If this is you, read this article. It has absolutely everything you need to know to ensure that your kickboxing gloves are safe from wear and tear for a long time!
Why Kickboxing Gloves Need Regular Maintenance
Kickboxing gloves are exposed to lots of activity and sweating. Sweating means bacteria and disease. If they are not cleaned and taken care of after each training session, they’ll be stinky and dirty too soon. Before you even know, they’ll start showing signs of wear and tear.
You’ll lose the money you spent on them, and you’ll lose the protection they provided to your hands. Sad affair, right? This is exactly why you need to take care of your kickboxing gloves in the right manner.
If you keep them clean, you won’t have to wear yucky gloves again. If they are stored in the right place, dried well and kept clean, you also won’t have to drain your pocket for a new pair.
Enough reasons to care for them, right?
Steps to Clean Your Kickboxing Gloves
Clean gloves will make you a happy user. With a clean and fresh feeling, you’d love to use your gloves. Here’s how you need to keep your gloves clean.
a. Cleaning After Every Session
If you want to see your gloves live long, you will have to clean them after each training session. If you leave the sweat and bacteria in, you’ll only be making them stinky. Cleaning them is easy, though. You just need a clean damp cloth for it. Wipe down the gloves and that’s it.
Since the inner part gets extremely dirty with absorbed sweating and bacteria, it is very important that you pat dry it with a clean towel before storing it away. If they are still moist and you leave them, it’ll be a huge problem in time. Once the exterior is clean, grab a dry towel and gently pat the inside to absorb any lingering moisture.
Once these steps are done, leave them in a place that’s aerated. They should dry thoroughly and then you can store them in their properly dry place.
b. Deep Cleaning Tips
If the outer areas seem too dirty for a simple wipe-down process, go for a bit of a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning would be wiping the surface with a very mild soap. Don’t soak the outer area too much because that can damage the padding and the material. Just wipe it down nicely and dry it with a towel.
If you think you need to get rid of the smell with something more than soap, go for a special gear sanitizer. They are specifically created for the purpose of eradicating the bacteria. They don’t harm the material.
c. Interior Cleaning
The inside of your gloves can be the trickiest part of cleaning. But don’t worry—there are simple ways to keep things fresh. After every session, pop in a glove deodorizer or use DIY solutions like silica gel packets to absorb moisture and prevent bacteria.
If your gloves are designed to be turned inside out, do so to give the interior some breathing room. This helps to air out the moisture and keep your gloves dry. Just make sure to turn them back to their normal shape once they’ve had a good airing to avoid any warping. Your RDX gloves will thank you for staying fresher and more comfortable for longer.
Related Article: All you need to know about Boxing Gloves
Preventing Odor in Kickboxing Gloves
No one wants stinky gloves, especially after a tough training session. The key to preventing odors starts with a simple but effective habit: using hand wraps. Get a pair of hand wraps and always wear them under your gloves. Their organic and absorbent material will absorb all of the sweating.
This means there will be no moisture and bacterial build-up and your gloves will be fresh and clean all the time. Good quality Hand wraps like those from the RDX also strengthen your grip and stabilize your wrists.
Other than that, you don’t want to leave your gloves in the gym bag after a training session. This will mean that sweating, moisture and bacteria will only build up. Always take out your gloves and let them air dry before storing them away. They’ll stay fresh without any effort.
Drying Kickboxing Gloves Safely
Your gloves need a good drying session as much as they need to be cleaned. They’ll be fresh and clean automatically if they are dried properly after each training session.
The best part is that it is so easy to dry them. Leave them in a cool and dry place in the house, and they are good to go. Direct sunlight is not for them. They need to dry in a shaded place. The best place is outside, but not under the direct sun. A shady and cool spot is the perfect spot for drying your kickboxing gloves.
Prolonging the Life of Your Kickboxing Gloves
Follow our tips and your kickboxing gloves will protect you for a long time:
Store Properly for Longevity
When you’re not using your gloves, make sure to store them in a cool, dry place. Avoid leaving them in humid environments or cramped spaces where they can get squashed. Let them air out, and never store them in a closed bag for long periods. Giving them room to breathe will help preserve their shape and keep them fresh.
Keep an Eye on Wear and Tear
Check your gloves regularly for signs of wear. Are the seams coming undone? Is the padding feeling flat? Small issues can quickly grow into bigger problems. By noticing wear and tear early, you can take action before it affects performance or comfort.
Use Conditioner on Leather Gloves
If you have leather gloves, conditioning them now and then is key to keeping them flexible. Without using a conditioner, your gloves will start to crack in places. The conditioner will keep the cracks away by maintaining the natural flexibility of the material.
Replace When Necessary
You could be the best caretaker of your gloves, but they will still need to be changed. When their padding is thinning and the structure is losing its shape, that’s when you need a new pair. It’s not your fault if this happens after a good use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Maintaining Gloves
There are some things you never want to do with your kickboxing gloves. Here they are explained in detail:
Avoid Harsh Cleaners and Machine Washing
When your gloves are dirty and smelly, you’ll really want to give them a good wash with lots of water and a good detergent. But, that’s the last thing you want to do. Machine wash is too harsh for them.
They’ll shrink or warp. The harsh chemicals in detergents will ruin the leather material of your gloves. So never ever machine wash them or use harsh washing chemicals on your gloves.
Don’t Ignore Odors
When your gloves start to smell bad, know that the bacteria have settled in your gloves. Air dry your gloves right away and buy a good deodorant for your gloves. Special deodorizers keep the bacteria away, and your gloves always smell fresh.
Store Gloves Incorrectly
Avoid moist places always. Avoid direct sunlight too. Always keep the gloves in a shady, cool, and a dry place.
Related Article: Boxing Defence Techniques: Mastering the Art of Staying Unharmed
Conclusion: Keep Your Gloves Clean and Long-Lasting
If you love your kickboxing gloves, you must take care of them. They’ll stay fresh and clean and maintain their shape for a long time. Your hands will be protected, and your investment will be saved as well. Keeping your kickboxing gloves is not very difficult either. It’s simple and fully explained in the article above. Follow the steps, and you’ll have your gloves good as new every single time.
