Washing your ski gloves can keep them fresh and get rid of any odors or built-up dirt and grime. This isn’t something that every skier does often, but it’s a good idea to know how to wash your gloves when you need or want to.
I’m Christine, a lifelong skier and the founder of this blog. I’ve learned a lot of different skills over my skiing career, and washing ski gloves is one of these. I know how to wash them properly without causing any damage.
This post will teach you how to wash ski gloves. Whether you are dealing with a stinky pair or just want to make them look better, the advice found below will guide you in the right direction.
Let’s get after it.
Contents
When to Wash Ski Gloves
You don’t need to wash your ski gloves after every ski day. Some skiers never wash their gloves at all. It’s really up to you, and I think the best time to clean your gloves is when they really need it.
What I mean by this is you should wash them if they ever become dirty or stinky. Nobody likes dealing with clothing items that stink, and a quick wash can help solve the problem. Dirty gloves aren’t necessarily a performance problem, but they will look better when clean.
If you just want to wash your gloves as part of a regular cleaning or maintenance routine, I suggest washing them once or twice during the ski season. You don’t really need to wash them more than this unless you are particular about it.
How to Wash Ski Gloves
Washing your ski gloves isn’t that difficult. But you do need to know how to clean different types of gloves, so you don’t ruin them. I’ll break things down with that in mind below.
How to Wash Waterproof (Synthetic) Ski Gloves
Waterproof ski gloves are the most common type of gloves that skiers use. Chances are, you use waterproof gloves because they are the ideal type of material for skiing and are also widely available.
Waterproof gloves are any type of ski glove made of synthetic material. The outer layer of the gloves will be made of some type of waterproof material, and the inner layers can be various types of insulation.
The biggest thing to know about washing waterproof gloves is that you don’t want to use regular laundry detergent. This can ruin the waterproofing capabilities of your equipment, which is a bad end result.
You’ll need to get a special waterproofing cleaner that doesn’t ruin this outer layer on your gloves. It’s easy to find online or at a ski shop, and it’s good to have in your closet during the ski season.
Note that this advice applies only to gloves made of entirely synthetic material. If your gloves are made of natural fibers or materials like leather, wool, or silk, I’ll show you how to wash them in the following sections.
To wash synthetic waterproof gloves, follow these steps:
- Remove any liners from your ski gloves. If they are synthetic, you can wash them in the same load as the outer layer. You just want to make sure they are taken out of your gloves for effective washing.
- Put the cleaning product into the washing machine before putting your gloves in or turning the water on. Make sure to use a waterproof cleaning product and not standard laundry detergent.
- I recommend placing your gloves into a garment bag to protect them from damage. This is an optional step, but it’s worth using a bag if you have access to one.
- Set the washing machine to a gentle or delicate cycle and use warm water. You should always check the tag on your gloves to see if there are any special temperatures or other concerns to keep in mind.
- Run the washing machine until the cycle is completed.
- After the cycle is over, you need to dry your gloves. Don’t ring them out right away because this can cause damage. You can hang them on a clothesline or set them on a flat surface to air dry. Do not put them into the dryer.
How to Wash Leather Ski Gloves
If you have leather ski gloves or gloves with a bit of leather on them, you don’t want to put them in the washer. Leather needs a little special attention, and the cleaning process is different.
To wash leather ski gloves, follow these steps.
- Start by using a damp soft rag or towel to clean up the outside of the gloves. This will make the gloves moist and remove any built-up dirt or grime that is easily visible and not difficult to remove.
- Using a leather cleaning product is a good idea here. These come in the form of sprays or liquids that you apply to leather products. It will help clean and treat the leather for continued use.
- Let the gloves dry naturally by laying them flat on a dry surface like the top of the washer or a drying shelf. You don’t want to put them in the dryer or put them next to a heat source.
- Once the gloves are dry, you’ll want to retreat them with a waterproofing product to make sure they can still keep water out. These products are available online or at a ski shop or retailer.
How to Wash Ski Glove Liners
If you have ski glove liners, you’ll always want to wash them removed from the gloves. If you don’t, you won’t get the gloves or liners completely clean.
If your liners are synthetic, you can throw them in the wash with the outer shell of the gloves. If they are made of silk, follow the steps below.
To wash silk ski glove liners, follow these steps:
- Fill up a sink or bucket with warm water. Make sure that it is not hot or cold. You can also use a gentle cleaning product like natural dish soap or laundry detergent.
- Scrub the liners with your hands or a soft rag until thoroughly cleaned.
- Rinse the gloves with cool water until all the soap is gone.
- Let the liners dry on a dry counter, shelf, or towel. Do not use heat to dry.
Hand Washing
You can always wash your gloves by hand, and you don’t necessarily need to use a washing machine. This is the recommended method if your gloves have any natural materials or fibers like leather, silk, or wool.
Hand washing is a good idea because it will limit any potential damage, and you can properly clean all the nooks and crannies of your gloves.
Final Thoughts
Washing your ski gloves is simple, and you should clean them every once in a while to remove odors and dirt. If you follow the steps listed here, you’ll be able to get your gloves very clean and ready for action so you can get on the slopes and have fun!
