How to keep your boxing gloves from stinking

How to keep your boxing gloves from stinking

We all know that one guy in the gym that gloves smell like rotting death, no one wants to be that guy, so we get asked this a lot: “how can I keep my gloves from stinking?” there isn’t one thing you can do, but it’s a mix of things that can help keep your gloves from smelling like ass, which will reduce squalid odors and increase the longevity of your gear.

Step 1: Air your boxing gloves out!

I know how tempting it is after a hard training session to drop your gym bag and forget about it. Don’t do that! That folly is causing the odor! leaving sweaty gear in a gym bag with little to no ventilation will induce odor causing bacteria to multiply, so let your gear air out!

Step 2: Use clean handwraps!

If your hand wraps smell like used toilet paper what makes you think that stench won’t stick to your gloves? Clean handwraps are hygienic and help reduce odor sticking to the liner of your glove, which can absorb odors that make it nearly impossible to get out.

Step 3: Use supplements

No, I don’t mean drop a scoop of protein powder in your boxing gloves, but supplemental gear to help reduce odor. You can use dryer sheets to help get a clean smell. Use something that helps absorb moisture like body powder or cedar shoe trees, hamster fill in a sock and stick them inside your gloves. You can use glove dogs, but usually they suck and wear out fast, with cedar chips in a sock you can dump the old cedar and replace it with fresh chips. You can also use sprays that help kill bacteria; however, I don’t recommend using chemical heavy sprays, which can damage the gloves or leave a weird residue inside your gloves. I would say a natural cleaner like Jason Markk refresh spray.

Step 4: Wash your laces

It’s crazy how so many people overlook this, but washing your laces can help reduce smell dramatically. Think about how much sweat those laces absorb over time, and if you never washed them, they probably smell like death.

So that’s pretty much it, not one thing will eliminate odor, but prevention is key. Follow these steps and I promise you’ll have a better smelling glove.