How to Wash Golf Gloves

How do you wash golf gloves? One word. Sparingly. Golf gloves are very delicate items that don’t enjoy much in the way of cleaning, which can be tricky after they’ve seen a course or two.

And why do they have to be white so often? Was there ever a less practical colour for a sporty accessory? This is possibly a question for another piece.

Here, we’ll concentrate on what you should do to keep your golf gloves looking up to par. And yes, there may well be some golf terms employed here in the name of wordplay. So, you’ve been warned. Let’s tee off.

First though, there’s something worth mentioning. Golfers are sometimes seen using a golf ball or even a club to clean their gloves. On no account should you do this.

OK, we’ve got that one out of the way and we’re all still here. Good, let’s play on.

 

What to Do with Sweaty Golf Gloves

So, this is what your average golf glove is going to encounter most often. Even on a coldish day, a golfer’s hands can end up dishing out the perspiration, and this is pretty much all up to the glove to deal with.

Thankfully, most gloves are ready for this, and go into the scenario equipped with absorbent pads at the ready to soak up some of the evidence of all that hard work.

But inevitably, some sweat will work its way into the main body of the glove, and you may end up with evidence there in the shape of staining and odour.

Even if the sweat doesn’t manage to permeate much of the glove, you’re still going to want to clean the absorbent pad part.

Here’s what you do. Firstly, the outside. Keep the glove on, and apply a little water to the surface. Then rub it off with a clean cloth.

Pay special attention to the finger areas. Then take the glove off and dry it on a line.

Following this, turn it inside out and, with a moist cloth, wipe all around it a few times. Then dry it inside out until it’s time to wear it.

Here’s a suggestion. You can get breathable gloves that wick the sweat away as if by magic. Do consider these.

Another little tip – a dusting with talc inside your glove will work wonders to combat sweat. Nothing personal. Don’t let it drive a wedge between us.

 

What to Do with Grass Stains on Golf Gloves

A great many golf gloves are made from leather, so we’ll deal with this kind first. What you do is try one of these methods.

1. Laundry detergent

A little regular detergent, gently applied with a soft brush, will get to work pretty quickly. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, then rinse off. Leave to dry.

2. White vinegar

All hail our cupboard superhero, white vinegar. If there’s a better household ingredient for all manner of cleaning capers, I’ve yet to hear of it.

Get yourself a third of a cup of this sensational stuff and dilute it with two-thirds of a cup of warm water. Then dab the glove with it, using a clean cloth.

Dab until you’re happy you’ve got the stain licked (not literally), then rinse the glove under cold water. Dry as above.

3. Washing-up liquid

Using the same quantities and technique as above, you’ll find that washing-up liquid can go a fairway toward banishing those grass stains.

4. Rubbing alcohol

If all else fails, you can use a little rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. This should shift it. Just remember to be gentle – you don’t want to rub the surface too hard and end up in the rough.

As far as synthetics are concerned, you’ll need to check the care label to see what’s recommended for the exact blend of materials you’ve got there.

 

What to Do with General Dirt on Golf Gloves

So, the glove’s seen some serious birdie and/or bogey action out on the links and it looks like it, too.

Sometimes, those white golf gloves can end up anything but, but what do you do to get them clean quickly, in time for tomorrow’s game? Washing machine, right? Wrong.

Golf gloves (especially leather ones) are super-delicate and do not relish the rough and tumble of a spell in the washing machine.

So, you need to treat them with care. Start by brushing off any loose dirt. Then proceed by doing the following.

Fill a bucket with cold water and a little washing-up liquid. Then hold on to the bottom (i.e., the wrist part) of the glove between your thumb and index finger and swish through the liquid.

Then put the glove on and use your un-gloved hand to rub against the gloved hand. You can also use a soft brush here if the dirt’s not shifting.

 

Take Time to Dry

Here’s the really important bit. Your glove will not thank you if it becomes waterlogged.

So, when you’ve done the cleaning, remove the glove from your hand, and squeeze each finger so that as much excess moisture as possible is expelled from the glove.

Once the fingers are dried a little, turn your attention to the palm section and squeeze it gently.

Now open a golf towel and lay the glove in the middle. Fold the towel over the glove and squeeze then rub to soak the moisture from the glove into the towel.

Then turn the glove inside out and squeeze it between your hands. Now turn it back the right way and put it on to ensure it reverts to its proper shape.

Finally, leave it out overnight to dry. Do not tumble dry, use a hairdryer, or dry in the sun. All these things will take their toll on your glove, so don’t you dare. No ifs or putts. Hopefully, that’s driven it home.

Give That Glove Some Love

Dirty gloves are not just shoddy looking. A sweat or grime build-up can actually handicap your game, as it can interfere with the delicate relationship between hand and club.

So, unless you want a ready-made excuse for why you’re playing so badly, you need to keep that glove looking ace.

Whether this advice has you instantly hooked or you just take the odd slice, we hope you’ll soon be getting the rub of the green and flying like an eagle as a result.