So you’re looking for a way to clean those stinky boxing gloves, well you’ve come to the right place! I myself have suffered from the horrible odor of stinky boxing gloves. Those days are far behind me now thanks to a few products that I use after every training session. Glove maintenance is one of the most overlooked aspects of martial arts training. A sanitized pair of gloves will reduce the probability of skin irritations or infections.
Think about everything your hands touch after using boxing gloves, this type of irritation can spread throughout the body very quickly. Skin infections are nothing to joke about, which is why it’s important to clean boxing gloves after each use. If you take good care of your gloves they will have a much longer life. More importantly, your gloves will smell fresh and clean instead of a dark cave of sweaty odor.
The MMA Guru has you covered, we promise that after reading this article your boxing gloves will never smell bad again!
What Makes My Boxing Gloves Smell Bad?
Dirty gloves left unattended after a training session can form bacteria and will eventually smell awful. Luckily there are preventative measures you can take to stop your glove from being taken over by harmful bacteria or otherwise bad-smelling odors.
The methods we list below have the potential to increase the lifespan of your gloves and keep them looking and smelling fresh and clean. Before we talk about the products that will help your glove odor, here are a few more basic tips that you might want to consider adopting into your routine.
– Avoid putting gloves in your gym bag after use, as the sweat you built up from the workout will allow bacteria to grow if you leave them in a tight space.
– Try to air out the gloves as soon as possible, preferably in front of a fan.
– Don’t run the gloves through your washing machine or dryer, as these will ruin your boxing gloves.
If you have not been airing your gloves after training, they will be stinking to high hell in no time. Sometimes, the odor can be so bad that people around you can actually smell it too. Trust me, they are just too polite to tell you.
How to Keep Boxing Gloves Clean and Odor-Free
Going to the gym 4 to 5 times a week will put a lot of work on your gloves, and the amount you sweat will definitely take its toll overtime. With the simple cleaning and maintenance guidelines that we’ll give you below, your gloves will have the ability to last years.
What NOT to do
– Do NOT put your gloves in a washer or dryer, these machines will rip your gloves to shreds.
– Do NOT freeze your gloves, this will be a fundamentally waste of time. This won’t diminish bacteria, it will only make bacteria dormant for the time being.
– Do NOT leave your gloves out in the sun, this will shrink your gloves and leave them more susceptible to cracks.
– Do NOT use silica gel inside the gloves, this won’t help your gloves at all.
Hand Wraps are important
Not only will they provide great support for your hands, hand wraps will also soak up a majority of the sweat while you train. Make sure to wash your hand wraps after every training session (wash them one at a time because they will tangle with each other). It’s always good to buy multiple pairs of hand wraps so that you can have a fresh pair every training session.
A couple of Hand Wraps that we recommend:
Meister Adult 180 Semi-Elastic Hand Wraps for MMA & Boxing
Meister MMA hand wraps are great hand wraps for both MMA and boxing. We honestly recommend grabbing a few pairs because you’ll have to wash them after a few uses. Make sure not to wash them together because they WILL become tangled and that is the worst problem to have with hand wraps.
To purchase these hand wraps on Amazon, click this link: Meister Adult 180 Semi-Elastic Hand Wraps for MMA & Boxing
Sanabul Boxing Handwraps Elastic 180-Inch
The Sanabul Boxing Handwraps are the only handwraps that I personally use. These are great for boxing, kickboxing, MMA or anything else you can think of combat related. With over 10 different colors to choose from you could have a new color for every single day you train. Please be sure not to wash them together because they will become tangled up.
To purchase these hand wraps on Amazon, click this link: Sanabul Boxing Handwraps Elastic 180″
Everlast Professional Hand Wraps 180-Inch
What would this article be without including Everlast boxing hand wraps? These have great protection and of course you can’t go wrong with the iconic all-black Everlast look. If you’re a boxing purist, these hand wraps are a must have. Make sure to wash your hand wraps so that they don’t develop any nasty bacteria or odors!
To purchase these hand wraps on Amazon, click this link: Everlast Professional Hand Wraps 180-Inch
How to Clean Your Boxing Gloves
As soon as your training ends, use a slightly damp cloth to give the exterior of the gloves a wipe as sweat can cause stains on the leather. Make sure not to leave your boxing gloves in your gym bag overnight. When you get home, you should take your boxing gloves out of your gym bag to air them out. If you leave your gloves in your gym bag overnight your gloves will start to stink in no time. Make sure to take them out of the bag even if you don’t plan to clean them immediately. Cleaning them daily will go a long way in preventing harmful bacterias from developing in your boxing gloves.
Vapor Fresh® Natural Cleaning and Deodorizing Spray
Vapor Fresh is the best deodorizing spray available for all types of equipment: boxing gloves, shin guards and even gym bags. This natural cleaning and deodorizing spray has single handedly stopped my gloves from having a bad smell. Natural active ingredients that are non-irritating and non-toxic. Naturally-derived freshener formulated from a proprietary blend of essential oils. Completely free of artificial fragrances, ammonia and harsh disinfectants.
MADE IN THE USA!
It’s so important to have a product that isn’t filled with chemicals that can actually be more harmful to your skin than bacteria. Vapor Fresh is 100% natural with absolutely NO chemicals. All you have to do is spray a few times and let your gloves air dry, it’s really that simple!
To purchase Vapor Fresh on Amazon, click this link: Vapor Fresh® Natural Cleaning and Deodorizing Spray
Meister Glove Deodorizers for Boxing
The Meister glove deodorizer is the best thing that has ever happened to my boxing gloves. The Meister glove deodorizer absorbs unwanted moisture and odor to keep gloves clean and hygienic. This product will keep your gloves smelling fresh with four different scents: Cedar, Fresh Linen, Cologne or Lavender. This glove deodorizer will prolong the life of your gloves by avoiding breakdown from moisture.
To purchase the Meister Glove Deodorize on Amazon, click this link: Meister Glove Deodorizers for Boxing
It’s important to note: I use these products every single day.
Now that I’ve used the Vapor Fresh spray and the Meister deodorizer, I can’t imagine living without them.
How to KEEP Them Clean
Now that your gloves are clean thanks to Vapor Fresh and Meister, the only thing that’s left to do is to keep them clean.
– Take your gloves out of your gym bag as soon as you get home, sweat you built up from the workout will allow bacteria to grow if you leave them in a tight space.
– Air out the gloves as soon as possible, preferably in front of a fan.
– Use the Vapor Fresh spray and allow the natural spray to soak into your gloves.
– Use the Meister deodorizer to keep your gloves fresh and ready for tomorrow’s training session.
We HIGHLY recommend purchasing the Meister X-LARGE Breathable Gym Bag
This bag is extra breathable, one of the best duffel gym bags for your boxing gloves.
To purchase the Meister Breathable bag on Amazon, click this link: Meister X-LARGE Breathable Gym Bag