How to Clean a Baseball Glove

To clean a baseball glove without ruining it: brush off loose dirt, wipe the leather with a damp cloth and a little mild leather cleaner, let it air dry away from heat, then finish with a light conditioner. Never soak it, never use harsh soaps or heat, and never put it in the washer or dishwasher.

How to clean your glove, step by step

1. Knock off the loose dirt. Brush or wipe away dust and dried mud first, so you’re not grinding it in.
2. Wipe with a damp cloth. Use a slightly damp (not wet) cloth and a small amount of mild leather cleaner. Work in sections.
3. Get into the laces and web. Dirt hides in the lacing — a soft brush or cloth corner helps.
4. Air dry, away from heat. Let it dry at room temperature. Never use a hair dryer, oven, or direct sun.
5. Condition. Once dry, apply a light coat of leather conditioner to restore moisture. Conditioner, not oil — here’s why.

What not to do

• Don’t soak it or hose it down — water logging warps and stiffens leather.
• Don’t use dish soap, saddle soap, or harsh cleaners — they strip the leather.
• Don’t machine wash or dishwasher it — this destroys gloves.
• Don’t dry with heat — heat cracks and shrinks leather.

Got mold or a musty smell?

A glove stored damp can grow mold. Wipe it down, let it dry fully in open air, and condition it. Heavy mold or deep grime that won’t budge is a job for a professional deep clean.

When to let a pro do it

For a season’s worth of built-up grime, a musty or moldy glove, or a glove you just want done right, our cleaning & conditioning service ($55) deep-cleans and re-moisturizes the leather — no oil, no damage.