smelly gloves

mikeouk

my winter gloves stink, and i mean REALLY stink. I tried washing them but that only worked until I wore them again. Its weird because ive never suffered from smelly feet or had gloves smell before. Anyone else had this problem and if so ,is there a remedy, i.e some kind of something i can slip in the gloves after a ride to neutralize the pong?

simonhead

Mine end up stinking, the summer ones more than the winter ones. I turn them inside out and put a little talc on them. Just give them a good shake before using again.

chrisaonabike

I had this problem recently with my ultra-thick waterproof gloves. I'd noticed that they never really dried out properly after my hands had been sweating into them while riding, and then not long after that they started to stink.

I would imagine that the smell is caused by fungus or bacteria that just love the dark, moist environment of a sweaty glove.

I handwashed mine in a tech-wash detergent (ie not in the washing machine with ordinary detergent), rinsed and dried them thoroughly, and they seemed Ok after that.

seanorawe

If you put your gloves away after a ride, the sweat forms a bacteria because the inside of your gloves is dark. This bacteria stinks and is hard to get rid of. After a ride I turn my gloves or nits inside out and soray some fabreeze on them. Leave them on the window sill of the bedroom for light and air. Next time you go out, your gloves will smell lovely

sungod

try putting baking power inside, then put them in a plastic bag and leave for a few days

then wash out, turn gloves inside out and put somewhere warm to dry

i once used febreze on a rucksack that was a bit whiffy, after a couple of weeks it was as if the stuff suddenly decided to give up and release back into the world all the accumulated odours it had locked up, it was indescribably bad, took several washes to get it out, never again

jotko

I had this exact though this morning, my gloves smell like Satans armpit, grim.

graeme_s-2

I've noticed my gloves get a bit whiffy too, and tend to leave my palms a bit smelly after riding, unless I give them (my palms) a very careful and thorough washing. I've noticed Purple Harry's do a glove, helmet and shoe sanitizer spray. I imagine it' s probably similar to anti-bacterial febreze. Anyone tried it?

danlikesbikes

Mine are generally fine if I look after them i.e. wash regularly, make sure they are dry after each ride and don't just fold them up all wet or they just get bacteria ridden and takes a lot of careful washing to look after them.

Find that using a none bio and hand washing seems to help with cleaning but not wrecking them as you might get in a machine.

kayo74

Wash mine with a Milton tablet and gets rid of the smell and bacteria.

Tom Dean

saprkzz

All the face juice that gets wiped all over them and the sweat inside, is the exact reason why i buy new gloves every couple of months.

Tom Dean

mikeouk wrote:

I tried washing them but that only worked until I wore them again.

In other words, they only smell when they are dirty. Weird, huh?

ValeTudoGuy

Get some old socks cut the toe section a couple of inches up so you end up with two small pockets.
Half fill the little pockets with cat litter (It absorbs moisture and neutralises smells.) and sow a seam into the top to seal them (I got my fairer half to do it.)

Just chuck these little packages into shoes or gloves etc after wearing them and they will be nice and fresh the next time you use them.

They work on my work boots and sometimes I'm in them for 16hrs a day and they can be submerged in water for a large chunk of that.

goonz

I wash mine every week and every 2 weeks but never had them so smelly as to notice. If they get wet place them on the heater rather then let them dry naturally.

patrickf

Honestly the best thing I've found is Halo Sports wash. I wash all my cycling kit with this now.

http://www.halononbio.co.uk/halo-sports/halo-proactive-sportswash-1ltr-6-pack

This can be bought in most larger supermarkets.

robbo2011

I wash all of my gear after every ride, including gloves and have never had a problem with smelly gear. I think you need to wash your stuff more often, probably first of all with some of the products recommended above

Critch

Mine go in washing machine about every third ride - both fingerless and full gloves - with all my other gear. Washed at 30 degree with spin reduced to 400rpm. When done I have 2 cardboard tubes that I stretch my full gloves over and then stand them on a radiator. You could use kitchen towel tubes but they arent quite wide enough for my gloves. This opens them up and lets the heat/air in and it also helps keep the fingers straight so the air can get right to the tips. They dry fast and odour free.

goonz

Think after every ride is a bit overkill really, I commute daily so that would get crazy.

At work I do rinse the pits area on my jersey which keeps it fresh for longer but gloves I usually only wash every couple of weeks.

Pross

Chuck them in the freezer to kill the bacteria (just remember to get them out and on a radiator in plenty of time!)

merkin

Does freezing kill bacteria? I thought it just stopped it breeding until things warmed up again.
I am no scientist though so I stand to be corrected.

lef

wash them on a hotter wash or if still stinkin' maybe its just time to buy some new ones...your friends may even thank you

CStar

patrickf wrote:

Honestly the best thing I've found is Halo Sports wash. I wash all my cycling kit with this now.

http://www.halononbio.co.uk/halo-sports/halo-proactive-sportswash-1ltr-6-pack

This can be bought in most larger supermarkets.

+1 for Halo. Use it for most of my bike and running gear. Not every time but once a month or so.

mallorcajeff

I know the freezer trick works on trainers. If you have time run them through the wash.

patrickf

CStar wrote:

patrickf wrote:

Honestly the best thing I've found is Halo Sports wash. I wash all my cycling kit with this now.

http://www.halononbio.co.uk/halo-sports/halo-proactive-sportswash-1ltr-6-pack

This can be bought in most larger supermarkets.

+1 for Halo. Use it for most of my bike and running gear. Not every time but once a month or so.

It's worth mentioning I had exactly the same problem last year. Once I had my mitts for some time they would start smelling really bad after every ride even after washing them.

This has completely stopped since I've started washing my cycling kit with Halo. It's anti bacterial so it kills all the smelly buggers

ballysmate

With winter gloves, try wearing a pair if cheap inners. They hopefully will absorb most of the sweat and are easier to wash.

greggbaker

Hi. This came up on a thread about my other favourite sport -kayaking. It was to do with smelly wet suit boots which believe me are worse than cycling gloves as they sit on your sweaty feet in what is a plastic hot oven for hours on end!!!! Again lots of freezer ideas and expensive sports washes but by far the best and cheapest way that works brilliantly is Milton fluid which is a couple of quid for a large bottle and will last ages. In the baby section of all supermarkets. The smell is caused by bacteria not killed in the washing process. Just fill a sink with cold water. Pour in a couple of glugs of Milton (other brands are also available) and soak item be it gloves boots or smelly trainers for a couple of hours then wash as normal. Not only does the smell go but it takes a long time to come back (as though the item was new again) because all the bacteria is killed. It doesn't cause damage to product because it's designed to be mild as its used on baby's bottles etc. Honestly you won't believe the results. I had an old pair of trainers that were awful smelling but not worn out and washed them as above and they are like New again.
Cheers
Gregg.