Baseball equipment maintenance is undoubtedly an uphill battle, especially for beginners. And when it’s about cleaning the gloves, things easily get tangled up leaving them with no clue. Even if you manage to clean the outside of the gloves, the inside mostly remains unnoticed.
So, the fact is, how to clean the inside of a baseball glove? You can easily clean the inside of the baseball gloves with warm water, mild soap, some cleaning agents, and some wipes.
Just having these cleaning appliances is not all you need. The most crucial part is to clean it properly. For that, you need to know the right way that clean the inside of the baseball properly without damaging the material.
And that’s what we are going to talk about in this blog. So, if you have no idea how you can clean the inward part of the gloves and don’t want to throw it in the dustbin just because the inner palm is dirty, check the entire article to learn some easy and simple steps to clean it.
Why Is It Essential to Clean the Inside of The Baseball Gloves?
Before we head towards the methods of cleaning the gloves inside, I have something even more essential to share with you. Well, it is about the importance of cleaning the inside part of the gloves.
A pair of baseball gloves with a crystal clear outer part may look impressive but if it has a dirty inner part, it is almost of no use. You should remember that the outer part never gets in touch with your skin directly like the inner part. So, if it has dirt on the outer surface, that won’t cause skin problems so easily.
But things are different in the case of a glove with a dirty inside. If you use it for a long time and do not clean it regularly, mold and even fungus can gather inside it. Who knows, one day, you might use it without knowing the condition. Can you imagine how dangerous that can be?
Because of not cleaning the inside part, sweat, dirt, and oils from your hands will accumulate inside the glove. As a consequence, it will turn into a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and unpleasant odors. So, it will be unhygienic to wear and it can end up welcoming different skin diseases.
Additionally, most baseball gloves are made of leather, which requires proper care to maintain their quality and durability. Gathered dirt and sweat inside the gloves can cause the leather to deteriorate. As a result, they can be stiffer, and that leads them to crack so easily. So, if you are not willing to pay for another glove soon, and wish to improve the longevity of the existing one, you need to clean the inside part as well.
Besides, mold and grime inside the gloves can make them uncomfortable to wear and that may affect your grip and performance. Also, odor and the weird look of the gloves will ultimately affect your personality in front of your teammates. That’s why it is essential to always keep your gloves clean both inside and outside.
How to Clean the Inside of a Baseball Glove?
We are well aware that you might not have all the ingredients to clean up the baseball gloves at your home. That’s why we are not focusing only on one specific method. Indeed, some effective methods work well in this context.
That’s why we are sharing 2 different baseball gloves inside cleaning methods in this blog. It will help you choose the simplest one for you and clean the gloves accordingly.
Method 1: Clean the Gloves Using A Leather Cleaner
If you have a pair of baseball gloves that are made of leather, this is the best method you can follow. It needs only a few ingredients including a Leather cleaner Lexol which is the only thing you might have to buy from a store. However, you will need the following things to try this method.
- Lexol leather cleaner
- Soft and clean cloth
- Glove conditioner
- Mild liquid soap
- A bowl
- Warm water
Once you have gathered all the things you can start cleaning the gloves. For that, make sure to sequentially follow the steps below.
- Step 1: First, you need to shake the gloves so that all the inside dirt falls from them. Then try to remove all the dirt by hand from the outer surface.
- Step 2: Use a clean cloth and wipe it with the Lexol leather cleaner. Now, use the wet cloth to clean both the inside and outside of the gloves. Though this discussion is not about cleaning the outer part, you should do it while cleaning the inside.
- Step 3: After using the Lexol, leave the gloves for 10 to 20 minutes in the open air. In the meantime, take a deep bowl of warm water and mix some liquid mild soap with it.
- Step 4: Now, use soapy water to clean the gloves. Make sure to submerge the gloves in the water and rub them well.
- Step 5: After cleaning it, use a dry cloth to wipe both sides of the gloves. For sure, it won’t dry instantly. Indeed, it will take around 2 to 3 days to be dried. So, let it dry in the open air.
- Step 6: When it is completely dry, use a baseball glove conditioner and rub the surface well using the conditioner. You can use the gloves right after a day or two.
Lexol Leather Cleaner works like magic to clean up the inside of the baseball gloves. But remember that cleaning and especially drying up the gloves following this method requires around 3 to 4 days. So, if you need to use it very recently, don’t start cleaning it.
Method 2: Clean the Inside of the Gloves Using a Cleaning Agent
When you have a match within a week but don’t have a leather cleaner at home, you can follow this method. Even though it is not the best method for leather gloves, it works. Eventually, it is the best process to clean the glaves that ain’t made of leather. You’ll need the following equipment in this process.
