How to Wash and Care for Gardening Gloves?

Gardeners’ hands are the primary tools used in gardening, but they need to be protected from thorns, chemicals, and daily wear with gardening gloves. These gloves come in a variety of materials such as leather, cotton, rubber (including latex or neoprene), or a blend of other fabrics and synthetic materials.

Depending on the type of material, different washing methods apply. Although no true gardener’s gloves will be perfectly clean, it is essential to know how to wash garden gloves effectively to prevent the spread of diseases or chemicals and prolong their lifespan.

What You’ll Need

How to Wash and Care for Gardening Gloves?

1-Equipment / Tools

• Cotton or Synthetic Fiber Gloves
  • Garden hose or utility sink with faucet
  • Bucket (optional)
  • Washer
  • Soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush
  • Mesh lingerie bag (optional)
  • Drying rack or clothesline
  • Clothespins (optional)
• Rubber Gloves
  • Garden hose or utility sink with faucet
  • Soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush
  • Drying rack or clothesline
  • Clothespins (optional)
• Leather Gloves
  • Soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush
  • Washcloths

2-Materials

How to Wash and Care for Gardening Gloves?

• Cotton or Synthetic Fiber Gloves
  • Regular laundry detergent
• Rubber Gloves
  • Soap or dishwashing liquid
• Leather Gloves
  • Saddle soap or castile soap
  • Linseed oil or leather conditioner

Instructions

• Detergent: Regular detergent, Dishwashing liquid, or Saddle soap
• Water Temperature: Cold
• Cycle Type: Gentle or handwash
• Drying Cycle: Air-dry only
• Special Treatments: Handle gloves used for pesticide applications with care
• Iron Settings: Do not iron
• How Often to Wash: Each time after handling chemicals or diseased plants

How to Wash Cotton or Synthetic Fiber Knit Gloves

If the gloves are entirely made of fabric or have latex, nitrile, neoprene, or PVC coating on their palms, you can adhere to these guidelines.

1-Rinse Away Loose Soil

To get rid of the dirt on the surface, either use a garden hose or fill up a bucket with water. To effortlessly wash off the loose earth from your gardening gloves, keep them on and immerse your hands under a running garden hose or dip them in a bucket of water. Rub your hands together, and the soil will loosen up.

2-Select the Washer Settings

Set the washer to the regular cycle and cold water.

3-Pretreat Stains

In case you are worried about tough stains that are difficult to remove, you can apply a small amount of laundry detergent on the affected parts of your gloves beforehand.

Use your fingertips or a gentle nylon brush to massage the detergent into the material, and then let the gloves rest for approximately 10 minutes before washing. This will give the detergent sufficient time to dissolve and dislodge the stains from the fabric.

4-Wash the Gloves

To clean your gardening gloves, you can wash them with other similar colored and textured fabrics. It is advisable to put them in a mesh laundry bag to ensure they stay together in the washing machine. Alternatively, you can opt for handwashing.

To achieve this, follow the same pre-wash procedures, then use cold water and a regular detergent. Soak the gloves in the soapy solution for about 10 minutes, swishing and squeezing them occasionally.

Afterward, submerge them in clean water and press gently to eliminate all the soap. Finally, remove the gloves from the rinse water, gently press out the excess water, and avoid wringing them.

5-Hang to Air-Dry

To avoid shrinkage or damage to neoprene-lined palms, it’s advisable to hang the gardening gloves on a clothes drying rack or outdoor clothesline instead of using the dryer.