Golf gloves play an extremely important role in the overall game of a golfer. This is because it is the main point of contact between your hands and the golf club. It also provides protection and a better hold on the grip of a golf club, which helps golfers play more consistently.
However, if you play golf regularly, you may replace them more often than you’d like. Nobody likes to spend money on something they believe could last longer if they took better care of them.
In this article, we’ll go through why it’s important to clean your gloves and some ways you should consider to properly clean them so you’ll have a fresh glove ready for your next round of golf.
Why Do You Need to Wash Your Golf Glove?
The reason to wash your golf glove is to give you the highest chance of hitting more consistent, accurate golf shots. As the glove provides the main contact barrier between your hands and golf clubs, it’s imperative to keep it in good condition.
As you use your gloves regularly, the golf gloves can affect your performance and make them uncomfortable to wear. You wouldn’t want to notice that when you are trying to play golf, which is already hard as it is. The sweat, dirt, wear, and tear – they all build up and eventually affect your game.
Maintaining the golf gloves by cleaning them is essential to keeping them in good condition and extending their lifespan.
How to Wash Golf Gloves?
For any type of glove that should be hand-washed or machine-washed, it’s best to clean them by hand in the sink. However, if you decide to wash them in the washing machine, it’s also possible (but not recommended).
Wash By Hand
The simplest and recommended way to wash golf gloves is to put them directly in cold water in the sink after a golf round. This prevents dirt, sweat, and grime from building up inside and on the glove.
- With the glove on your hand, use a soft material such as a golf towel (microfiber) to rub the glove to remove any stains or debris that has built up. Be careful when scrubbing the golf glove, as if you use too much pressure, you could take the actual grip off the glove.
- Once it’s been cleaned, put it away to be air-dried. Do not use a dryer or hair dryer on the glove, as this can cause it to shrink.
- For a deeper clean, you can add a few drops of soap to the water to help remove stubborn stains or debris. Soak them for 20 minutes, then put the glove on and clean it. It’s recommended to not use any brushes of any kind, as these are likely to damage the glove grip material.
Machine Wash
If you are like other golfers and always think, why not clean the golf gloves with my other clothes in the machine wash, then you are not alone. It’s very possible to do it, although we do not recommend doing it, even if you are using cold water.
This is because machine washing is too damaging to the gloves, even if you are using low spin and cold water. If you still want to use the washing machine, the steps are below.
- First, you brush off any dirt or debris manually by hand, and place the glove inside a laundry mesh bag or pillowcase. This helps to protect it in the washing machine.
- Use mild detergent and cold water to minimize the potential damage machine washing can cause. Hot water can damage the leather and synthetic material of a glove.
- Select gentle or delicate as the washing machine cycle.
- Once the wash is completed, only air dry the gloves. Never put them in an air dryer, as the heat can damage the material.
The main thing you have to be mindful of when using the washing machine to clean golf gloves is to use the gentle cycle and avoid heat. These can damage both leather gloves and synthetic gloves.
Consider Before Washing Leather Golf Gloves
If you are using leather gloves, there are a few more things to consider before you wash the gloves.
- Check the care label to understand the recommended way to clean the glove by the manufacturer.
- Know the type of leather, since some types of leather are more susceptible to damage than others.
- Check the glove for existing damage since these can be made worse during any form of washing.
- Consider if it’s necessary to do a full wash of the glove, or you can use a damp cloth to wipe it away first.
- It’s better to do handwashing than machine washing for leather gloves since machine washing can be too hard for leather material.
How to Maintain Golf Gloves
To maximize the lifespan of the golf glove, you need to take care of it not only after a round of golf but also during a round of golf at a golf course.
Following the steps below will help keep your gloves in good condition, maintaining their shape and performance for longer. Maintaining gloves helps prolong the lifespan of a glove significantly, so it’s important to take good care of them.
During Your Round (Fresh on the Course)
To maintain the glove during a round on the golf course, below are some best practices to follow:
- Rotate the gloves – if possible, use multiple gloves during the round, as this allows them to dry, reducing moisture build up and wear.
- Remove between shows – take the glove off during shots to give both your hand and the glove time to dry out. It’s also good practice to take off the glove after each shot, so you focus on the next shot.
- Store properly – when not in use, make sure you store the glove properly, and keep it as flat as possible to avoid any wear on it.
- Smoothen Out – before you store the glove, make sure you smooth it to maintain its natural shape. Any wrinkles or creases can damage the material.
- Wipe with a towel – keep a towel handy to wipe away any dirt and sweat, which also gives you a better grip.
- Handling – be gentle each time you take the glove off, and try not to force it off if it’s difficult to remove. This helps to prevent the material from overstretching, which over time causes wear.
- Have dedicated rain gloves – if there are rainy conditions, keep a dedicated glove just for this. You wouldn’t want to use your favorite glove if it wasn’t designed for rainy weather.
After Your Round
To maintain the glove after the round, below are some best practices to follow:
- Wipe it down – if there is dirt and grime on the glove, wipe it down with a towel before storing it.
- Air dry it – get the glove back to being dry as quickly as possible by air drying it. This is to avoid moisture accumulation on the glove. If the gloves are really wet, you can stuff them with paper to absorb the moisture faster.
- Maintain shape & store properly – flatten out any creases or wrinkles, and store the glove properly in its natural shape.
- Check for wear & tear – if the glove has any visible damage, you’ll need to consider using a new pair during the next round. Using damaged gloves will negatively affect your game of golf.
- Use leather conditioner – if using leather gloves, use leather conditioner to treat the material to prevent the leather from cracking.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your golf gloves clean and well-maintained is key to keeping you playing your best golf. Not only does it help to extend the lifespan of the gloves, but it also ensures you have a consistent grip when you play golf.
Remember, for any type of glove that should be hand-washed or machine-washed, it’s best to clean them by hand in the sink. Whether you opt for hand washing or machine washing, the key is to be gentle and use cold water to prevent any damage.
By following the tips and processes in this article, you will keep your gloves looking and performing at their best for longer. Clean, well-maintained gloves will give you the comfort and grip needed to keep you hitting consistently good shots.
