You've invested good money in quality boxing gloves. Perhaps you spent weeks researching, comparing brands, reading reviews. Now that they're yours, proper care will determine whether they last six months or six years. Beyond longevity, proper glove maintenance also prevents the bacterial growth that turns gym bags into biohazards and protects your skin from fungal infections.
This guide covers everything you need to know to keep your gloves fresh, functional, and fighting-ready for years to come.
Understanding Why Gloves Deteriorate
Before diving into maintenance, it helps to understand what causes glove deterioration. The primary enemy is moistureâspecifically, the sweat that accumulates inside your gloves during every training session. This moisture creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive, causing odour and potential skin infections.
The second enemy is improper drying and storage. When gloves are left damp and enclosed, moisture has nowhere to go. The interior lining breaks down, padding compresses permanently, and that distinctive "gym glove smell" becomes impossible to eliminate.
Most gloves that are thrown away before their time aren't structurally failedâthey're abandoned because they smell so bad no one can train near them. Odour prevention is the single most impactful aspect of glove care.
After Every Training Session
The most critical glove care happens immediately after training. What you do in the 30 minutes after taking off your gloves largely determines their long-term condition.
Step 1: Remove Hand Wraps Immediately
Don't walk out of the gym with sweaty hand wraps still inside your gloves. Remove them immediately so air can begin circulating inside the glove. The wraps trap enormous amounts of moisture that will transfer to your glove interior if left in place.
Step 2: Wipe Down the Interior
Using a clean, dry cloth or paper towel, wipe out the interior of each glove. This removes surface sweat before it soaks deeper into the lining. Some boxers use antibacterial wipes for this stepâjust make sure they're not too harsh for the glove material.
Step 3: Air Them Out
Never, ever put your gloves directly into a closed gym bag after training. Open both gloves as wide as possible and let them air out. Many boxers hang their gloves from the wrist strap or prop them open in their gym locker until they leave.
The thirty-minute window after training is when your gloves are most vulnerable. Addressing moisture immediately prevents most odour and deterioration problems before they start.
Drying Your Gloves Properly
Once home, your gloves need to dry completely before storage. Incomplete drying is the single biggest cause of glove odour and premature failure.
Deodorising Inserts
Cedar shoe trees or commercial glove deodorisers work excellently. Insert them into your gloves after wiping downâthey absorb remaining moisture and leave a fresh scent. Some boxers use newspaper or paper towels as a budget alternative, changing them every few hours until the gloves are dry.
Air Circulation
Position your gloves in a well-ventilated area, ideally with the wrist opening facing a fan or natural airflow. Some boxers use a small USB fan directed into their gloves overnight. Avoid direct sunlight, which can dry and crack leather, and never use direct heat sources like hair dryers or radiatorsâthese damage glove materials.
Drying Time
Allow at least 24 hours for gloves to dry completely between sessions. If you train daily, consider having two pairs of gloves to rotate. This not only ensures dry gloves for every session but also dramatically extends the lifespan of each pair.
Never put boxing gloves in a clothes dryer, even on low heat. The tumbling and heat will damage the padding, destroy the shape, and can melt adhesives that hold the glove together. Air drying only, always.
Weekly Deep Cleaning
In addition to after-session care, a weekly deep clean keeps gloves in optimal condition.
Interior Sanitising
Create a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, or use a commercial sports gear sanitiser. Lightly spray the interior of each gloveâdon't soak themâand leave to air dry completely. The vinegar smell dissipates as it dries and takes the bacteria-causing odour with it.
Exterior Cleaning
Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth to remove accumulated sweat, dust, and bag residue. For leather gloves, follow up with a leather conditioner every few weeks to keep the material supple and prevent cracking. Synthetic gloves can be wiped with a mild soap solution.
Velcro Maintenance
The velcro strap is often the first part of a glove to fail. Keep it clean by picking out lint, hair, and debris that accumulates in the hooks. A fine-toothed comb or velcro brush works well for this. Store gloves with velcro fastened to protect it from collecting debris.
Dealing with Existing Odour
If your gloves already smell, don't despairâthere are several methods to salvage them.
The Freezer Method
Place your gloves in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight. Freezing kills many odour-causing bacteria. This won't fix gloves that are completely saturated with years of neglect, but it works well for moderate odour problems. Let gloves return to room temperature and dry completely before use.
Baking Soda Treatment
Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into each glove and leave overnight. Baking soda absorbs odours rather than just masking them. Shake out thoroughly before your next sessionâyou don't want baking soda paste forming when you sweat.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Add a few drops to your glove interior after training. It leaves a pleasant scent and actively fights odour-causing organisms. Don't overdo itâa few drops are sufficient.
UV Light Sanitisers
Some boxers use small UV sanitising devices designed for shoes. These kill bacteria using ultraviolet light and can be very effective for glove sanitation. They're particularly useful if you train multiple times per day and need to quickly sanitise between sessions.
Proper Storage
How you store your gloves between training sessions matters significantly.
The Right Environment
Store gloves in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. Avoid leaving them in your car (extreme temperatures damage materials), enclosed gym bags (moisture traps), or damp basements/garages. A dedicated hook or shelf in a ventilated area works best.
Keep Them Open
When possible, store gloves propped open rather than closed. This allows continued air circulation and prevents the interior from becoming musty between sessions.
Use Glove Dogs or Deodorisers
Leaving deodorising inserts in your gloves during storage continues to absorb any residual moisture and keeps them smelling fresh. Cedar products are particularly effective and have natural antimicrobial properties.
When travelling with gloves, stuff them with cedar balls or dryer sheets to absorb moisture and odour during transit. Many travel bags for boxing gear include ventilation panelsâworth the investment if you train while travelling.
When to Replace Your Gloves
Even with perfect care, gloves don't last forever. Here are signs it's time for new ones:
- Compressed padding: If you can feel your knuckles hitting through the glove, protective padding has degraded
- Cracked or peeling exterior: Especially on leather gloves, this indicates material breakdown
- Torn or separated seams: Structural failure compromises protection
- Loose wrist support: If the velcro no longer holds or the wrist area has stretched, support is compromised
- Persistent odour despite cleaning: If smell won't go away despite your best efforts, bacteria have penetrated too deeply
Most quality gloves with proper care last 1-3 years with regular training. Cheaper gloves may only last 6-12 months. If you're training intensively (5+ times per week), expect to replace gloves more frequently.
Caring for Different Materials
Genuine Leather
Leather requires more care but rewards it with longevity. Condition leather gloves monthly with a quality leather conditioner to prevent drying and cracking. Keep them away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Well-maintained leather gloves can last many years.
Synthetic Leather
Synthetic materials are more forgiving but still benefit from proper care. They're less susceptible to cracking but can delaminate if exposed to excessive heat or harsh chemicals. Clean with mild soap and water, avoid petroleum-based products.
Regardless of material, the core care principles remain the same: dry completely, sanitise regularly, store properly, and replace when protection is compromised.