My gloves are ripe!
#1
Thread Starter
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
My gloves are ripe!
Oh man, I have a pair of gloves I've been using for commuting for the past year and a half, I've washed them maybe once every 2 months or so. These things are reeking.
Any tips for washing the smell out? I've tried everything, baking soda, soaking them in hot water, that febreeze type stuff. The moment they get the least bit damp, they go off like a bomb.
So new gloves or what?
Any tips for washing the smell out? I've tried everything, baking soda, soaking them in hot water, that febreeze type stuff. The moment they get the least bit damp, they go off like a bomb.
So new gloves or what?
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,701
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring, MD
Bikes: Fuji Supreme
On one of the other forums someone suggested using one of the enzymatic cleaners pet stores sell for animal stains. Since the enzymes eat up and break down bacteria and other odor causing agents in the end the area no onger smells. I know the stuff works on pet accidents so it might work with gloves. I would soak the gloves in one of the enzymatic cleaners and then run them through a regular wash. I haven't had my bike gloves long enough for it to be an issue, but that is my plan when they start to get a little ripe.
#12
Thread Starter
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Wait.. hang on a sec.. is the smell from like, the chemicals in the sweat like urea, or is it from bacteria? If it's from bacteria (live bacteria) then technically, the smell should go away once all the bacteria dies right?
The smell is pretty bad, I get knocked back pretty good if I try using the terry cloth...
The smell is pretty bad, I get knocked back pretty good if I try using the terry cloth...
#13
On Sabbatical
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 0
Well hell, if they smell that bad then find a roadkill carcus and shove them up any exposed orifice for a week, after that they should smell BETTER than previous 
OK, now to make a serious response, kinda related to my previous jest.
If I recall correctly, on the molecular level of sweat, what makes it really stink is called "thiols", which is the same stuff in decomposing meat/flesh, skunk spreay, and human crap. Ironically, when water is introduced to this "chemical" it sort of activates it, causing it to multiply and hence making the stench worse.
Back in the country, we'd wash our dogs in a mixture of arm-and-hammer baking soda, drug store hydrogen peroxide, and a little dish soap when they got the bad end of a skunk and it worked like a charm. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and peroxide nutralized the thiols and the dish soap helped to wash the stuff out of the dogs hair.
Give that a shot.

OK, now to make a serious response, kinda related to my previous jest.
If I recall correctly, on the molecular level of sweat, what makes it really stink is called "thiols", which is the same stuff in decomposing meat/flesh, skunk spreay, and human crap. Ironically, when water is introduced to this "chemical" it sort of activates it, causing it to multiply and hence making the stench worse.
Back in the country, we'd wash our dogs in a mixture of arm-and-hammer baking soda, drug store hydrogen peroxide, and a little dish soap when they got the bad end of a skunk and it worked like a charm. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and peroxide nutralized the thiols and the dish soap helped to wash the stuff out of the dogs hair.
Give that a shot.
#15
Thread Starter
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Originally Posted by vrkelley
Slvoid with an avatar like that...it's hard to respond without getting banned 

Originally Posted by richardmasoner
Those latex gloves are one-time use only, aren't they?
RFM
RFM
#17
Originally Posted by pj7
Back in the country, we'd wash our dogs in a mixture of arm-and-hammer baking soda, drug store hydrogen peroxide, and a little dish soap when they got the bad end of a skunk and it worked like a charm. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and peroxide nutralized the thiols and the dish soap helped to wash the stuff out of the dogs hair.
Give that a shot.
Give that a shot.
#18
Recumbent Evangelist
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, Ontario
Bikes: Rebel Cycles Trike, Trek 7500FX
Originally Posted by Rogerinchrist
This one sounds good, so does freezing them. Haven't heard anyone mention just leave 'em in direct sunlight for a couple of hours.
#19
Thread Starter
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
OK... I had to say good bye to the gloves.
I though about what you all said, I tried the baking soda thing twice already. Then I turned the gloves inside out.. well, there's the usual yellowing on the gray leather on the inside from the oils and whatnot. Then there were these areas of green... and I'm not too comfortable with whatever was growing in there so I junked them as soon as I saw em.
I though about what you all said, I tried the baking soda thing twice already. Then I turned the gloves inside out.. well, there's the usual yellowing on the gray leather on the inside from the oils and whatnot. Then there were these areas of green... and I'm not too comfortable with whatever was growing in there so I junked them as soon as I saw em.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,767
Likes: 85
Originally Posted by pj7
If I recall correctly, on the molecular level of sweat, what makes it really stink is called "thiols", which is the same stuff in decomposing meat/flesh, skunk spreay, and human crap. Ironically, when water is introduced to this "chemical" it sort of activates it, causing it to multiply and hence making the stench worse.
Back in the country, we'd wash our dogs in a mixture of arm-and-hammer baking soda, drug store hydrogen peroxide, and a little dish soap when they got the bad end of a skunk and it worked like a charm. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and peroxide nutralized the thiols and the dish soap helped to wash the stuff out of the dogs hair.
Give that a shot.
Back in the country, we'd wash our dogs in a mixture of arm-and-hammer baking soda, drug store hydrogen peroxide, and a little dish soap when they got the bad end of a skunk and it worked like a charm. The chemical reaction of the baking soda and peroxide nutralized the thiols and the dish soap helped to wash the stuff out of the dogs hair.
Give that a shot.
Borax is another option, so I have been told.
slvoid, how could you possible use the terry cloth to wipe your nose with gloves in that condition? It makes me wretch just thinking about it. Maybe the green on the inside has something to do with *that*. Uggghhhh!
With this new pair, just toss them in the wash every week with your bike gear. Make sure the velcro is done up on them, though!
#21
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,237
Likes: 75
From: Fallbrook,Calif./Palau del Vidre, France
Bikes: Klein QP, Fuji touring, Surly Cross Check, BCH City bike
There was a thread about gloves being the hardest piece of gear to get the smell out...After that , I put them in the washing machine..did not get all the stink out..why gloves...? I find Oxyclean does not remove 100% of it..
My fear..Placing gloves in washing machines..Gloves and stitching - through washing the gloves fall apart is my expereince.
My fear..Placing gloves in washing machines..Gloves and stitching - through washing the gloves fall apart is my expereince.
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,767
Likes: 85
Ahhhh... yes maybe. But I use cold wash for everything. My biking and sailing gloves have stood up pretty well over the years, but your situation may vary. One thing I have noticed is that the stitching on the more expensive gloves comes apart as easily -- if not more so -- than the cheapest brands. Go figure!
#23
Thread Starter
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Originally Posted by Rowan
slvoid, how could you possible use the terry cloth to wipe your nose with gloves in that condition? It makes me wretch just thinking about it. Maybe the green on the inside has something to do with *that*. Uggghhhh!
#24
The Alternative Dressing

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: In the condiments section of your local grocer
Originally Posted by Rowan
With this new pair, just toss them in the wash every week with your bike gear. Make sure the velcro is done up on them, though!
#25
I am not a car

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 747
Likes: 1
From: Decatur, GA
Bikes: Giant Revel 1, Surly Ogre
I put my gloves in a mesh laundry bag and don't use the clothes dryer to dry them--they will dry overnight in the house. The heat in a dryer will do unkind things to the leather or other materials in gloves. And wash every week.
__________________
"Bad facts make bad laws." FZ
"Bad facts make bad laws." FZ





toss them and burn the trash.