My gloves stink.
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My gloves stink.
I have winter gloves that I really, really like. They are warm. They have Gore-Tex. I like them so much, I bought two pairs.
I wear liners with said gloves when it's actually cold - say, under +15F or so. The liners get sweaty, then go into the wash. The problem is that it hasn't been actually cold this winter (but it's still been cold enough for winter gloves), so I have not worn the liners. Consequently, my gloves got sweaty, and now they stink.
Does anybody have ideas for how to remove the stench? I've tried putting the gloves in the wash, but the inside takes forever to dry and then stinks. They're too puffy to turn inside out. All things equal, I'd prefer not to have stinky gloves - and stinky hands - while riding my bike.
I wear liners with said gloves when it's actually cold - say, under +15F or so. The liners get sweaty, then go into the wash. The problem is that it hasn't been actually cold this winter (but it's still been cold enough for winter gloves), so I have not worn the liners. Consequently, my gloves got sweaty, and now they stink.
Does anybody have ideas for how to remove the stench? I've tried putting the gloves in the wash, but the inside takes forever to dry and then stinks. They're too puffy to turn inside out. All things equal, I'd prefer not to have stinky gloves - and stinky hands - while riding my bike.
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If you have two pair, rotating which ones you wear and letting the others dry well helps minimize the growth of stink. I might try spraying February in one pair and propping the up where a fan can circulate some air in there. You could also consider boot dryers. The blow air into boots or gloves to help them dry out.
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how about washing them by hand with dawn dish soap & a stemware brush. rinse thoroughly then air dry for a week or so
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At the beginning of a warm spell...
Shake a bunch of Borax in each glove. Run them through the washer -- put some white vinegar in the bleach dispenser. Flip the wrist over so there's some inside showing, and put them someplace where it'll get lots of air circulation -- over a floor vent, on the floor in front of the refrigerator, etc -- to try to dry them in a "hurry."
Then monitor on-line bike vendors for end of winter seasonal sales.
Shake a bunch of Borax in each glove. Run them through the washer -- put some white vinegar in the bleach dispenser. Flip the wrist over so there's some inside showing, and put them someplace where it'll get lots of air circulation -- over a floor vent, on the floor in front of the refrigerator, etc -- to try to dry them in a "hurry."
Then monitor on-line bike vendors for end of winter seasonal sales.
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Can try putting them in the freezer after washing and drying, but, if they're too far "gone" the stink will come back quickly. The longer they can be left in the freezer the better chance of staving off the stink after they go back in use with a wash/dry routine done after each ride.
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You gotta dry them them after every ride, like stuffing newspapers in them and letting them sit over night. That helps with the odour.
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Physical exertion will easily overwhelm Gore-tex fabrics breathability and it's pretty easy to do that, it doesn't take much especially when it isn't very cold and you're working hard...Gore-Tex can smell very nasty after sweating a lot...Personally I prefer fabrics which are slightly more breathable and not 100% windproof and waterproof. When using less windproof/waterproof fabrics I just use more layers. Experiment with different fabrics and see what works for you.
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And w bar mitts you can use light airy gloves
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When you put them away use a toilet paper tube to keep the inside open to the air they will dry much better and .faster.
That will help a lot.
It's been working for me about 15 years.
That will help a lot.
It's been working for me about 15 years.
Last edited by 2manybikes; 01-19-19 at 07:29 AM.
#10
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Air is the key factor here...sweat or after washing. Like others have suggested, the gloves need to be set or hung to dry so that they're open and air can get to the inside.
This is a problem not unlike my son's hockey gear when he was a kid...albeit a much smaller scale. Anyone have kids that play/ed ice hockey. Nothing like the aroma of funky hockey gear.
Dan
This is a problem not unlike my son's hockey gear when he was a kid...albeit a much smaller scale. Anyone have kids that play/ed ice hockey. Nothing like the aroma of funky hockey gear.
Dan
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Get a "Boot Dryer"
There are a couple of different styles, but the simple convection ones work, generally overnight. Sometimes the fingertips take a little longer, but you'll be close.
https://www.amazon.com/Original-2-Sh.../dp/B07JNY6H64
There are also forced air driers that are a bit more expensive, for quicker work.
There are a couple of different styles, but the simple convection ones work, generally overnight. Sometimes the fingertips take a little longer, but you'll be close.
https://www.amazon.com/Original-2-Sh.../dp/B07JNY6H64
There are also forced air driers that are a bit more expensive, for quicker work.
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Odormute is a great product - neutralizes organic odors really well. I discovered if when my dog cornered a skunk by my front door - the local pet store carried it. Reduced skunk odor about 95%. I’ve since used it for other things, like sweaty shoes and dog urine odor. Soak things for a couple of hours, then wash and dry as normal.
https://www.amazon.com/Odormute-Dog-...words=odormute
https://www.amazon.com/Odormute-Dog-...words=odormute
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Thanks for the suggestions, guys.
The toilet paper tube is brilliant. I'm also not sure why I didn't think of blowing air - I have a hair dryer that has been lonely since nobody around here really driers their hair.
The toilet paper tube is brilliant. I'm also not sure why I didn't think of blowing air - I have a hair dryer that has been lonely since nobody around here really driers their hair.
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The boot driers are really designed for that kind of a thing (do they also sell glove driers?) And, you can get your shoes at the same time if they come up wet.
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The goose down filled leather mittens I was given in about 1967 are a little worn. One has a couple of cracks. The cracks were repaired with a thin road bike tube and super glue. Cut the rubber to shape and clean both sides with alcohol. Use the brush on type of glue tube and just paint the leather, and hold the patch very tight for a real 30 seconds. They are extremely comfortable above zero for 60 to about 90 miles. Don't dry out leather with hot air, it ruins the leather if you do it all the time..
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I've never tried this with gloves, but I have used Frebreze on shoes, slippers and old towels that came came through the wash still smelling with very good results. The regular/original has a lot of scent in it but the newer heavy duty smells a lot less, seems to work better and comes with a better spray bottle. (Frebreze doesn't just overwhelm the bad smell, it actually does remove it. My socks stay clean smelling in shoes that used to be stink bombs after the Frebreze scent has dissipated.)
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I don't have forced air heating in my house. But, if I'm visiting at a place with floor vents, the gloves can go above the vents.
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Choosing gear to balance outer precip with inner perspiration is an art, and requires lots of gear and trials. Satisfying when things dial in!