Gardening gloves are one of the most essential and widely used tools in gardening. You are in constant touch with dirt and mud, thorny, sick, or diseased plants, and your hands need protection. Investing in a good pair of gloves will help you stay safe.
Gardening gloves tend to get dirty very easily, and it is important to clean them for proper maintenance. We have jotted down different methods on how to clean gardening gloves.
Gardening gloves protect your hands from dirt and protect your hands against pesky pricks and thorns and even bacterial infections. Especially if you have a wound, you need to take extra care not to get it infected. It also protects your hands from toxic plants and insect bites. Follow our helpful guide to learn how to clean gardening gloves and keep them fresh.
How to Clean Gardening Gloves?
Gardening gloves come in all different types of materials. The most commonly used gardening gloves are cotton, leather, rubber, latex, and nitrile. In the following guide, we will show you how to clean each of these different types of gardening gloves.
Required Items
- Gardening gloves
- Saddle soap
- Cleaning brush with bristles
- Linseed or mink oil
- Detergent
- Features a traditional blend of ingredients which cleans, softens and preserves smooth leather
- Formulated with a quality wax for added protection
- Cleans away dirt, grim and salt stains
- Manufacturer has updated packaging; tin may vary
- U.S. Art Supply Refined linseed oil is the most commonly used oil by artists for adding to Oil Paints and Painting Mediums. Use in moderation to thin oils or as an ingredient in traditional painting mediums and to slow drying and aid in paint flow. 125ml / Fluid 4.2 Ounce Container
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- Special formula helps repel oil and salt stains
- Active cleaners and conditioners include mink oil, silicone, lanolin and pure Neatsfoot oil.
- Ideal for all articles of leather and vinyl: shoes, boots, jackets, belts, bags and purses.
- Caution: May darken light or soft leathers. Not for use on suede or Nubuck.
1. Cleaning the Cotton Gardening Gloves
Gardening gloves made with cotton material are the most commonly used ones and are easy to clean. Follow this guide to wash your cotton gardening gloves.
- Cotton gloves are the easiest to wash. You can use any laundry detergent or soap to wash them.
- It is best to wash your gloves immediately after your gardening work to avoid getting permanent stains.
- Wash your gloves with a hose outside or in your kitchen or washroom sink.
- You can also toss your gloves in with your laundry.
- Avoid washing your gloves with hot water to prevent them from shrinking. Use cold water. For stubborn stains, lukewarm water is preferable.
- Since the gloves are made of the same cotton fabric as your regular clothes, you can use your normal laundry detergent for them.
- If there are some visible stains on the gloves, spray them with spot treatment and let them sit for 20 minutes before tossing them into the laundry.
- Do not dry your gardening gloves with the rest of your laundry. Take them out after washing, lay them down, or hang them somewhere with good air circulation.
- This step is especially important to avoid the shrinkage of your gloves. The fitting of your gloves is very crucial for you to work efficiently.
- Your cotton gardening gloves are clean and fresh and ready to be used again.
2. Cleaning the Leather Gardening Gloves
The cleaning process of leather gloves is entirely different from that of cotton gloves because of their different materials. Leather gloves, unlike cotton gloves, cannot be tossed in the laundry. Follow these simple steps to learn how to clean gardening gloves made of leather.
- After using your leather gloves, brush off the dirt from them. Use a soft-bristled brush or a cloth to wipe the dirt off. Do not use the brush too harshly.
- To avoid damaging and scratching the leather surface, use a microfiber cloth for cleaning.
- Saddle soap is an excellent material used to clean leather products. You can buy it at your local hardware store or any supermarket.
- Use a damp cloth or tissue to apply the soap to the leather.
- Apply the soap to the leather in gentle circular motions.
- Once the soap has been applied, and the dirt is removed, it is time to wash off the soap.
- Never fully wet your leather gloves; put them under a running faucet, or submerge them in water. It will ruin the gloves.
- To get the soap off, use a separate soft towel or cloth, dampen it, and rub your glove to wash off the soap. Remember only to dampen the cloth and not make it wet.
- If there are dirt remains on your gloves, then repeat the cleaning process as required until your gloves are spick and span.
- After cleaning, it’s time to dry your gloves. Use a soft dry cloth to dry them up and place them someplace with good aeration.
- Wearing gloves during drying will help them fit properly even after washing.
- Do not place leather gloves near heat or on hot objects to dry them. It will make the leather crack.
- Finally, apply some linseed oil or mink oil to your leather gloves using a dry cloth. It will help keep the quality and shape of the gloves, and they will last longer.
3. Cleaning the Rubber, Nitrile, and Latex Gardening Gloves
The cleaning method for gloves made from rubber, latex, or nitrile material is quite similar. Keep following these simple steps to learn how to clean gardening gloves made of any rubber-type material.
- Rinse off your rubber gloves with a hose immediately since the rubber is more prone to stain and caking.
- Wash your gloves thoroughly under a faucet or use a wet cloth to clean off the accumulated dirt.
- Use cold water to rinse rubber gloves. Using hot water will distort the shape and alter the material permanently.
- Washing rubber gloves is relatively easier than any other material as they are quite hardy and do not require special care.
- Keep wearing your gloves on your hands, rinse them under a running faucet and wash with soap.
- Use a dishwasher for stubborn stains, and clean rubber gloves.
- Use a towel to dry them off.
- If your gloves have accumulated crusty dust or harsh stains, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub them gently.
- Make sure not to scrub too harshly as it may tear off or scratch the surface of the rubber.
- It is quite hard to dry out the insides of rubber gloves properly. If a rubber glove is not dried up thoroughly, it will accumulate mildew over time and will have to be thrown out eventually.
- To dry your rubber gloves, keep them in a well-aerated place. You can also use a hairdryer on the cold settings to dry the inside of the rubber gloves.
- After proper and thorough cleaning and drying, you should store the gloves in a moisture-free space so they do not develop mildew.
Bonus Care Tips for Gardening Gloves
- Properly clean your gloves after every use to avoid the accumulation of dirt and crusty layers. It will reduce the functionality of your gloves.
- It is important to clean them properly and take care of them to have your gloves last longer.
- Store them in a moisture-free and heatproof space for their protection.
- The crusty layer or shrunken gloves can make it difficult to work and move your hands, especially while doing delicate work. So, keep these points in consideration.
Conclusion
Gloves are very important to protect your hands during gardening activities, including pruning, cutting, sowing, etc. A good pair of gloves can go a long way if you take care of them. Your hands will be safe from all the pesky thorns and dirt, and they will also protect you from any bacterial infection if you have a wound.
For all these important reasons, you need to keep your gloves clean. Now that you have learned how to clean gardening gloves, go and give your gloves a good thorough cleaning. For any queries, leave a comment!