How to Clean a Baseball Glove

Applying a Cleaning Agent

Scrub your glove. Using a stiff-bristled hand brush or a cloth, scrub or wipe away visible dirt and debris from your baseball glove. Check the palm of the glove as well as the top side. Do this after each time you use your glove.

Remove the laces from the glove if possible. Removing the laces will allow you better access to the grit and debris that might be caught between the fingers of the glove, or beneath the area concealed by the laces. However, due to the way gloves are laced, it might not be possible to untie your glove’s laces. If you cannot unlace your glove’s laces, you can skip this step, or use a sharp implement to cut them. If you choose to cut your glove’s laces, you won’t be able to use them again, and will have to obtain new laces or take your glove to a sporting goods store to have it re-laced. If you’re re-lacing your glove after removing the laces, aim to reproduce the same level of lace tension the glove had before you removed its laces.

Apply a leather-cleaning agent to the glove. Every leather-cleaning agent is slightly different. Generally, however, you’ll simply dab a clean cloth with a bit of the leather cleaning agent, then rub it onto the glove in a gentle motion. You could apply it with small circular motions, or back-and-forth wipes. Consult manufacturer directions for more detailed information regarding use. After applying the leather-cleaning agent, you must typically wait for a few hours or up to 24 hours. Check manufacturer directions regarding the length of time you must wait before using or conditioning the glove. Take care not to overuse your leather-cleaning agent. Overuse could cause the agent to build up on the glove and clogs its pores. Check the label on your leather-cleaning agent for information regarding the frequency with which you should apply it.

Conditioning the Glove

Moisturize the glove with a glove conditioner. Glove conditioner is a product that both cleans and softens baseball glove leather. General directions for use involve dabbing a clean cloth into the glove conditioner, then wiping it lightly over the glove’s surface using a circular motion. Consult manufacturer directions for more specific information regarding use. Apply glove conditioner between the webbing of the glove’s fingers and to the inside of the glove, too. Once applied, your glove will appear restored, and flex more easily during use.

Wait for the conditioner to be absorbed. After applying the glove conditioner, you must typically wait for 24 hours. Check manufacturer directions regarding the length of time you must wait before your glove can again be used.

Do not overuse glove conditioner. Overuse could actually attract dirt and debris to the glove. It is typically not necessary to use more than a few dabs of conditioner. Additionally, don’t use conditioner too frequently. Using conditioner more than twice per season is typically excessive.

Storing Your Glove

Wipe your glove with soap and water. Before storing your glove, at either the beginning or the end of the baseball season, give your glove a gentle scrubbing with water and soap. Dab a clean cloth into a mixture of warm water and mild hand soap. Wring the cloth out as much as possible to avoid causing the glove to absorb too much water. Dry the glove with a dry cloth after wiping it down, then allow it to air dry. Do not use dishwashing liquid or detergent to wipe your glove.

Keep your glove cool. When you aren’t using your glove, store it somewhere with a stable temperature. Avoid leaving your glove near a heater or in a hot area (for instance, next to a window that receive direct sunlight). This will cause your glove to dry out, and become stiff and unusable.

Store your glove in a dry place. If your glove gets too wet, it will become stiff and less pliant when it dries. Keep your glove somewhere with low humidity and adequate air flow. If your baseball glove gets wet – even as a result of rain during a game – wipe it off as soon as possible. Allow it to dry naturally. Don’t dry your glove with a blow dryer, or place it near a heater. This could cause it to crack. If, after your glove dries, it feels too stiff, apply glove conditioner to soften it.

Maintain the glove’s shape. When you store your glove, don’t pile heavy baseball bats or other sports equipment on it. Place a baseball in the webbing and wrap the glove tightly with an elastic cord or other binder. Tighten or re-tie the laces using square and overhand knots. Place the glove with the palm up or facing to the side. Proper storage will help the glove keep its shape.