How Do You Clean Golf Gloves? Best Methods

Yes, you absolutely can and should clean your golf gloves. Cleaning your golf gloves keeps them soft, improves their grip, and makes them last longer.

Golf gloves are essential gear for every golfer. They give you a better hold on the club. Over time, sweat, dirt, and oils build up. This buildup makes the glove stiff, sticky, or smelly. Knowing the right cleaning steps keeps your favorite glove in top shape. This guide covers everything you need to know about making your gloves fresh again.

Why Cleaning Golf Gloves is Important

Gloves wear out fast if you skip cleaning. Dirt acts like sandpaper on the material. Sweat breaks down the leather or synthetic fibers. A clean glove feels better and works better.

Maintaining Grip and Feel

The main job of a glove is grip. Dirt blocks the natural tackiness of the material. When the glove is dirty, you grip the club tighter to stop slipping. This causes faster fatigue in your hands and arms. Clean gloves maintain their intended grip, letting you swing smoothly.

Extending Lifespan

Regular cleaning removes corrosive sweat and body oils. These substances eat away at the material slowly. Proper care means you buy fewer replacement gloves each season.

Controlling Odor

Golf is a sweaty sport. Gloves trap that moisture. Damp, warm environments are perfect for bacteria growth. This leads to that strong, unpleasant smell. Cleaning kills the bacteria and helps stop the stink.

Identifying Your Golf Glove Material

The cleaning method depends heavily on what your glove is made from. Most gloves fall into two main groups: leather or synthetic (also called microfiber or cabretta).

Glove Type	Key Features	Cleaning Caution
Leather (Real or Synthetic)	Soft, molds to the hand, great feel.	Very sensitive to heat and harsh chemicals. Can shrink or become brittle.
Synthetic/Microfiber	Durable, dries fast, often cheaper.	Handles water better but may pill with rough scrubbing.

If you are unsure, check the glove’s tag. Most manufacturers provide golf glove washing instructions right there.

Best Way to Clean Leather Golf Gloves

Leather gloves require gentle treatment. You must be careful not to dry them out or shrink them. Many pros prefer best way to clean leather golf gloves by hand washing only. Never put fine leather gloves in a washing machine or dryer.

Step-by-Step Hand Washing Leather Gloves

This method focuses on gentle cleaning to protect the natural oils in the leather.

Preparation

Check the Tag: Make sure the tag doesn’t specifically forbid washing. Some extremely high-end leather gloves are “wipe clean only.”
Gather Supplies: You will need lukewarm water, a mild soap (like baby shampoo or a specialized leather cleaner), and a soft cloth or sponge.

The Washing Process

Pre-Treat Stains: If you have heavy grime, gently work a tiny bit of cleaner into the dirty spots using your finger. This addresses removing dirt from golf gloves before a full soak.
Prepare the Bath: Fill a small basin with cool or lukewarm water. Add just a few drops of your mild soap. Too much soap is hard to rinse out.
Glove Immersion (A Key Decision): Should you soak golf gloves or spot clean? For leather, spot cleaning is safer. If the glove is heavily soiled, a very brief soak (no more than 5 minutes) is acceptable. For daily dirt, just gently wash the surface.
Gentle Agitation: Submerge the glove briefly. Gently massage the material between your fingers. Do not twist, wring, or scrub hard. Focus on areas with heavy hand contact.

Rinsing and Drying Leather

Thorough Rinse: Rinse the glove under cool, running water until all soap residue is gone. Any leftover soap will dry out the leather.
Remove Excess Water: Gently squeeze the water out. Never twist the leather. You can blot it with a clean, dry towel.
Shaping and Drying: Put the glove back on your hand or mold it over a rounded object (like a water bottle or ball) to help it keep its shape. Drying golf gloves after washing must be done away from direct heat or sunlight. Air dry only. This keeps the leather supple.

Cleaning Synthetic Golf Gloves

Synthetic gloves, often made of polyester or microfiber, are tougher. They handle water much better than leather. This makes cleaning synthetic golf gloves easier and more straightforward.

