All gloves will benefit from periodic washing but avoid doing this more than absolutely necessary. Read the care label.
Lightweight fleece gloves without leather can typically be machine washed. Ensure all drawcords under tension are released and all velcro adjusters fastened. Select the appropriate wash cycle on your machine - ideally this should be a programme with a low to medium spin speed setting such as Delicates or Synthetics and with a temperature setting of 30°C or 40°C. Rinse thoroughly before drying.
For all other gloves and especially for those with leather palms, hand wash in lukewarm soapy water. Use a specialist cleaning product such as
Grangers Performance Wash,
Nikwax Tech Wash,
Fibertec Pro Wash, or
Storm Clothing Wash.
. Alternatively a specialist leather footwear cleaner such as
Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel
can also be used. If these aren’t available then soap flakes which can be purchased from a supermarket are also fine, and failing that simple liquid detergent without fabric softeners can be used but is not something we officially recommend. Place one glove on your hand and immerse, using a cloth or soft-bristled scrubbing brush to gently clean the outside of the glove. Then remove the glove from your hand and immerse again to wash the inside. Avoid the temptation to turn the glove inside-out. Rinse thoroughly before drying.
Once thoroughly dried, all components such as cordlocks should be checked and if required any leather waxed / conditioned. We recommend using a product such as
Nikwax Conditioner for Leather,
Nikwax Waterproofing Wax,
Fibertec Leather Guard Eco, or
Sno-Seal Wax. Alternatively natural products such as Beeswax can also be used.
Drying Gloves
All gloves should be dried thoroughly before use or storage, avoiding direct sources of heat. Gloves will dry quicker if placed in an upright position. Alternatively many of our gloves feature karabiner carry loops and can be hung from these, air-dried and / or placed in a warm drying room or cupboard. We do not recommend force-drying any glove or placing on a direct source of heat such as a radiator or wood-burning stove but clearly if you are faced with wet gloves or frozen hands the following day some compromise may be necessary. If this is the case remove as much excess moisture as possible by gently squeezing the glove. Gloves without waterproof linings such as GORE-TEX or DRILITE can be wrung more fully. Never expose a glove to surface temperatures hotter than your hand can withstand - placing a thin cloth between the glove and any heat source can help here. During this time, periodically remove the glove away from any heat source to ensure that it is not getting too hot.