Hockey equipment can become pretty smelly after a long day on the ice. Especially with all the sweat, oil, and bacteria that builds up from constant sliding and turning. That’s why sometimes you need to take a break from the game and change out your gear. However, this is usually difficult because most hockey equipment is designed to be as tight-fitting as possible so it doesn’t come off easily. This makes removing it and cleaning it properly more challenging.

Fortunately for you, we’ve found the solution to this problem. In this article, we’ll tell you how to get rid of the smell of your hockey gloves completely without having to replace them. So you can keep playing and smelling the sweet smell of victory. Plus, we’ll tell you about some surprising benefits that may come in handy.

Try A Different Technique

The first step to eliminating the smell of your hockey gloves is to try a different technique. The best way to do this is to slide your hands on the ice for a while before throwing them in the washing machine. In this way, the cold temperature of the ice will strip away some of the oils that cause the odor. While washing your gloves in cold water can also help. But, of course, you can’t anticipate when this might be beneficial because it all depends on the state of your hands after playing. If you’re someone who tends to sweat a lot, then washing your gloves right after a game might not be the best idea.

Nevertheless, this is a great technique to try if you experience odor whenever you wear your gloves. This way, you’ll be sure that they’re clean when you put them on again after your next game. You shouldn’t have any problem with this technique because it won’t hurt your hands and it’s easy to implement.

Wash Your Gloves More Often

Another thing you can try to get rid of the smell of your hockey gloves is to wash them more often. You can do this either by hand or in the washing machine. The more you wash them, the more bacteria and other stuff is going to be removed from the fibers. This makes them smellier and gives you a better chance of removing the odor. So, every week or two would be sufficient.

If you play in a highly polluted area or if you work in an environment where there’s a lot of dust, then you might need to wash your gloves every day or every other day. This is also the case if you play in an area where there’s a lot of animal dung. The point is that you should wash your gloves as soon as possible after each use because the more you delay, the stronger the smell becomes. Delaying more than two weeks between cleanings can make the odor really strong and it’s nearly impossible to remove without some serious cleaning products and time.

Odor Zapper

Nowadays, you don’t have to spend a fortune to purchase all kinds of expensive smell-elimination products. You can find highly efficient and reasonably priced odor zapper devices that work perfectly well in eliminating the stench. These are small and portable, so you can take them anywhere and use them to get rid of that undesirable odor. Once you get rid of the odor, you’ll be able to wear your gloves without any problems.

Some odor zappers function by passing an electric current through water. So, in the event that you have a water source (like a swimming pool, lake, or ocean) near where you play hockey, then you can use this type of odor zapper. Simply spray some water on your hands before pulling on your gloves and you’ll be able to enjoy your day without having to worry about your odor. This type of odor zapper is great for use in outdoor activities, like camping and hiking. You can also use it if you play in an area where there’s lots of animal feces or other filth near where you sleep.

Abrasive Cleansing Wipes

Instead of washing your gloves in water, you can use some abrasive cleansing wipes to remove the oil and odor. These are similar to cleaning cloths you’d use to wipe down your bike before and after riding. You can find these wipes in any drugstore and they come in handy when wiping down your gloves after each use. Simply rub your hands together to remove excess oils and grime before putting on your gloves for the next game.

Drying Your Gloves

To avoid getting your gloves wet during the winter months, you can hang them up to dry after washing and removing most of the moisture. This is especially important for long or multiple games because the more you perspire, the more your gloves will sweat and become stinky. If you play in a cold climate, then drying your gloves can also help reduce the odor because the moisture content is usually high in the winter.

However, you shouldn’t overuse this technique because excessive drying can cause your gloves to become weak. So do it only when absolutely necessary. You can also leave your gloves to air dry once you’ve removed the excess oils and sweat. However, you shouldn’t leave them out for more than two or three hours because moisture allows bacteria to multiply quickly.

Deep Cleaning

If you think your gloves are beyond repair and you need to get rid of the stench completely, then you can use some concentrated cleaning products and a brush to ensure the fibers are clean. This technique involves the removal of all the skin and some of the underlying layers to reach the natural fibers. This is a pretty time-consuming process, so be sure you’re prepared to spend the necessary amounts of time.

There are many different types of natural fibers used in the production of hockey gloves. The most common ones are leather and synthetic fibers. Leather is fairly easy to clean and maintain. However, synthetic fibers are much more durable and resist water and oil well. This makes them easier to maintain. Nevertheless, leather is the standard and most reliable option when it comes to manufacturing hockey gloves.

If you have a small apartment and you don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive cleaning products, then you can use simple household cleaners to get the job done. Although this won’t be as effective as the techniques mentioned above, it will help reduce the odor enough for you to maintain a decent quality of life while playing hockey.

Change Your Gear

If none of the above techniques work for you and you still want to keep playing, then you can always change your gear. This is something that most players have to do at some point in their hockey career. It can become pretty frustrating to smell your gloves after every game, so it’s important to have a backup plan. It would be best to invest in a pair of hand-me-down gloves from someone else. Just make sure they’re cleaned well before wearing them.

If you use a different type of padding or put tape on your gloves to keep them from sliding around too much, then this might also reduce the odor. You can find a nice video tutorial on taping up your fingers here

Taping Up Your Fingers For Better Hockey Fingering

Last but not least, we’d like to point out that when your hands get cold during play, this can cause more odor to be generated. So if you play in a cold climate, then it’s better to keep your hands warm. Wear gloves or mittens when going outdoors in the winter and remember to pull your hands in when getting into your car in the morning. This will help keep the cold at bay and prevent any unpleasant odor from taking over your day.

Hopefully, none of this was too much information. Wearing clean, dry gloves with the proper equipment can make a world of difference. If you need further assistance, then feel free to give us a call. We’ll be happy to help you get rid of that hockey glove odor once and for all!