How To Clean Baseball Gloves And Why You Should
Last Updated: November 16, 2021
Baseball has a long and rich history, dating back to the 1800′s, when the first recorded baseball game took place in New Jersey. Many shapes and iterations of baseball have come and gone, including the birth of the MLB that we all know and love today. And while many things have evolved with baseball, one thing that has stayed true since the beginning is the necessity of a good, clean baseball glove.
Baseball is the greatest sport ever. It’s also one of the most popular sports in the country and has been played for more than a century. The game is constantly evolving and becoming more modernized and up-to-date with technology and techniques to better protect players, prevent injuries and score more runs overall. One of the most fundamental things that hasn’t changed about baseball in the last one hundred years is how you keep your gloves in shape. Your glove is constantly abused during a baseball season, so you need to know how to clean baseball gloves so your good condition can be preserved throughout the year.
Your baseball equipment is an investment. And as such, you will need to clean your baseball gloves to ensure they last as long as possible. Not only will it prolong the life of your glove, but you’ll improve its performance. Of course nothing is more frustrating than getting ready for practice or game only to discover that your glove is dirty and smelly. You’ll know how to properly clean baseball gloves so you never have this problem again.
How To Clean Your Baseball Glove
Applying The Cleanser
In order to keep your baseball glove in top-notch condition, you’ll need to clean it from time to time. In general, as long as you’re playing catch or practicing with your glove, it’s going to get dirty. When you notice the exterior of your glove starting to accumulate a lot of dirt and debris, it’s a good idea to clean it.
You’d be surprised by how much dirt and debris ends up stuck in the fibers of your glove. Cleaning it regularly will not only make your glove smell nicer, but also helps to prevent it from cracking prematurely. Take a microfiber rag and wipe all areas inside and outside the glove, after removing all the dirt and sand you can take a stiff-bristled brush to remove the tough dirt.
There are certain things you can’t see with your bare eyes that can cause major problems with the performance of your glove. This includes mold, mildew or even rust. After each time you use your baseball glove, you need to take a few minutes and clean it. Wiping your glove after each use is the best thing you can do to keep your glove clean and protected.
Remove The Lacing From The Glove
If you want to take your gear cleaning up a notch, then it is time that you remove the lacing from the glove. Removing the lacing will allow you better access to the grit and debris that might be caught between the fingers of the glove, or beneath the area concealed by the laces.
However, due to the way gloves are laced, it might not be possible to untie your glove’s laces and slip it off in a single motion. Have you ever noticed that with most gloves, it is impossible to remove them by pulling on one lacing? This is because there is another loop holding down the one lace you’re pulling on–effectively limiting their function as an actual lace.
The first step of removing the lacing from the glove is to untie any knots. Most gloves are laced with thin shoelaces, made of either cotton or nylon. If the lace is thin enough it can be untied simply by pulling on the ends, though for some lacings it might require cutting. Untying thin lacings is something that must be done with some care, as some lacings are thin enough that they could become cut if pulled on too roughly.
Many people do not know that most baseball gloves come with a removable lacing system, so they can easily be cut if a person decides to change the standard configuration of their glove. In the event that you cut the lacing of your baseball glove, it will not be possible to reuse it, so new laces must be purchased.
Coat the surface of the glove with a special cleaner for leather products.
The whole point of using a baseball glove is to play well. So, in order to maintain best performance, you’ll want to keep that glove in good shape. That means it must be clean, of course. One of the most common complaints about gloves is that they get smelly. Washing your baseball mitt regularly with leather cleaner can help prevent odor problems.
Leather products are generally high-quality, so they’ll last long, but they still need regular care. Part of the care includes cleaning the leather product on a regular basis. One of the most important steps is to regularly clean extra dirt and grime off of your leather goods with appropriate cleaners for leather goods.
Cleaning your favorite baseball glove is easy to do with some leather cleaning agent. A good glove will last you many baseball seasons, so it’s worth putting a little effort into keeping it clean and nice. Take a soft cloth and apply a special leather product and apply the compound in a circular motion to the baseball glove.
Leather-cleaning products applied every few months will help to keep your baseball glove soft and smooth, so that it’s more-easily gripped. You might notice a light ammonia scent with the product, but this is normal and will disappear when the leather dries out.
Preparing The Glove For The Game
Using conditioner for baseball gloves.
Friction from catching the ball on a regular basis can make it more difficult for a baseball player to catch a ball. You may notice this as a sweaty palm or glove that doesn’t flex as easily as it used to. If you want a glove that is easier to use, and look newer, too, apply some glove conditioner between the webbing of your baseball glove’s fingers and to the inside of the glove itself.
Glove conditioner is a great way to restore your favorite baseball glove whether it’s new or has been around for years. Baseball glove conditioner is the top choice for the majority of professional baseball players. If you’re a fan of this great sport, and want to get the most out of your investment in a good glove, you shouldn’t forget to give your glove a once-over with some of this stuff before taking it onto the playing field.
Excellent Conditioner Result
Wait for the conditioner to be absorbed. After applying the glove conditioner, you must typically wait for 24 hours so that it can properly penetrate the leather to soften it. If you try putting the glove on too early, the glove conditioner will not have time enough to penetrate, so instead of softening your glove, it could actually stiffen it.
Most glove conditioners will last for a couple of baseball seasons. It’s good to have some on hand if your gloves get too dry from being used frequently. Always apply conditioner before playing ball, and always wipe the excess off your glove after you’re finished using it.
The conditioner attaches itself to the leather and penetrates deep into the pores of the leather. This makes it easy for you to clean and maintain your baseball glove because dirt and oils don’t adhere to the leather anymore once you apply a good glove conditioner.
Do Not Use The Glove Conditioner Too Often
Not only is it important to use a quality leather conditioner, it’s also very important to know how much to use. In other words, the key to conditioning a baseball glove is not to overdo it. If you apply too much conditioner or do it too frequently, you could actually attract dirt and debris to the glove instead of repelling it.
It is generally recommended that you use leather conditioner on your baseball glove every 10 to 15 games. Apply it in an inconspicuous area so you can see if there is any discoloration or other reaction before applying it to the entire glove. The general guideline for using conditioner is to only use it every 10 to 15 games, but this number will vary depending on how often you play and other factors.
You Also May Like
Copyright 2024 © Top Sports For Kids
Topsportsforkids.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.