Glove death stink

[GuyContinental]

Has anyone found a reasonable solution for glove stink? I regularly wash mine and have tried febreeze, baking soda (to reduce the acid), washing every day but I just. cant. beat. the funk. In fact I can smell them now, on the other side of my office 10 feet away draped over my bars… I can only imagine what they smell like to others (think hockey locker room). They get a ton of use so I generally wear them out in a year but the stink re-occurs within 3 months and like like expensive gloves so I’m not going to replace them that frequently. None of the rest of my gear (fastidiously cleaned) or even my shoes has this problem (not that it smells like roses…)

[PrintError]

Wash them in the laundry, then hang them in the sun to dry. I’ve been using the same gloves for about 3-4 years now, and they get washed weekly.

[CCrew]

Sportwash, or some vinegar in the washwater. It’s just like sweaty poly sports clothing, it’s bacterial in nature causing the funk.

[americancyclo]

Dirt recommended Penguin Sport Wash. http://www.penguinapparelcare.com/sport.htm

[PrintError]

@americancyclo 16468 wrote:

Dirt recommended Penguin Sport Wash. http://www.penguinapparelcare.com/sport.htm

If anyone knows how to get stinky, it’s Dirt.

[KLizotte]

I dunno. Perhaps when you get to work you can try turning them inside out, wiping them down with an anti-bacterial wipe, and if possible, let them dry in the sun.

[GuyContinental]

Excellent- I might try soaking them in vinegar then washing… Also bought the “Atsko Sport Wash”- same formulation as Penguin, fewer negative reviews on ye-olde Amazon. While I was at it (and to get free-shipping…) I bought a bunch of “Shower Pill” body towels… yes, between the gloves and my self I’m pretty self-conscious about stink today…

[Tim Kelley]

+1 for vinegar.

When my running shoes (Vibram FiveFingers) get particularly bad, I let them soak in the sink in a solution of vinegar and water overnight. I then throw them in the wash to get the vinegar smell out. This usually works pretty well for me.

[DaveK]

@Tim Kelley 16495 wrote:

+1 for vinegar.

When my running shoes (Vibram FiveFingers) get particularly bad, I let them soak in the sink in a solution of vinegar and water overnight. I then throw them in the wash to get the vinegar smell out. This usually works pretty well for me.

+1 for the same. I try to keep up with my VFFs but they do get pretty bad. Vinegar + washing machine fixes it, and if it works on my feet it’ll work on your hands.

Also just in general – if you can smell your stuff down the hall at work, just toss it. Preferably in the garbage outside. At least leave it outside of the office somewhere. Your coworkers will thank you.

[eminva]

Does anyone know how to clean Pearl Izumi Lobster Claw gloves? They have both fabric and leather, so I am reluctant to throw them in the wash. Dry cleaners?

Liz

[GuyContinental]

@DaveK 16496 wrote:

+1 for the same. I try to keep up with my VFFs but they do get pretty bad. Vinegar + washing machine fixes it, and if it works on my feet it’ll work on your hands.

Also just in general – if you can smell your stuff down the hall at work, just toss it. Preferably in the garbage outside. At least leave it outside of the office somewhere. Your coworkers will thank you.

I finally dragged them outside and attached ’em to the wipers of one of my work vans. A little sun, a little fresh air should make them tolerable enough for the ride home.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]829[/ATTACH]

[off2ride]

GuyC,

If I were you, I would just discard those gloves. If you’re 10 feet away and you can still smell them, then it’s time to say bubbye. I’m at the Pro Shop at the moment in Gtown and we have this bike that is totally corroded from the rider/owner’s sweat. Apparently he sweats more than normal so the parts that are corroded are the shifters, handle bar, bottom bracket and shell, saddle rails, seat collar and rear drop outs. The bike is nasty and unfortunately the bike is condemned for safety reasons. I’m sure his apparel is also caked in salt after a good ride in the heat. I just wonder if he also has a problem with his gloves. BTW, do you own a TIME frame?

@GuyContinental 16455 wrote:

Has anyone found a reasonable solution for glove stink? I regularly wash mine and have tried febreeze, baking soda (to reduce the acid), washing every day but I just. cant. beat. the funk. In fact I can smell them now, on the other side of my office 10 feet away draped over my bars… I can only imagine what they smell like to others (think hockey locker room). They get a ton of use so I generally wear them out in a year but the stink re-occurs within 3 months and like like expensive gloves so I’m not going to replace them that frequently. None of the rest of my gear (fastidiously cleaned) or even my shoes has this problem (not that it smells like roses…)

[KLizotte]

@eminva 16497 wrote:

Does anyone know how to clean Pearl Izumi Lobster Claw gloves? They have both fabric and leather, so I am reluctant to throw them in the wash. Dry cleaners?

Liz

I’ve been throwing my leather cycling gloves in the wash all year w/o a problem. I certainly don’t put them in the dryer though.

[KLizotte]

@GuyContinental 16499 wrote:

I finally dragged them outside and attached ’em to the wipers of one of my work vans. A little sun, a little fresh air should make them tolerable enough for the ride home.

You’ve now got a hazmat vehicle on your hands! :p

[GuyContinental]

“I’m at the Pro Shop at the moment in Gtown and we have this bike that is totally corroded from the rider/owner’s sweat. Apparently he sweats more than normal so the parts that are corroded are the shifters, handle bar, bottom bracket and shell, saddle rails, seat collar and rear drop outs. The bike is nasty and unfortunately the bike is condemned for safety reasons. I’m sure his apparel is also caked in salt after a good ride in the heat. I just wonder if he also has a problem with his gloves. BTW, do you own a TIME frame? “

That is crazy! Acid-sweat dude might want to wipe down his frame now and again and consider some lube in shifting components. No TIME frame for me- I have a C’dale Six13, the carbon/AL should be sweat resistant and I’m pretty diligent about cleaning and lubing so a sweat stalactite (yuck) would probably get noticed…

I’m not really a sweat-er and (within reason) my shoes don’t really stink. I soaked the gloves in vinegar overnight, will wash them in the tech wash when it shows up- if that combo works on THESE gloves it will work on anything. I’ll report back…

[Author]

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