Glove cleaning?

[westtexas]

Just a quick question - I got a great pair of Shebeest gloves (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSB_7771.html) that I love. They are made of suede over the palms (or something like suede) and the fingers are white cut offs. The padding is some kind of gel foam. I've been riding in them for about a month now and I've noticed that they've begun to accumulate some grime from the sweat and the dirt and a few misfired snot rockets. It's hot here (upper 80s in the late evening when I ride) and my hands sweat a lot.

How exactly do you wash your gloves? I know suede can't go in the washer and I don't remember the packing coming with washing instructions - although it was entirely possible, but I'm bad about reading them.

Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[ny biker]

I wash all my gloves in the washing machine, inside a mesh lingerie bag to keep the velcro from sticking to anything else. I dry them in the dryer on low heat.

Haven't had any problems yet.

[malkin]

Washing machine here too. Close the velcro and zip 'em in a bag.

[oz rider]

Washing machine here too. Close the velcro and zip 'em in a bag.
+1. Every few rides.

[Chicken Little]

Hand wash in the sink, Woolite.

[OakLeaf]

Washing machine in the lingerie bag, air dry like everything else.

[withm]

I velcro them to each other and throw them into the washing machine, and into to the dryer. I have never give it a minute's thought.

[zoom-zoom]

Washing machine in the lingerie bag, air dry like everything else.

Ditto.

[Chicken Little]

Hand wash in the sink, Woolite.

Ha! My gloves are 25 years old. Ha!

[kermit]

I just put them on and wash my hands in the sink. If they are really funky, I let them soak in soapy water. Rinse and drip dry. (There is nothing worse than stinky gloves!).

[spokewench]

Wash machine, cold delicate and hang to dry

[Grits]

Throw them in with all my other cycling stuff and wash on delicate, warm water, and hang to dry.

[OakLeaf]

Ha! My gloves are 25 years old. Ha!

No. Way. :p

[azfiddle]

I turn mine inside out and wash them on cold and delicate... I think I have run them through the dryer....

[westtexas]

Apparently, I am the only person in the whole world who could not figure out to simply just wash the gloves. So I suppose that is exactly what I shall do then!! Thanks a million!

[marni]

I also have four pairs of gloves and rotate through them. When I do cross country rides they get worn two or three times before they get washed. At home each pair gets washed (with sports clothes in washing machine and then air dried) after each wearing. This is because they are usually snotted and sweated through several times over by the time I finish a ride. I also rotate through my shorts and jerseys, for equal wear and tear and in the illusion that perhaps they will last longer.

[TrekTheKaty]

I also throw them in with bicycle clothes (closing velcro so it doesn't snag my shorts) and hang to dry.

Oh, I remember the first time DH and I realized gloves needed to be washed. Ewww! We were rolling on the ground laughing when my sister got her first whiff! She asked the same question--"what do I do?" WASH EM :D

And I'll give you a hint--you're helmet may not smell much better. I wear a buff, and rinse my helmet out in the sink every once in awhile.

[Irulan]

notes from the resident technical fabric specialist.

1. line drying is always better for synthetics

2. no need to use woolite. Woolite is very harsh, and expensive. You'd never know it's harsh because they put a ton of conditioners and modifiers in it. If you are adverse to regular laundry soap, use baby shampoo. It's milder and costs less.

I.

[Crankin]

I have always just thrown my gloves in the mesh bag with delicates, on cold cycle and line dry.

[MollyJ]

Actually WestTexas, I washed mine in the cold cycle and let them air dry but I was glad to see that is what other experienced riders do also.