Quarantine Things To Do: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Gloves Care

Most motorcyclists, especially in India, try to break their fall with their hands. Given that almost all of the controls, accelerating, braking and clutching at least, are done by your hands, the importance of a good pair of gloves cannot be overstated. But they are not all the same. So, how do you clean each one? Here is our guide to cleaning your mesh/textile, semi-leather, and full leather gloves:

Also Read: Lockdown Quarantine Things To Do: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Boots

For mesh/textile gloves:
You need a small bucket of warm water, liquid detergent (non-scented, else baby shampoo will also do), and a soft toothbrush. Fill the bucket with warm water and immerse your gloves. In case you can accommodate more than a pair, soak them in one go. Add the detergent or baby shampoo and give it a good whirl. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, wash and rinse the gloves in clean water. Use the toothbrush to remove tough dirt spots. Insert your hand in the glove and squeeze out the excess water. Leave it to dry naturally, not under direct sunlight.

Also Read: Lockdown Quarantine Things To Do: Riding Gear Cleaning Tips - Helmet Care

For semi-leather gloves:
Cleaning these types of gloves is a bit time consuming as it has to be done one glove at a time. You need the same items as you did for the above as well as a soft cotton or a microfibre cloth. Mix the water and detergent to a soapy solution. Wear the glove in one hand and with the other, dip the toothbrush in the soapy water, and clean the dirty mesh areas of your gloves. Make sure there is very little contact between water and leather as water is leather’s kryptonite.

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For the leather bit, dab one corner of your cloth and wipe it gently. Clean with the dry end immediately after. Repeat the same procedure for the other hand and leave the gloves to dry naturally.

For full leather gloves:
Repeat the last bit from the semi-leather gloves. Make sure not to use a lot of water as it can harden leather over a long period of time. Some gloves, especially race gauntlets, have plastic moulding for scaphoid protection. Use the same damp end of the cloth to thoroughly clean them.

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You could also use specific leather cleaners or transparent leather shoe polish to nourish and prolong the life of your leather gloves.

Storing gloves:
This bit is as important as cleaning because in rainy conditions leather gloves can be the perfect host for fungus growth. Hence, make sure to keep your gloves in the cover that they came in or wrap them in an old cotton tee. Also, if you have silica desiccant packets -- those small white pouches with small balls that have the huge ‘Do Not Consume’ warning -- put one between a pair to soak up moisture.