It’s that time of the year again. The ice is back, the snow is falling, and the hockey gloves are getting dirty. But before you throw them away and buy a new pair, it’s worth giving them a good cleaning at home. Don’t worry, we’ll show you exactly how.
The Traditional Way
While it’s good to have a pair of plastic gloves for gardening or DIY work, they aren’t meant to be washed or cleaned as often as the leather ones. That’s because the oil from your hands will prevent the plastic from drying out and going moldy. So if you follow the traditional way of cleaning hockey gloves, you’re guaranteed to break out in a sweat before you finish.
The first thing you need to do is remove the dirt and oil that has settled on the surface of the leather during use. The simplest way to do this is by hand, with some laundry detergent and water. Just moisten the inside of the leather with water and let stand for a few minutes. Dry the hands thoroughly and you’re good to go. As for the oil, you can use any oil-based cleaner and cotton ball to remove it. Just make sure you don’t scrub too hard or the leather will start peeling. Another option is to spray on some hand sanitizer and let dry before continuing.
If you have a lot of dirt and oil built up, you could also use a dedicated glove cleaner. Some of these products are even formulated to remove oil from your hands while others focus on cleaning grime from your gloves’s surface. A few drops of the product on your hands will loosen any dirt and allow it to be washed off in the water stream. Wait a few minutes before putting the gloves back on to prevent rash or irritation from occurring. If you use the wrong product, this could even lead to an allergic reaction so use with caution.
The Chemex Way
If you’re the type of person who likes to be more technical, you might want to take the alternate route and try out a glove cleaner that’s based on chemical reaction. These products will transform grease and oil on your hands into a water-soluble compound that can be easily washed away. Some examples of these types of cleaners are Nikwax Antigreen, Woolite, and Seventh Wave organic cotton sport gloves.
There are pros and cons to both cleaning methods. The first step is to determine which one you prefer and then choose a pair of gloves that align with it. If you go the traditional route, you’ll need to ensure that your hands are reasonably clean when putting on the gloves. Otherwise, it’s likely that they’ll become slippery and you’ll have trouble handling the puck or moving around in general. Some people find that the chemical reaction-based gloves leave their hands feeling fresh while others experience the opposite effect. If you’re interested in trying out this type of glove cleaner, do a little research first and make sure that it’s safe for your skin.
Overnight Airline Travel
If you’re driving to work, you might consider getting a few hours of sleep and then giving your hands a good cleaning before heading out. Some people say that a little bit of dirt and oil on the hands is natural and won’t cause any serious problems. However, if you’re a frequent flyer who spends a lot of time in the air, you might want to take a different approach. Since the airline industry is well-known for causing your hands to go through many changes, it’s worth considering whether or not to clean them before your flight. Some experts believe that a shower or bath prior to your flight is a better option, as long as you use a natural soap.
To be on the safe side, it’s important to note that liquids are difficult to swallow while flying. As a result, you might experience problems with weight gain or loss if you consume too much or too little food on the plane. In these situations, you might need to make an emergency landing. If you have severe heart disease or diabetes, using alcohol or tobacco products isn’t advised as the effects of these substances aren’t exactly healthy for air travel either. In most cases, however, a quick shower or bath will suffice. Just make sure that your hands are clean and dry before continuing with your flight.
The Wet Bag Way
If none of the above seem to be working for you, maybe it’s time to try out a different approach. After all, your hands are worth it. Instead of washing or cleaning them as often as usual, you could stuff a few plastic bags with some dryer sheets and hold them over your hands to trap the dirt and oil. It’s said that this method will keep your hands safe from bacteria and fungus growth while preventing slippage because of the oil-absorbing sheets. Just make sure you don’t fill the bags beyond their capacity or the excess weight could cause serious problems during take off.
As you might guess, this last method isn’t for everyone. If you have skin sensitivities or suffer from asthma, you shouldn’t try out this method. Additionally, if you’re prone to dry, cracking skin or have a history of eczema, using wet bags could lead to an outbreak of psoriasis or worse. So again, use this method with caution.
If regular shampoo and conditioning doesn’t leave your gloves feeling fresh, you might want to try out some natural alternatives. For example, castile soap is often touted as the best detergent for wool and silk because it doesn’t damage the fibers. Alternatively, you could brush your teeth with coconut oil to leave your teeth in good condition and use it as a substitute for your regularly scheduled shampoo. Some people even leave their hair out in the rain to see if it can help cleanse their scalp of dirt. What you’ll need for this last method is a good pair of tumblers filled with water and some natural spring water. Just pour the water over your hands, leave for 15 minutes, and then wipe away the excess liquid with a towel. Dry your hands thoroughly and you’re good to go.
Which Preference?
At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. Some people like the feel of regular plastic gloves while others prefer the more durable and versatile leather ones. If you’ve tried out at least a few of the methods mentioned above and still haven’t found a way to satisfy your needs, maybe it’s time to try out a pair of hand-made gloves. You might find that they’ll feel exactly like what you’re looking for and the fact that they’ll last longer means that you’ll have to buy fewer replacements.
Choose a method and pair of gloves that you think will work for you. While we recommend using a hand-made pair of gloves, if plastic seems more suitable for your needs, go for it! Just make sure that you dry your hands well after using the product and don’t wear the gloves for more than a few hours.