Cleaning Leather Gloves How-to for Gardeners

How To Clean Leather Gardening Gloves: A Comprehensive Guide

Cleaning your leather gardening gloves is a simple task that will keep your gloves looking great and ready to use for seasons to come. Cleaning leather gloves not only improves their appearence but also increases the gloves life expetancy. This guide will provide you with all the information necessary for safely and effectively cleaning your leather gardening gloves.

Gather Cleaning Supplies

Before cleaning your gloves, you will need to gather the necessary cleaning supplies. These supplies include a small bucket or container, warm water, a mild dishwashing liquid, a cloth, a natural bristle brush, saddle soap, or leather balm or protector. It is also important to determine the type of leather your gloves are made of to get the best cleaning results.

Cleaning Unlined Gloves

First, place your gloves in the bucket of warm, sudsy water. Let them sit for a few minutes before gently agitating them. This action helps to release dirt, debris, and oils that have built up on the gloves. Using the natural bristle brush, scrub in small circles, paying particular attention to any areas with dirt, debris, and oils. Once done, rinse with warm water.

Let the gloves air dry naturally, avoiding direct sunlight or the use of a heat source. This will limit the exposure to the sun's harmful rays and keep the leather from prematurely drying out. Once mostly dry, gently buff the gloves with a clean cloth. This will help to restore its natural luster and also soften the leather.

Cleaning Lined Gloves

When cleaning lined gloves, you will have to separate the leather from the liner. This can be done by working a seam ari und the lip of the glove with a finger. As the fingers of the glove loosen, gently remove the liner from the leather.

Soak the leather portion of the gloves in the warm, soapy water and agitate as previously mentioned. Rinse clean and air dry.

Cleaning the liner requires different methods. Read the care labels on the gloves to determine the type of fabric as this will give guidelines as to how it should be cleaned. Generally, the liner can be washed in your washing machine with cold water and mild detergent on the delicate cycle.

Conditioning Leather Gloves

After the leather has been cleaned, it is highly recommended to condition them. This will help to extend the life of the glove and keep them more pliable. The best way to condition leather gloves is to use a non-chemical based solution such as saddle soap or leather balm. For added protection, you can also apply a coat of leather protector or beeswax.

Brief Recap

Cleaning your leather gardening gloves will ensure that they last season after season. To clean your gloves, it is important to gather the necessary cleaning supplies, determine the type of leather, and use the correct cleaning method. Unlined gloves should be soaked in soapy water, gently agitated, rinsed, and air dried. For lined gloves, the liner can be removed and washed as per the care instructions while the leather is soaked in sudsy water. After cleaning your gloves, conditioning them with a non-chemical based solution, leather balm, or leather protector will help to extend the life of the glove. With a bit of care, your leather gardening gloves will be ready for years of hard work in the garden.