Can you wash golf gloves? Yes, and there are a few reasons why we should. Not only do dirty gloves affect our looks, but our grips. We may notice that our shots are affected, and our swings are altered because the gloves are too loose, making the club wiggle as we hit the golf ball. 

Especially after a hot day, our gloves will be sweaty, and in the worst-case scenario, the club could fly away from our hands on the follow-through. Golf gloves are one of the least expensive pieces of equipment that any golfer at any skill level uses for hitting straight.

That said, most replace their gloves every couple of weeks with a new pair without realising how easy it is to clean them! Golf gloves can last for months with proper care and maintenance. This article will explain how to wash a golf glove and ensure that we look slick on the course with an excellent stroke.   

How To Maintain Your Golf Gloves

Before diving into how to clean a leather golf glove, let’s establish a few ways we can avoid getting them dirty and some precautions to maintain them for a longer time. 

Don’t wipe excess sweat off with golf gloves, and bring a towel to the course instead. Even though gloves are designed to handle moisture, frequently exposing the gloves to perspiration will make the leather wear down, and the salt in sweat dries out the material.

Gloves inevitably deteriorate over time, but the best are made from leather because they’re porous, allowing air and moisture to penetrate the surface, reducing sweat while providing a firmer grip and giving ventilation to our hands.

We air out the gloves between rounds or bring extra gloves to keep our hands dry and sweat-free. Store gloves in a plastic bag to reduce moisture. Playing with wet gloves wears down our hands, causing abrasion or blisters since they don’t fit properly. 

Avoid wiping dirt off of the club or golf ball with a glove. Furthermore, we could practise with old gloves and play with new ones. Another suggestion is to purchase different colours than white. By doing so, we’ll avoid having our gloves look dirty since it doesn’t take long for the colourless fabric to become stained or worn down by friction and the weather.   

Steps To Wash Your Gloves

If the gloves look soiled, wash them sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, continuously washing golf gloves may dry out the leather, so only clean them when they look grimy.

The best option is to clean golf gloves by hand with a mild detergent or dishwashing soap to remove the surface dirt and sweat. Use about two tablespoons of the chosen soap and avoid bleach. If we have no other option but to resort to the laundry machine, set it to a delicate cycle and secure the velcro beforehand for washable golf gloves.

Opt for cold water when washing golf gloves. Warm water can easily damage the materials, whereas cold water rids contaminants just as effectively. Gently scrub the gloves with a towel to rinse off the dirt and sweat. Don’t scrub too much and cause more unnecessary wear on the gloves. Leather is strong but can rip if treated too harshly.

I can gently rub stubborn dirty spots with mild soap using my fingers, a sponge, or a soft-bristled toothbrush. Swish the glove in the sudsy water and use a soft scrubbing motion to remove any debris on the fingers and palm of the glove, rubbing the material against itself. Soak the gloves for around 20 minutes. 

Alternatively, if I wear them, I can wash my hands while cleaning the golf gloves. Once completed, fold the ends of a towel over the glove, and press firmly to remove excess water before drying. 

The Next Step: Drying

Always allow golf gloves to air dry. If subjected to extreme and direct heat, the leather could crack or shrink. For example, hairdryers will ruin the leather. I don’t have to wring out the gloves because wet leather is prone to tearing. 

Before drying, I put the gloves on to stretch out and shape them back to normal by pulling the fingers outwards. Additionally, wearing wet golf gloves prevents shrinkage. 

After drying them with a towel, I can drape the gloves over the sink, hang them up, or place them in a sunny spot but keep an eye on them. Lay them flat when not in use, so they dry quickly and evenly. 

Give the gloves at least 24 hours to fully dry. Once completed, I can use a leather conditioner to rejuvenate golf gloves, focusing on the creases since those areas are most used. 

Placing the gloves in a dryer isn’t the best option seeing that the rough, tumbling motion and heat might ruin them. If I choose to do so, I’ll remember to turn the glove inside out to protect the print and practice good golf glove care.  

When To Get New Gloves

While maintaining golf gloves is a great option to save money, we eventually need to get replacements when we encounter holes and dirt that can’t be washed out, even though we know how to clean leather gloves. If the gloves have shrunken or cracked, then it’s best to throw them out. Gloves are supposed to help our golfing skills and not become a nuisance. 

Also, consider getting a new pair if the gloves smell nasty. I can prevent a potent odour by using shaving cream or dryer sheets. Gloves aren’t too expensive, so when a replacement is needed, go ahead and buy another pair instead of prolonging ripped gloves.

Conclusion

We have a better understanding of how to clean golf gloves and maintain them. Cleaning golf gloves is not only important to hygiene and look but also to better our golf skills when we play a game amongst pals or, more seriously, in a tournament. 

There are a few situations where replacing them is necessary. However, with proper maintenance, such as handwashing and air drying, we can hold onto our favourite pair for a long time.