How to Make Boxing Gloves Not Smell

The presence of sweat on the skin can make you feel cooler when you are hot or overexerted, making it a useful bodily function. Although water is the prime component of sweat, there are other materials present as well, such as minerals and acids. When left in an enclosed area, such as in a boxing glove, bacteria can feed on these materials and grow on the sweat-soaked fabric inside the gloves, leading to a strong odor. Killing the bacteria that has formed inside is the first step to making your boxing gloves not smell.

Things You'll Need

  • Glove dryer or hair dryer
  • Disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray
  • Cloth rag
  • Laundry dryer sheets
  • Tube socks
  • Cedar chips, cat litter, sawdust or commercial deodorizer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Leave the gloves out in an open area to dry. Leave the laces open completely or remove them entirely to allow the inside of the gloves to air dry better. Use a specially designed glove dryer or hair dryer set on low to speed up the drying process.

    • 2

      Use disinfecting wipes or spray a disinfecting spray onto a clean cloth and clean the inside of the glove to kill the bacteria. Allow to air dry or use a blow dryer set on low heat to dry the inside.

    • 3

      Insert a couple of scented laundry dryer sheets inside each glove to mask any lingering smell.

    • 4

      Fill clean tube socks with materials such as cedar chips, cat litter or sawdust and place them inside the gloves overnight to mask and absorb any smells; try commercial products that are specifically designed to kill bacteria in boxing gloves and deodorize them.