Can you wash leather gloves?

[Ratchet]

My lovely gloves are heading in to their 2nd yr. They've seen every season and what it brings, the sun, the rain and the snow.
Today they got wet, when i got to work, my hands did not smell good. Damp leather, dried wrong type of smell
Is this the end of their life or can i wash them?....

[Tomcat]

Our kid's MX trousers has leather bits to protect against the hot exhaust on the inner calves, and they get washed every ride pretty much. After 2 years they are quite stiff (fnarr) but free up with wear. I've told him to rub some hide food into them to soften them again.

I reckon you could wash gloves, but only once or twice. If all else fails you're into renewing them anyway aren't you?

[TheEnglishman]

Is it the leather that smells or the lining? My Triumph Hard Carbons are 3 years old, get worn almost every workday(thank the lord for heated grips and handguards), get nikwaxed every few months, and smell of leather and nothing else.

[protoborg]

First thing I'd try would be saddle soap. If you can find a saddlery shop in your area they'll have it, might even find it in a local hardware & DIY shop.

[Zanx]

You can wash Held kangaroo skin gloves, they even include instructions in the packet.

[Fizzy Fish]

hmmm, not sure I'd suggest washing leather! Apparently a spell in the freezer should be enough to kill off the bacteria which cause those nasty niffs...

[Weeksy]

I'd just be buying new ones to be honest. Washing them is going to make them brittle and less likely to save you in an off i think ?

[dickymint]

Apparently a spell in the freezer should be enough to kill off the bacteria which cause those nasty niffs...

Tried that..... Doesn't work!! Next hint of moisture whether it be rain or sweat brought back the smell. Maybe my bacteria is super strength!!

[Alex Dangerfield]

My lovely gloves are heading in to their 2nd yr. They've seen every season and what it brings, the sun, the rain and the snow.
Today they got wet, when i got to work, my hands did not smell good. Damp leather, dried wrong type of smell
Is this the end of their life or can i wash them?....

freezer or an antibacterial spray for shoes, then condition with a leather feed/cream, available at all good cobblers now.

[MyLittleStudPony]

I was told you can gently wash them in warm water (no detergent).

Then let them dry naturally.

At this point they will be stiff. Don't flex them. Apply plenty of leather food (preferably inside and outside). They should be fine.

If they're lined with something other than leather, don't get leather food on that and consider not washing them.

[Fizzy Fish]

Tried that..... Doesn't work!! Next hint of moisture whether it be rain or sweat brought back the smell. Maybe my bacteria is super strength!!

hmmm, has worked for me in the past - what on earth have you been doing with your hands??

[Tomcat]

I was told you can gently wash them in warm water (no detergent).

Then let them dry naturally.

At this point they will be stiff. Don't flex them. Apply plenty of leather food (preferably inside and outside). They should be fine.

If they're lined with something other than leather, don't get leather food on that and consider not washing them.

It's not so different from getting them soaked in the rain, really.

[skatty]

Warm water in the sink with a drop of washing powder fill them up shake them about rince with clean water dry them at room temp

A bit hard for the first few minute's but soon soften off

Done it to mine for the past few year's with no problems

And yes they do smell nice after words

PS: Make sure you rince all the soap out .. if not they may get a bit slippy if it rain's

[protoborg]

Warm water in the sink with a drop of washing powder fill them up shake them about rince with clean water dry them at room temp

A bit hard for the first few minute's but soon soften off

Done it to mine for the past few year's with no problems

And yes they do smell nice after words

PS: Make sure you rince all the soap out .. if not they may get a bit slippy if it rain's

Washing powder (or any detergent) will ruin leather.

[Ratchet]

Cheers everyone. I think it is time they were replaced, but until funds are available that isnt going to happen.

I should have explained what type of glove they are.. Opps... They are the Alpinestars SMX(??) really thin, mixture of leather, material in between the fingers and hard bits on the knuckles. I cant wear 'normal' bike gloves, dont like em.

I did soak them.........they dried out stiff as a board....LOL.....still stink

I have some of that visor vision helmet spray, might try that next after ive softened them up......