Busting Gardening Glove Myths A Guide To Properly Washing Gardening Gloves

Gardening gloves are essential for both novice and professional green thumbs alike; they provide much needed protection against harmful bacteria and even harmful chemicals. The problem is, many people don't know exactly how to care for and properly wash their gardening gloves. For the most part, these simple tools require very little maintenance, but understanding best practices for cleaning them can help ensure they last longer and perform better. Read on to learn more about the myths and qualities of washing gardening gloves.

Myth You Can Throw Gardening Gloves in the Washing Machine

It's a relatively common misconception that you can throw your gardening gloves right in with the rest of your laundry. However, this is not the best way to clean them. Washing machines can be very damaging to gloves due to their agitator, and the strong detergents used in a washing machine could cause inevitable deterioration. Additionally, some gloves are not color-safe, and can lead to fading or discoloration.

The Best Way To Wash Gardening Gloves

The best way to properly wash your gardening gloves is to use a mixture of warm, gentle detergent and cool or lukewarm water. Scrub both the outside and inside of the gloves with a soft-bristled brush and then rinse them out. To get rid of any residual dirt, you may want to try soaking the gloves in the detergent mixture overnight.

Ensuring Gloves Endure Washing

When cleaning gardening gloves, it's important to remember that they are delicate and needs to be handled with care. Make sure to avoid extreme temperatures such as hot water, which could cause the gloves to shrink. Instead, always use a lukewarm water temperature and never bleach.

It's also important to shape your gloves after washing. Gently roll each glove into a ball for the drying process, as canvas, leather, and other materials can become misshapen when washed or dried.

Caring For Different Types of Gloves

Gardening gloves come in a variety of different materials, including canvas, leather, rubber, and even plastic. While all require specialized care, canvas and leather gloves require the most attention, as they are more vulnerable.

Canvas gloves, for instance, may become stiff after washing. To avoid this, simply add a few drops of fabric softener to the glove's soaking solution. Leather gardening gloves, however, need to be lubricated to avoid cracking. This can be done by rubbing the gloves in a circular motion with leather cream.

Final Word

Cleaning gardening gloves is essential in ensuring that they are free of bacteria and other harmful pathogens. To properly wash gardening gloves one must avoid washing machines, stay vigilant about temperatures and material, and be sure to shape gloves and lubricate leather gloves post washing. Keeping these tips in mind can help ensure your gloves lasts a long time, while providing a safe and pleasant gardening environment.

These claims are based on a mixture of our own testing and a variety of external references (1, 2, 3).

Takeaways:

Don't throw gardening gloves in the washing machine

Use a mixture of warm detergent and cool or lukewarm water

Remember to shape the gloves after washing

Canvas gloves may require fabric softener and leather gloves need moisturizing cream

Be sure to stay vigilant with temperatures and materials