Your gloves already stink and you want them fixed. The good news is you can usually rescue them. The bad news is you cannot just throw them in the washing machine, because the foam padding soaks up water and never dries properly, which ruins the gloves. The real fix is killing the bacteria causing the smell and pulling out the moisture they feed on. Here are the methods that actually work, ranked.
If you want the full breakdown of why gloves smell in the first place, we cover that in why do my boxing gloves smell. This guide is the step-by-step for getting the funk out.
1. Wipe the Inside With Diluted Vinegar
This is the most effective first step. Mix one part white vinegar with two parts water, dampen a cloth, and wipe down the entire inside lining of the glove. The acetic acid in vinegar disrupts the cell membranes of the bacteria causing the smell. The vinegar smell fades as it dries and takes the funk with it. Do not soak the gloves, just wipe the interior thoroughly.
2. Air Them Out Completely
After wiping, open the gloves as wide as they go and let them dry fully in a ventilated spot. This is where most people fail. A glove that is still damp inside will smell again within a day because the bacteria come right back. Point a fan into them to speed it up, or set them near an open window. Do not put them back in your bag until they are bone dry.
3. Use Charcoal Deodorizer Inserts
Wiping and airing handles the surface, but moisture sinks deep into the foam where a cloth cannot reach. Charcoal deodorizer inserts pull that deep moisture and odor out. The Drago Glove Deodorizers are scented bamboo charcoal pouches you slide into each glove after training. The charcoal absorbs the trapped dampness and odor, and you recharge them in sunlight every week or two. This is the step that keeps the smell from coming back, and it is the easiest one to actually stick with.
4. The Baking Soda Method
Baking soda is a classic odor absorber. Sprinkle a light layer inside each glove, leave it overnight, then turn the gloves over and shake or tap it all out in the morning. It absorbs both moisture and smell. Just be thorough getting it out, since leftover powder feels gritty on your hands. This works well as an occasional deep treatment on top of your regular routine.
5. The Freezer Method
Seal your gloves in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer overnight. The cold knocks back a lot of the odor-causing bacteria. It is not a permanent fix on its own, because the bacteria return once the gloves warm up and get sweaty again, but it is a useful reset for gloves that have gotten really bad. Combine it with drying and deodorizing for the best result.
6. Sunlight
Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and a great dryer. On a dry day, set your gloves open-side toward the sun for a few hours. The UV helps kill surface bacteria and the warmth pulls moisture out. Do not leave leather gloves baking in direct sun all day, as too much heat can dry out and crack the material, but a few hours is safe and effective.
What Not to Do
- Do not machine wash them. The foam absorbs water, will not dry, and the gloves come out heavier, misshapen, and smelling worse.
- Do not soak them. Same problem. Water in the padding is the enemy.
- Do not just spray perfume or body spray inside. That masks the smell for an hour and feeds the problem by adding more moisture. Kill the bacteria, do not cover them.
- Do not put them back in a sealed bag damp. Every method above is undone the moment you seal a wet glove in a dark bag.
How to Keep the Smell From Coming Back
Getting the smell out is half the job. Keeping it out is the other half, and it is easier than the rescue. Take your gloves out of your bag after every session, air them out, and keep a deodorizer insert in each glove between workouts. Dry gloves simply do not smell. The bacteria need moisture to grow, so if you control the moisture, you control the smell for good.
FAQ
How do you get the smell out of boxing gloves fast?
The fastest effective method is to wipe the inside with a diluted vinegar solution, then point a fan into the open gloves to dry them. For an overnight reset, freeze them in a sealed bag or sprinkle baking soda inside and shake it out in the morning.
Can you wash boxing gloves in the washing machine?
No. The foam padding soaks up water and will not dry, which ruins the gloves and makes the smell worse. Wipe the interior with a vinegar solution instead, air dry fully, and use deodorizer inserts.
Does baking soda get the smell out of boxing gloves?
Yes. Sprinkle a light layer inside each glove, leave it overnight, then shake it all out. Baking soda absorbs both moisture and odor. It works best as an occasional deep treatment alongside daily airing and a deodorizer insert.
How do I stop my gloves from smelling again?
Take them out of your bag after every session, air them out fully, and keep a charcoal deodorizer in each glove between workouts. The smell comes from moisture and bacteria, so keeping the gloves dry keeps them fresh.
Will the smell ever fully come out?
Usually yes, if you catch it early and stay on top of drying. Gloves left wet and funky for months can have bacteria too deeply embedded to fully remove, in which case you are managing the smell rather than eliminating it. Prevention is far easier than rescue.
The Bottom Line
You cannot wash boxing gloves, so getting the smell out comes down to killing the bacteria and removing the moisture they live on. Wipe the inside with diluted vinegar, air them out completely, and use charcoal deodorizer inserts to pull out the deep dampness. Freeze or baking-soda them for stubborn cases. Then keep them dry between sessions and the smell stays gone.
For more on keeping your gear fresh, see our guides on why your boxing gloves smell, how to store boxing gear so it does not smell, and why your hand wraps smell.
Keep the smell gone for good
The Drago Glove Deodorizers are scented bamboo charcoal pouches that pull the moisture and odor out of your gloves between sessions. Recharge in sunlight, lasts up to a year.
Shane McCarthy is the co-founder of Drago Boxing. He has been boxing for 6 years, holds a Canadian national title, and has patents on two boxing products.