How to Wash Leather Gloves

With proper care, leather gloves can last a very long time. But they often become unusable not because they are dirty or get damaged in the process of wearing, but because the owners don’t know how to take care of them. But the rules are pretty simple.

5-Minute Crafts wants to share some tips for how to wash leather gloves and remind you about the things you should not be doing.

Cleaning outside

1. Put the gloves on your hands. This will allow you to thoroughly wash hard-to-reach areas and better control the cleaning process.

2. Lightly dampen the gloves with water. To do this, place them for a couple of seconds under running tap water. It’s important to just moisten them a little and not soak them completely.

3. Use a bar of mild saddle soap or cream soap for cleaning. Saddle soap is specially designed for washing leather products, so it’s more preferable, but liquid soap will also do the job. Lather your gloves, paying special attention to hard-to-reach and heavily soiled areas. Do not rub too hard to avoid damaging the leather.

4. Rinse off the remaining soap under running, slightly warm water. Your movements should be similar to those you make when washing your hands. Pay attention to any soap residue. Everything must be thoroughly clean and rinsed.

❗ Never soak gloves in water and avoid machine washing. Leather is a delicate material that doesn’t tolerate excessive moisture and aggressive treatment.

Cleaning inside

1. If there is no lining:

• Mix hydrogen peroxide and household ammonia in a 1:1 ratio.
• Turn the glove inside out. Wipe the inner surface with a sponge moistened with the solution.
• Leave for 15 minutes.
• Clean with a brush.

2. If the lining is made of fabric:

• Turn the glove inside out and assess how dirty it is. If there are a few stains, you can just do a light cleaning with a brush dipped in water.
• For more serious stains, use a soapy solution. Apply it with a cotton pad to the inner surface and then remove it with a clean, damp cloth.

3. If the lining is made of fur:

• Sprinkle talcum powder or potato starch on the inside side of the glove.
• Lightly rub the powder into the fur. You will see how it becomes dark and dirty.
• Remove talcum powder with a soft brush. Repeat the procedure if necessary.

Drying

1. Pat the wet gloves with a soft towel. You can use a microfiber cloth. Wrap the gloves in the cloth and wait for the excess moisture to be absorbed. This can take about 15 minutes.

2. Remove the gloves from the towel and straighten them. Lay them on a flat surface in a shaded area.

3. It is important that the gloves retain their shape. To do this, you can use a hand mannequin or build a hand frame yourself from a wire. If you don’t have any of these objects, put on your gloves from time to time while you’re drying them, straightening them, and restoring their correct shape.

❗ Forget about drying your gloves on a radiator or in direct sunlight. Excessive exposure to high temperatures will damage the leather and it will shrink and crack.

Surface treatment

• Use special creams to make your gloves resistant to moisture. When buying them, pay attention to whether they will suit your particular accessory. This is especially important for leather in lighter colors

• Lubricate the surface of the gloves with a greasy product. Glycerin, petroleum jelly, or castor oil are perfect for this. Your gloves will not only shine in a new way, but they will also receive excellent protection from drying out and cracking.

• Do a light cleaning at least a couple of times a week if you wear your gloves every day. It’s easier to remove a small spot right away than to try to get rid of old dirt later.