inside a bag to provide them extra protection. Use warm water and use mild detergent. Make sure to set your washing machine in a delicate cycle and short spin. Rinse them with warm water.
You should avoid tumble drying your acrylic gloves. Wrap them in a towel and let the towel as much moisture as possible. Spread them flat on a dry towel and let the air do all the work.
b. Hand-Wash
If your acrylic gloves are delicate, hand wash them. Make sure to use a mild detergent and warm water. Soak the gloves in the solution for five to ten minutes. Rinse them using warm water.
Do not wring your acrylic gloves, instead wrap them in a dry towel. The towel will absorb the excess water. Then, let them flat on a dry towel and airdry them.
3.4 Australian Wool Gloves Care Tips
Gloves made of Australian wool naturally possess crease-resistance, stain repulsion, and breathability. The material beautifully drapes on your hands. It also retains color even after a few washes.
a. Machine- Wash
If the pair that you have purchased can be machine-washed, remember to use the wool wash setting. Use cold water and mild detergent. Avoid tumble drying your Australian wool gloves.
Lightly squeeze the water out of them. Then, spread them on a flat surface where there’s no direct sunlight or heat.
b. Hand- Wash
Wash your Australian wool gloves using lukewarm water and a mild detergent. You should rinse them using cold water.
Roll them in a dry towel and let the towel absorb the excess water. Lay them flat on a dry towel away from any direct source of light or heat.
3.5 Angora Wool Gloves Care Tips
Gloves made of angora wool are not only light but also warm. The hollow shaft of the material easily fills with warmth and will retain it. It is soft and silky, making them a comfortable pair to wear. They come in a variety of colors, letting you enjoy them in style.
Hand- Wash
In a basin or a deep bowl, mix cold water and mild soap. Soak your angora gloves for not less than 5 minutes. Rinse them using cold water and avoid squeezing, wringing, or twisting them when you’re drying them.
Roll your angora gloves in a towel and let the towel absorb the water. Then, spread them flat on a dry towel and let the air dry them. Avoid placing them anywhere with direct sunlight or heat.
3.6 Blended Wool Gloves
Gloves made of blended wool are usually made of 20% synthetic fiber and 80% wool. The combination creates a resilient but comfortable material. As a result, you can enjoy the durability of the synthetic fiber while feeling the warmth of wool.
a. Machine-Wash
When washing blended wool gloves in your washing machine, remember to use the gentle cycle. Either warm or cold water is okay, as long as you’re using a mild detergent. Avoid twisting or wringing your gloves when drying them.
Roll your blended wool gloves in a dry towel. Then, spread them somewhere there’s a shade.
b. Hand-Wash
When handwashing your blended wool gloves, make sure to use a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Soak them in the solution for at least 5 minutes but not more than 10 minutes. Swirl them gently before taking them away from the solution. Please read here best wool gloves.
Rinse them with room temperature water until the detergent is gone. Avoid wringing them.
Roll them in a dry towel and let the towel absorb the water. Air dry them by laying them flat on a towel spread.
Caring Is Protecting
Caring for your gloves is caring for your hands. For them to efficiently protect you and your digits, you need to protect them too. A high-quality pair does not need much care, but a little bit goes a long way. Even the most expensive pair of gloves will not last long if you do not take good care of them. Remember, caring for your gloves is almost the same as protecting your hands.