Glove Care Guide
Good gloves can last years. Neglected gloves smell like a locker room in two weeks and crack in a few months. Five minutes of care after training is the whole difference.
Every timeAfter every session
- Get them out of your gym bag right away. A closed bag is where gloves go to die: sweat plus no air means bacteria and smell.
- Open them up. Pull the wrist strap all the way back so air gets inside.
- Wipe the outside with a damp cloth or mild disinfectant wipe, then towel dry.
- Air-dry them with airflow. A fan pointed at them is perfect. Glove dryers or deodorizer inserts work great too.
- Wash your hand wraps after every use. Dirty wraps are the number one cause of stinky gloves.
Once a weekDeep clean
- Lightly spray the inside with a glove spray or a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar, then let them dry fully.
- Wipe the outside with a mild soap-and-water cloth. Don't soak them.
- Check the stitching, the strap, and the palm for wear.
AvoidNever do this
Washing machine or dryer
Wipe them down by hand instead.
Heat to dry them
Direct sun, radiators, and hair dryers on high crack the material. Use a fan.
Storing them sealed up
No plastic bags or zipped gym bags. They need air.
Training without wraps
Wraps soak up sweat before it reaches the padding.
Already stinky?Odor rescue
Stuff the gloves with dry newspaper or cedar inserts overnight. Then spray the inside lightly with the vinegar-water mix and dry them in front of a fan. A sprinkle of baking soda inside overnight, shaken out well in the morning, also helps. Repeat for a few days if needed.
Long gameMake them last longer
- Rotate pairs. Training four or more days a week? Two pairs let each one fully dry between sessions. That's what the 2-pair deal is for.
- Right glove, right job. 12oz for bag and pads, 16oz for sparring.
- Break them in with lighter bag and pad work for the first week.
- Store them open in a cool, dry spot with airflow, on a hook or a shelf.
Know whenTime for a new pair
- The padding feels flat, or you can feel your knuckles through it.
- The wrist support has gone soft and your wrist bends on impact.
- The material cracks or splits, or the smell won't go away no matter what.
Questions about your gloves?
Message me on Instagram at @stonestrikegear or reach out through the contact page. Your 30-day guarantee still applies: if they're not right, I'll make it right.
Mike "Stone" Robinson