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Tips for Cleaning 5 Types of Winter Work Gloves

February 21, 2019, 2:36 PM / Posted By: Brandon Chapman

Construction Worker Carrying Grey PipeDo you dread taking off your gloves after working a long shift outside in the cold? You’re not alone. Keeping work gloves looking and smelling their best is a challenge year-round, but it can be especially difficult in the winter when they are often used for extended periods of time. Cleaning work gloves is the best way to tackle unwanted smells, extend the life of your gloves, and keep you healthier by reducing the spread of bacteria.

But when it comes down to it, how do you actually clean your type of glove? Superior Glove put together an article on this topic. We’ve summarized their key pieces of advice on how to clean five types of gloves: cotton and wool, leather, waterproof gloves, Thinsulate™, and suede.

1.      Cotton and Wool

One of the nice things about these types of gloves is that they are generally some of the easiest to clean since they can be tossed into your everyday washing machine—making sure you wash them in cold water and use a gentle or hand-wash cycle—and then air dried.

2.      Leather

By contrast, leather gloves should never be put through the wash, as the process will harm the naturally water-repellent nature of the material’s surface.

Instead:

  • Apply a dollop of oil-based, leather-friendly soap to clean a cloth before gently rubbing it across the entire surface of the glove in small circular motions.
  • Let the gloves dry, and then polish the surface with a microfiber cloth.

Next, you can sprinkle some baking soda or cornstarch inside the glove to deal with oils and odours and spray in a small amount of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. If you need to do this, however, don’t forget to shake your gloves out before you put them on again so you don’t end up with leftover baking soda and cornstarch on your hands!

3.      Waterproof

To clean the outside of waterproof gloves, start by spraying them with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Leave them alone for about five minutes, and then wipe off whatever excess liquid is left.

Cleaning the inside involves following the same approach as you would with leather gloves (baking soda and cornstarch for oils and odours, a few spritzes of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect, and remembering to shake the gloves out before their next use).

4.      Thinsulate™

Gloves made with Thinsulate™ are a common sight on Canadian jobsites throughout the winter. Thinsulate™ itself is a high-density fabric engineered to keep cold air out and warm air in while also allowing sweat and moisture to escape.

When it comes to cleaning Thinsulate™ gloves, here’s what you need to know:

  • Fill your sink with cool water (not warm or cold) and add a few drops of gentle baby shampoo to get some suds forming.
  • Put the gloves in the water and gently knead them for about five minutes. If they still look dirty after that, repeat for another five minutes.
  • Drain the soapy water and refill your sink with clean water. Knead your gloves again until all the soap is gone, keeping in mind that you may need to change the water once or twice.

When it comes to drying Thinsulate™ gloves, there are two things to remember. First, never twist or ring them out. Once you’ve removed them from the water you should lay them in a towel and roll them up inside of it to absorb the excess water. Second, Thinsulate™ gloves need to be allowed to air dry on a drying rack that is not exposed to direct heat or sunlight.

5.      Suede

You should treat your suede gloves with a protective spray before wearing them, and they should always be professionally cleaned by a dry cleaner.

There’s Still Time to Save on the Right Winter Gloves

This winter, Superior Glove is giving you the opportunity to take advantage of deals on some of their most popular winter gloves exclusively at Fastening House:

Click here to learn more or contact us (sales@fasteninghouse.com or 1-800-668-6636) to place your order.

Fastening House specializes in providing safety and PPE products from industry-leading manufacturers including Superior Glove. Shop our selection online and get free nationwide shipping on orders over $150!

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