How to Clean Your Boxing Gloves? — Quick & Easy Tips

Anyone who dreams of becoming a boxing champion like Muhammad Ali someday knows exactly how important it is to train every single day. Similarly, learning how to clean boxing gloves and keeping them away from bad smells is just as important so that it doesn’t come as a distraction during your sweaty training sessions.

This is a common issue in sports like MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai and Kickboxing.  Many amateurs and even the pros think giving their boxing gloves a quick wash or spraying them with a disinfectant is enough to get rid of the bacteria and odour, but actually, that’s not the case.

Let’s find out why it is important to clean boxing gloves before your workout, along with 5 easy and quick ways to do it!

Why is it necessary to clean boxing gloves before your workout?

It is necessary because it is a part of personal hygiene and nobody likes to train with someone who stinks badly. They get really nasty if you don’t wash them and give away the smell of a rotten egg. The stink actually comes from the bacteria formed due to the excess sweat from your palms that stays trapped in your gloves when you don’t dry them properly. Also, this may cause skin irritation or an allergic rash between your fingers which may later lead to skin infection and of course, get in the way of your training.

5 best ways to clean your boxing gloves at home

Use salt water solution

This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to clean your boxing gloves without having a worry about spending a dollar. Salt is great for fighting bacteria and getting rid of bad smells from your boxing gloves. Just make sure that you use a little amount of that first, to see if it doesn’t ruin the material—Some gloves can react to salt that’s why it is necessary to check. If they’re good to go, soak them in salt water overnight, let them air dry, and they’ll be fresh and smell-free.

Sprinkle baking soda

Baking soda? Yes, you heard it right! Believe it or not, it is one of the oldest way and best DIY methods for cleaning sticky boxing gloves and socks. To clean, all you have to do is sprinkle some powder inside the gloves and then let it do its work. In a few hours simply shake out the baking powder and there you have your gloves good as new.

Use Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is known for its antibacterial properties. It works great for cleaning your boxing gloves, boxing shoes, and punching bags. Here’s how to use it for your gloves:

• Pour a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into your palm.
• Rub it into the inside of your gloves.
• Let the gloves dry overnight, and by morning, the smell should be gone.

Use boxing gloves deodorizer

Boxing gloves deodorizer is another alternative that can help you deal with this issue quickly. Just put deodorizer into your gloves after every use to help reduce smell and moisture. It’s very convenient and will last long, keeping the gloves free from bacteria while making them smell good.

Tea bags

Tea bags can help make your boxing gloves smell better by soaking up moisture and bad smells. Just toss a couple of tea bags inside your gloves for a few hours. But still, this method may not be very useful in the long term because during your training you may sweat a lot and the tea bags may not dry your gloves properly.

Do gloves with mesh inserts help reduce sweat?

Mesh inserts help keep your hands from getting too sweaty during training. These small holes, usually in the palm or thumb of the glove, let air in, so the gloves dry faster when they get wet. This way, your hands stay drier, and the gloves don’t stay wet for long. 

It is used in the training session to allow airflow and also when the gloves are off and hanging outside the punching bag to dry.

Final Takeaway

Keeping your boxing gloves clean is super important to avoid bad smells and help them last longer. Easy tricks like using salt water, apple cider vinegar, or a glove deodorizer can stop bacteria and keep them fresh. Make sure to clean and dry your gloves after each workout to keep them in great condition.

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