Your hands sweat
profusely in training sessions. This sweat will seep into your gloves and make
them a breeding place for bacteria. Bacteria not only smell bad but can also
cause skin infections. You have to take precautionary measures before this
smell develops as once it’s developed you cannot get rid of it. There are a
number of methods to clean boxing gloves but you have to choose a method which
does not damage material of the gloves. Following are different methods for
cleaning your gloves:
Precautions:
Prevention is better than cure. This also holds up for gloves as you cannot cure already developed smell. The worst mistake to avoid is keeping your sweaty gloves in your gym bag after practice. Your gym bag is dark, warm and damp - a perfect environment for bacterial growth. You better hang your gloves where ventilation or sun is available to help dry out. Don’t put your gloves in washing machine or dryer.
Saltwater Soak:
You can eliminate bacteria by soaking your gloves into saline solution overnight. Saltwater soak is a substitute to boiling gloves. Afterwards, put your gloves in the sunlight to dry. This method will remove all the smell and dust. But this method is not suitable for all materials so you have to do some research before applying this method.
Glove Dogs:
Glove dogs are
manufactured by a number of companies and are easily available. These are good
for getting rid of any smell when gloves are not in use. You can make your own
glove dog at your home. Take a pair of socks, fill them with cedar chips. Stuff
each sock into each glove. You can also stuff your gloves with newspaper.
Antibacterial Spray:
Using antibacterial spray can considerably reduce growth of bacteria inside your gloves. When you are drying your gloves, spray your gloves with any antibacterial spray. This is also a quick way to freshen up your gloves. However, you cannot solely rely on this method as it overcomes smell temporarily.
Freezing Method:
When your gloves have
developed smell that you are unable to eliminate with drying or spraying,
freezing is a useful option. You should put your gloves in airtight plastic bag
while doing so. After freezing, keep your gloves in sunlight for 1-2 days. It
helps eliminate hibernated bacteria.
Keeping your Boxing Gloves clean and free of bacteria is necessary. When your gloves develop smell, your hand stinks making you and your partner uncomfortable.
