Care Products for Boxing Gloves & Combat Sports Equipment
Boxing gloves, protective equipment and other combat sports gear come into contact with sweat and moisture during almost every training session. Proper boxing glove and equipment care should therefore be part of your regular training routine.
At Vikingstore, you'll find care products for boxing gloves and combat sports equipment to help you clean, maintain and store your gear more hygienically.
Regular care can help reduce unpleasant odours and keep materials in good condition for longer.
Why Should You Care for Boxing Gloves Regularly?
Your hands sweat during training.
Some of this moisture is absorbed by hand wraps and inner gloves, but moisture can still enter your boxing gloves.
If your gloves are placed directly into a closed sports bag after training and left there, they have little opportunity to dry properly.
A simple rule after training is therefore:
Take your gloves out of your bag, open them, air them and allow them to dry.
Suitable care products can complement this routine.
How Do You Clean Boxing Gloves?
The correct cleaning method depends on the material and the manufacturer's care instructions.
Boxing gloves shouldn't simply be treated like ordinary sports clothing.
After training, you can start by:
- removing the gloves from your sports bag
- opening the fastenings
- allowing the gloves to air out
- carefully cleaning the surfaces
- allowing moisture to dry
- using a suitable care product when required
Only use cleaning and care products that are suitable for the specific material.
How to Clean the Inside of Boxing Gloves
The inside of a boxing glove is particularly important because it is exposed directly to sweat and moisture during training.
After training, open your gloves as much as possible and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area.
Depending on the product, suitable hygiene or care products can be used as part of this routine.
Avoid leaving unnecessary liquid inside the glove and always follow the instructions for the individual care product.
How Should Boxing Gloves Be Dried?
Damp gloves shouldn't remain closed for long periods.
Allow them to dry in a well-ventilated place after training.
Extreme heat isn't automatically better.
Depending on the material, radiators, strong direct sunlight or other intense heat sources may put unnecessary stress on the material.
Gentle drying with good air circulation is therefore often the better approach.
Why Do Boxing Gloves Smell?
Sweat and moisture build up during training.
If this moisture remains inside the gloves and they don't dry sufficiently, unpleasant odours can develop over time.
For that reason, boxing glove care shouldn't begin only once your gloves already smell bad.
Regular airing and drying after every training session are among the most important basics of glove care.
What Can You Do If Boxing Gloves Smell?
If your boxing gloves already have an unpleasant odour, start by reviewing your care routine.
Important steps include:
- remove gloves from your bag after every session
- open them fully
- allow them to dry properly
- clean them regularly
- use suitable care products
- wash your hand wraps regularly
Simply covering an existing smell with another fragrance doesn't address the underlying issue.
The aim should be to reduce retained moisture and contamination as consistently as possible.
Hand Wraps Help Keep Boxing Gloves Fresher
Boxing hand wraps and inner gloves don't only support your hands and wrists.
They also absorb some of the moisture produced during training before it reaches the inner lining of your boxing gloves.
Clean wraps are therefore an important part of boxing glove hygiene.
Used wraps should be washed regularly according to their care instructions and allowed to dry completely.
Putting heavily sweat-soaked wraps back into clean gloves isn't a particularly effective hygiene routine.
Can You Wash Boxing Gloves in a Washing Machine?
This shouldn't be recommended as a general rule.
Materials, padding, adhesives and construction methods differ between boxing gloves.
Machine washing may be unsuitable for certain gloves and could damage materials or padding.
Always follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
When in doubt, careful manual cleaning is generally the more cautious approach.
How to Care for Leather Boxing Gloves
With genuine leather boxing gloves, material care is important in addition to cleaning.
Leather can react poorly to unsuitable cleaning agents, excessive moisture or intense heat.
Use only products suitable for the specific type of leather and follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
The purpose of leather care is to maintain the material, not expose it to unnecessarily aggressive cleaning products.
How to Care for Synthetic Boxing Gloves
Synthetic boxing gloves should also be cleaned and dried regularly.
However, the same care instructions don't automatically apply to genuine leather and synthetic materials.
A product designed for leather isn't necessarily suitable for every synthetic material.
Always check the intended application of the care product before using it.
Caring for Protective Equipment
Boxing gloves aren't the only equipment that requires care.
