# How do I clean my boxing gloves?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 5, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119 "2003-05-05T02:47:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119/1 "2003-05-05T02:47:03Z")
I have a pair of boxing gloves, vinyl with foam padding and polyester (I think) liner. I’ve had them for over a year. The problem is when I use them, my hands sweat. A lot. My gloves get soggy.
Now when I wear them, they reek. I’m talking slap you in the face just from the smell. And it rubs off on my hands. Even after I’ve cooled off, if I handle them before they dry, my hands get stinky again.
I want to clean them, but I don’t know what to do. Does anybody know? Would it be safe to machine wash them? Soak in water? Machine dry? Bake in the sun?
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119/2 "2003-05-05T03:32:46Z")
I don’t have a clue about boxing, but here is something that works like a charm for neoprene booties that are particularly foul. Try soaking the gloves in “Sink the Stink”, which you can find over the internet or through dive shops, followed with a ski boot fan to assist in drying.
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### Author:  [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119/3 "2003-05-05T03:38:55Z")
I don’t have a clue about boxing, but here is something that works like a charm for neoprene booties that are particularly foul. Try soaking the gloves in “Sink the Stink”, which you can find over the internet or through dive shops, followed with a ski boot fan to assist in drying.
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### Author:  [@MajorTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MajorTom)
#### Post date: [May 5, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-clean-my-boxing-gloves/173119/4 "2003-05-05T04:26:58Z")
Sorry, thought the op was asking about cleaning the outside of the glove. My suggestion would be to put 'em on then pick a fight and avoid face blows. (too much blood) clean 'em off on the opponent’s body. Be careful with the selection of opponents as it could be your clock rather than the gloves come out clean. But, since it’s the inside which stinks, judging from your description of the stink, I’d shove in a couple baby skunks, sew them in, leave 'em for a couple or three weeks so they’re good and dead and decomposing. Shake out the remains, then add a little “English Leather” (oops, thats for the outside)