Hand Washing Synthetic Gloves

This is the most recommended method for synthetics to ensure longevity.

Water and Soap: Use the same mild soap and cool water mixture as with leather gloves.
Washing Action: You can be a little firmer here. Use a soft brush (like a toothbrush) on the palms if needed to work out embedded dirt.
Rinsing: Rinse very well under cool water.

Hand Wash vs Machine Wash Golf Gloves

For synthetic gloves, you have the option of machine washing, but caution is advised. Generally, hand wash vs machine wash golf gloves results favor hand washing for better control.

If you choose the machine:

Use the delicate cycle only.
Use cold water.
Place the gloves inside a mesh laundry bag. This prevents them from snagging on zippers or buttons from other clothes.
Use a small amount of mild detergent.

Crucial Rule: Whether hand-washed or machine-washed, never put synthetic gloves in the dryer. High heat damages the elastic fibers that provide the necessary stretch and grip.

Choosing the Right Golf Glove Cleaning Solutions

What you use to clean matters greatly. Harsh chemicals destroy glove fibers. You need gentle golf glove cleaning solutions.

Solution Type	Best For	Notes
Mild Baby Shampoo	All types (leather and synthetic)	Gentle on skin and materials. Excellent for general cleaning.
Specialized Leather Cleaner	Leather gloves only	Designed to clean without stripping natural oils.
Mild Dish Soap (Small amount)	Synthetic gloves	Effective degreaser, but must be rinsed completely from leather.
White Vinegar (Diluted)	Odor removal (use sparingly)	Excellent for freshening up smelly golf gloves. Use 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water.

Avoid using bleach, fabric softeners, or strong laundry detergents. These strip oils and weaken the material structure.

Spot Cleaning for Quick Refresh

Sometimes you only have a small smudge or your glove just needs a quick tune-up. Deciding whether to soak golf gloves or spot clean often leads to spot cleaning for light use.

For minor dirt or sweat marks:

Dampen a clean, soft cloth with cool water.
Add one tiny drop of baby shampoo to the cloth.
Gently rub the soiled area. Focus on removing dirt from golf gloves on the palm or fingers.
Use a separate cloth dampened with plain water to wipe away the soap residue.
Air dry immediately.

How to Restore Sticky Golf Gloves

A sticky glove is often a synthetic glove that has degraded slightly or one that has been stored improperly, causing the grip material to oxidize slightly. This is a common issue when trying to figure out how to restore sticky golf gloves.

If the stickiness is due to trapped dirt and oils, a good wash following the synthetic glove instructions should fix it.

If the stickiness remains after washing, it might mean the grip compound is aging. Unfortunately, truly “restoring” a chemically degraded grip is difficult.

Try this mild restoration attempt:

Wash the glove using cold water and a small amount of mild soap.
Rinse thoroughly.
While slightly damp, gently rub the palm area with a clean, dry towel—this very light friction can sometimes wake up the tacky surface without causing damage.
Let it air dry completely.

If the glove is very old and excessively sticky or crumbling, it is time to replace it, as the material integrity is compromised.

Freshening Up Smelly Golf Gloves

Dealing with odor is a big part of glove care. Freshening up smelly golf gloves usually means killing the odor-causing bacteria trapped inside the fibers.

The Vinegar Solution for Odor Control

Vinegar is a natural deodorizer.

Create a very weak solution: 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts cool water.
If the glove is leather, dip only the inside lining into this solution for about 30 seconds, or use a cloth soaked in the solution to wipe the interior.
If the glove is synthetic, you can briefly soak the entire glove (no more than 5 minutes).
Rinse extremely well with plain water.
Dry thoroughly away from heat. The vinegar smell will dissipate completely as it dries.

Baking Soda for Extreme Odor

For severe, persistent smells in synthetic gloves:

Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water to make a thin paste.
Work this paste into the palm and finger areas (the sweat zones).
Let it sit for 15–20 minutes.
Rinse it out completely. Baking soda is abrasive, so avoid heavy scrubbing, especially on leather.