Other frequently used combat sports gear also comes into contact with sweat.
Depending on your sport, this can include:
- head guards
- shin guards
- body protectors
- MMA gloves
- focus mitts and pads
- other training equipment
How each product can be cleaned depends on its materials and construction.
The manufacturer's instructions should therefore always take priority.
Check Your Combat Sports Equipment After Training
Cleaning your gear is also a good opportunity to check it for wear.
Look for:
- damaged stitching
- tears
- worn hook-and-loop fasteners
- damaged surfaces
- changes to padding
- unusual levels of wear
Damage to protective equipment in particular shouldn't simply be ignored.
Care Products Don't Replace Proper Drying
A care product can be useful, but it doesn't replace a good basic routine.
If damp boxing gloves remain closed inside your sports bag after every training session, even a good care product cannot fully compensate for that.
The foundation remains simple:
Air. Dry. Clean. Care.
All four steps work together.
Don't Leave Boxing Gloves in Your Gym Bag
This simple habit can make a significant difference.
After a hard training session, it's easy to get home and leave the sports bag untouched for hours.
That means gloves, wraps and protective equipment remain damp with very little air circulation.
Create a simple post-training routine:
Open your sports bag, remove damp equipment and allow everything to dry.
It only takes a few minutes.
Multiple Pairs of Boxing Gloves for Frequent Training
If you train very frequently, using more than one pair of boxing gloves can be practical.
This gives each pair more time to dry completely before being used again.
Many combat sports athletes already use different gloves for different types of training – for example, regular training, punch bag work or sparring.
Regardless of how many pairs you use, each pair should be properly aired and cared for after training.
Hygiene in Boxing Clubs & Combat Sports Gyms
In gyms, some equipment may be used by several people.
A consistent hygiene routine is therefore particularly important for shared training gear.
Coaches and gym operators should establish cleaning procedures appropriate for their equipment and follow the relevant manufacturer's instructions.
Focus mitts, pads and other frequently handled training equipment should also be checked regularly and cleaned according to their materials.
Boxing Glove Care Products at Vikingstore Switzerland
At Vikingstore, you'll find care products for boxing gloves and combat sports equipment to support cleaning, maintenance and equipment hygiene.
The correct care method depends on the individual product and its materials.
If you're unsure which care product is suitable for your equipment, we're happy to help.
Order your equipment care products online or visit our Vikingstore locations in Bern and St. Gallen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boxing Glove Care
How Do You Clean Boxing Gloves?
Remove your gloves from your bag after training, open them and allow them to dry properly. Clean them according to the manufacturer's instructions and only use products suitable for the specific material.
How Do You Get the Smell Out of Boxing Gloves?
Regular airing, drying and cleaning are essential. Suitable care products can complement your routine. The key is to avoid leaving moisture trapped inside the gloves for extended periods.
Why Do My Boxing Gloves Smell?
Sweat and moisture enter your gloves during training. If the gloves don't dry sufficiently afterwards, unpleasant odours can develop over time.
Can You Put Boxing Gloves in the Washing Machine?
That depends on the product and shouldn't be recommended universally. Always check the manufacturer's instructions, as machine washing can be unsuitable for many glove constructions.
How Do You Dry Boxing Gloves?
Open the gloves and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area. Avoid unsuitable extreme heat and follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
Do Hand Wraps Help Prevent Smelly Boxing Gloves?
Hand wraps absorb some sweat before it reaches the inner lining of your gloves. However, the wraps themselves need to be washed regularly and allowed to dry completely.
Do Leather Boxing Gloves Need Different Care?
Yes. Appropriate care depends on the material. Genuine leather and synthetic materials may require different cleaning methods and care products.
How Often Should You Clean Boxing Gloves?
Airing and drying should become part of your routine after every training session. How often additional cleaning or material care is necessary depends on training frequency, material and manufacturer recommendations.
Buy Boxing Glove & Equipment Care Products
A good care routine helps you use your combat sports equipment more hygienically and can help keep the materials in good condition for longer.
Discover boxing glove and combat sports equipment care products at Vikingstore and combine them with clean boxing hand wraps & inner gloves.
After training: unpack, air, dry and care for your equipment.
