A cure for smelly gloves

1. Main

by Jérôme Daoust. Revised 2010/9/13

After I went to Arizona in the summer of 2010 and sizzled under the sun (and soaked the gloves in a rainfall), when I got my hands out they smelled bad. I tried Lysol-ing them a few times, but the smell kept coming back after use.

I heard of these possible cures:

· Soaking method with laundry detergent, baking soda and bleach (source): "Fill the sink with hot water, some laundry detergent, baking soda, a cap full of bleach and soak your gloves for 2 hours. The bleach, if used in small amounts, will kill odor causing bacteria or mold that could be on your gloves and won't destroy them. Then rinse them very well in cool water, ring them out, and either dry them in dryer with a dryer sheet or hang them in the sun."

· Febreze.

· Alum stone deodorant.

· Saddle soap.

· Kiwi / Boot odor neutralizer.

· Aerostich / Glove dogs.

Conclusion (Top of Page)

The "Soaking method with laundry detergent, baking soda and bleach" worked on my AlpineStars / SP-2 gloves which are made of many different materials: Leather, suede, rubber pad inserts, carbon fiber knuckle protection, Velcro. Only a few tiny black leather areas were discolored (became gray) but fixed with a permanent marker.