Do you garden? Do you wear gloves while gardening? If so, do you know how to wash them properly? Gardening gloves can get pretty dirty, especially when working with compost or manure. However, not cleaning them can lead to some nasty skin problems. In this article, we will discuss the best way to wash your gardening gloves – so that they stay clean and fresh for the next time you need them!
Consider Wearing Disposable Gloves
I’m going to start by saying that if you’re handling some particularly nasty stuff, you should consider wearing disposable gloves underneath your gardening gloves. Wearing disposable gloves will help keep the nastiness away from your skin and make it easier to clean your gardening gloves when you’re done.
If what you’re touching isn’t sharp and won’t pierce through disposable gloves, then you can just wear the disposable gloves and toss them when you’re done. However, if you’re working with something sharp or that could potentially pierce the gloves, then you should remove the disposable gloves before handling them and put them on again after you’re done.
Using disposable gloves will save your nice gardening gloves from getting dirty and allow you to clean them more easily when you’re done. Getting out some super stinky or dangerous substances from gardening gloves is complex, and this will help make the process a lot easier.
How to Wash Garden Gloves
Let’s get to this article’s real meat and potatoes, which is how to wash your gardening gloves. The first thing you should do is check the manufacturer’s instructions. Some gloves can be machine-washed, but others should be hand-washed only.
Below, we will go over some basic steps you can take to ensure your gloves are clean.
Rinse the gloves in cold water
The first step is to rinse the gloves in cold water. Soaking them in cold water will help remove any dirt or debris on the surface of the gloves.
It would be best to do this in a sink or basin in your garage or basement because you want to keep the mess to a minimum.
Soak your gloves
Drain the water you used to rinse most of the dirt off your gloves. The next thing you will want to do is fill up the sink with some warm water and a bit of dish soap.
Soak your gloves in the water for about 15 minutes. Soaking the gloves will help loosen any dirt or particles stuck to the fabric of the gloves.
It can help to agitate the water with your hands to swish the gloves around.
Thoroughly clean gloves
Now, take a scrub brush or some brush with bristles on it and scrub the gloves clean. You should also pay attention to any crevices or seams in the gloves and make sure to get them clean.
In my experience, dish soap is the best thing to use when cleaning gloves. It has cleaning chemicals that break down and remove tough stains and dirt.
Air dry
Once you have scrubbed your gloves, give them a final washing and rinsing with clean water. Then, let them air dry.
It can take a while for gloves to air dry, so you might want to put them someplace where they won’t get in the way.
If you have a clothesline, you can hang them up to dry that way. You can also use a folding clothes hanger if you have one of them in your home.
It will take approximately 12 hours for your gloves to air dry.
Conclusion
So there you have it: the ultimate guide on how to wash garden gloves! Just be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before you start, and you should be good to go. Happy gardening!
Can I machine wash gardening gloves?
A quick way to clean your gloves between deep cleaning sessions is to machine wash them on the delicate cycle with cold water and a mild detergent. Be sure to air dry them thoroughly, as heat from a dryer can cause the gloves to shrink and lose their shape.
If your gloves are coated, make sure to use cold water and a gentle detergent. Do not use any type of bleach, as this can damage the coating on your gloves.
The heat from hot water tends to cause the gloves to deteriorate, so it is best to stick with cold water when washing your gardening gloves. Air drying is also recommended in order to keep the gloves in good condition.
Washing your gardening gloves is vital in keeping them clean and functional. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your gloves will last for seasons to come. Happy gardening!