- A starchy brush
- A small brush
- Safe cleaning agent
- Microfiber cloth
- A glove conditioner
- Glove oil
Here, you need to use a proper cleaning agent like a mild soap. Make sure not to use anything like a detergent or bleaching agent. However, follow the steps below.
- Step 1: First, you need to loosen all the laces in your gloves. It will help to remove the mold that is accumulated in the joints. If it is difficult to remove the laces, leave it as it is.
- Step 2: Now use a starchy brush to dry clean the outer surface and a small brush for the inner palm. Try to remove all the stains and dirt as much as possible.
- Step 3: Now, take a bowl of warm water and add the cleaning agent. Dip the gloves in the water and clean the outer part thoroughly.
- Step 4: Next, use a cloth wet with the cleaning agent mixed water to clean the inner palm of the gloves. Make sure to cover the entire surface and remove all the dirt, grime, and mold.
- Step 5: Use water at normal temperature to wash the gloves properly. Then use a dry cloth to wipe the gloves.
- Step 6: You can now add the gloves conditioner. It will help to dry the gloves very soon. You should follow the manufacturer’s suggestion to apply the conditioner.
- Step 7: Now, let it dry for as long as it takes. Once it is completely dried, use the glove oil so that it will be softer and will have better longevity.
You can avoid using the glove oil and conditioner if you don’t have them right beside your hand. Without the conditioner, it may take longer to dry and they can have the after-wash roughness if you don’t use the oil. Investing a little in two products won’t disappoint you in the future.
However, just like the first method, this one also takes 2 to 3 days to try. That’s why we suggest washing and cleaning your baseball gloves only when you don’t have a recent match.
How About Cleaning the Baseball Gloves in A Washing Machine?
This title may bring a big smile to your face as you might think that the washing machine can save you from going through the mentioned process. But I’m very sorry to say that it is a big NO if you ask whether you can wash your baseball gloves in the machine.
Baseball gloves are typically made of leather or synthetic materials that can be damaged by agitation and water immersion in a washing machine. It can simply cause the material to shrink. As a result, the gloves can lose their shape, or just become stiff.
Also if you use any sort of detergent in the washing machine, that can strip away natural oils from the leather. And you won’t like the consequences as it simply makes them crack by accelerating deterioration. That’s why a manual wash and open-air drying are the best processes to clean the inside of your baseball gloves.
Things to Remember: Cleaning the Inside of the Baseball Gloves
If you follow any of the mentioned methods sequentially, you can easily clean both the outside and inside of the baseball gloves. Aside from the steps in the methods, there are a few things you need to remember while cleaning the gloves. Make sure to follow the tips below.
- You can use rubbing alcohol instead of a cleaning agent.
- Make sure to avoid detergent, bleaching agents, or dishwashers to clean a leather glove.
- Always avoid using a wire brush to remove mold from the inner palm of the gloves.
- You can use a soft tube brush or even a ditched toothbrush in this case.
- It is better not to keep the gloves in warm water for a long time.
- You should never use boiling water and use only lukewarm water.
- It is a good idea to weigh the glove before and after cleaning and washing it to understand how much water it has absorbed. When it is completely dry, the weight should be almost the same or lower than before.
- Investing in a bottle of Lexol, glove conditioner, and glove oil is the best idea for glove maintenance.
- Never go for any quick and artificial idea to dry and wash your gloves. It only needs a hand wash and an open-air dry.
Bottom Line
There is no doubt that keeping the inside of your baseball gloves is essential. It can reduce the potentiality of different skin diseases and increase the longevity of the gloves. However, you have already learned two different methods of cleaning the inside of your baseball gloves. Hopefully, you will try any of those processes and give us feedback. Best of luck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a hairdryer to dry the inside of my baseball glove?
No, you should not use a hairdryer to dry the inside of your baseball gloves. Direct heat from the hairdryer can cause the leather to shrink, crack, or become brittle. That even decreases the longevity of the gloves and the original shape can be changed as a consequence of it. You should always let the glove air dry naturally at room temperature.
How long does it take for a baseball glove to dry naturally?
A baseball glove can take 2 to 3 days to dry naturally. The timespan can vary according to weather conditions in your area, the time of the day, the place where you keep it dry, the condition of the gloves, and the time it is in the water.
Should I apply oil on the inside of the baseball gloves?
Yes, you should apply glove oil on both the inside and outside surfaces of it. The function of the glove oil is to keep the leather surface softer and prevent it from cracking. The inner surface of the gloves needs to be even more softer and that is the reason you need to apply oil in that part as well.