The Critical Role of Drying Golf Gloves After Washing

Improper drying is the number one killer of golf gloves, regardless of material. Drying golf gloves after washing must always be done naturally.

NEVER USE:

Clothes dryer
Hair dryer
Direct sunlight
Radiators or heat vents

Heat shrinks leather and ruins the elasticity of synthetic materials, leading to poor fit and premature cracking.

Best Drying Practices:

Shape It: After rinsing, gently shake out excess water. Smooth the glove out. For leather, putting it on your hand for 10 minutes while damp can help retain the hand shape.
Air Circulation: Hang the glove using a clip on a non-metal hanger, or drape it over a smooth line. Ensure air can move around the entire surface, especially the palm.
Indoor Drying: Always dry indoors or in deep shade. This protects the glove from UV damage and direct, intense sun heat.

Storage: Preventing Future Problems

Proper storage prevents dirt accumulation and keeps the glove ready for your next round.

Short-Term Storage (Between Rounds)

Do not leave your glove balled up in your golf bag.

Ventilation is Key: When you get home, take the glove out of the bag immediately.
Keep It Flat: Lay the glove flat or hang it up to fully dry before putting it away. This stops moisture buildup that causes odor and mildew.

Long-Term Storage (Off-Season)

If you won’t use the glove for months:

Ensure the glove is completely clean and dry.
Store it in a cool, dark place, like a drawer.
If storing leather, some people lightly dust the leather with cornstarch or talcum powder to absorb any lingering moisture, but ensure it is perfectly dry first.
Avoid storing them in plastic bags unless they are specifically designed to be breathable.

Summary of Cleaning Rules

To make this easy, remember these simple Dos and Don’ts based on whether you are soak golf gloves or spot clean or deciding between materials.

Action	Leather Gloves	Synthetic Gloves
Washing Method	Hand wash only; spot clean preferred.	Hand wash recommended; machine wash on delicate is possible.
Water Temperature	Cool or lukewarm.	Cold is best.
Detergent	Very mild soap (e.g., baby shampoo).	Mild detergent or soap.
Scrubbing	Very gentle rubbing.	Can use a soft brush on palms if needed.
Drying	Air dry, away from heat/sun, maintain shape.	Air dry, away from heat/sun.
Machine Wash	Never.	Use mesh bag, delicate cycle only.

By following these detailed golf glove washing instructions, you can keep your gloves feeling great and performing well for many rounds to come. Proper maintenance is a small task that yields big rewards in comfort and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cleaning Golf Gloves

Q1: How often should I clean my golf gloves?

A: If you play once a week, cleaning them every 3 to 4 rounds is a good schedule. If you play in very hot, humid, or rainy conditions, clean them after every use to stop sweat and salt from building up and stiffening the material.

Q2: Can I use bleach to disinfect smelly gloves?

A: No. Bleach is far too harsh. It breaks down leather fibers instantly and degrades the polymers in synthetic materials, causing them to become brittle or weak. Use diluted vinegar or specialized sports wash instead for freshening up smelly golf gloves.

Q3: My leather glove got soaked during rain. Do I need to clean it immediately?

A: Yes, if possible. When leather gets saturated, especially with rainwater which often contains minerals, you need to dry it carefully. If it was muddy, rinse off the heavy soil first using cool water, then follow the drying procedure strictly. Don’t let it sit wet for days.

Q4: Can I use heat to make my synthetic glove dry faster?

A: Absolutely not. Heat is the enemy of elasticity. Whether you are drying golf gloves after washing or after a rainy round, heat will shrink the glove and ruin the stretchiness needed for a good fit. Always air dry in the shade.

Q5: How do I get the white residue off the palm of my synthetic glove after washing?

A: That white residue is likely undissolved soap or mineral deposits from hard water. It means you did not rinse thoroughly enough. To fix this, re-wash the glove in plain, clean, cool water, agitating it well. Rinse repeatedly until the water runs completely clear with no bubbles remaining.