Q&A for How to Clean Boxing Gloves

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How do I keep the inside of my boxing gloves dry?

David Engel
Muay Thai Instructor & Self Defense Trainer
David Engel is a Muay Thai Instructor and Self Defense Trainer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 15 years of martial arts instruction and training experience, David runs California Martial Athletics with co-owner Joe Chernay. He has created and maintained martial arts programs at Rise Combat Sports in San Francisco and Round 5 Martial Arts Academy in San Leandro, with a mission to provide students with a level of comfort and competency that manifests both within and outside the martial arts context. He is also a registered cornerman for amateur and pro competitors under the IKF (International Kickboxing Federation). David was the youngest apprentice instructor of the Thai Boxing Association of America under Ajarn Chai Sirisute (2009), and was a top-ranked amateur competitor in his weight class (127-130 lb) in California between 2013 and 2015.

David Engel

Muay Thai Instructor & Self Defense Trainer

Expert Answer

After your boxing training, open up your glove and stuff it with either crumpled newspaper or a sock filled with hamster bedding or pine. That will absorb moisture, which will help prevent bacteria from growing.

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Question

When I wash the gloves, can I soak them in water?

Community Answer

It's not a good idea to soak your boxing gloves in water or a salt-water solution. If your gloves are made of leather, both water and salt can dry the leather and make it brittle. Also, if your gloves have an foam padding, the water could cause it to swell and become misshapen.

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Question

Does inserting silica gel help to get rid of moisture inside of the gloves?

Gary Combs

Community Answer

Silica gel can absorb about 40% of its weight in moisture and can take the relative humidity in a closed container down to about 40%. So, yes, it will help, but not a lot.

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Does 70% achohol help with the smell?

Community Answer

Some sort of deodorizing spray would probably work better.

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How often should I condition my gloves? After every time, do I clean them with water and vinegar?

Community Answer

Once a week or once every two weeks can help with the odor. Depending on how bad the smell is, once a week is good to go if it is a bad smell. Once every two weeks is good for not too smelly gloves.

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