How to Wash Gloves

Properly caring for your vintage gloves will ensure their long life and years of quality wear.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lukewarm water (95-100F.) and softened if necessary with a commercial softener or Borax
• Thick white cotton towelling.

1. 1. Wash all leather gloves, except chamois and doeskin, by hand (these two leathers become soft when wet and may tear or rip along the stitching).

2. 2. Use lukewarm water, softened if necessary and make a rich sud of mild soap.

3. 3. Wash gloved hands in the suds, squeezing, and pressing but not rubbing. If there are stubborn spots of soil, use a soft brush on them, gently.

4. 4. When gloves are clean, slip them off gently from the wrist. An easy way is to fill the gloves with water while they are on the hands and gently squeeze the top of the glove with a downward motion until the fingers slip off.

5. 5. Wash the inside to remove any soil left by your hands. Turn right side out. Rinse several times in lukewarm water.

6. 6. Pat out excess moisture with a cotton towel. Stretch the gloves lengthwise gently and blow into each glove to puff it out.

7. 7. Lay the shaped gloves flat on a dry cotton towel and let them dry slowly, away from direct sunlight or any source of artificial heat.

8. 8. If cuffs or stitching are in contrasting colors, stuff white tissue paper inside the gloves.

9. 9. When the gloves are almost dry, "fingerpress" them gently by stretching the leather in both directions. This makes the gloves soft and pliable when dry. If gloves get too stiff as they dry, roll them in a damp towel for a few moments and then manipulate the leather gently while it is damp.

10. 10. Wash all fabric gloves off the hands. Immerse them in suds made in the same way as for leather gloves until they are clean. Use a soft brush on stubborn spots. Rinse thoroughly in clear lukewarm water. Ease into shape and hang evenly over rod or line or lay on flat surface. Never wring or twist.

Tips & Warnings

• Yes...you can wash leather gloves! As long as there's no stamp which indicates they're non-washable.
• All washable gloves, no matter the type of material, should be laundered frequently, because severe soil makes rubbing necessary, and rubbing injure the finish, affects the dye, and may roughen the surface.Leather Gloves: This includes calfskin, cape, white buckskin, pigskin, goatskin AND suede (if processed for washability).
• If your gloves have EVER been dry cleaned, do not attempt to wash them, continue having them dry cleaned.

[EdenSharpe]

on 2/13/2009 Wonderfully detailed. Can't wait to check out your blog, too.