Ensuring hygiene and keeping gloves in good condition are the reasons why we wash them in the first place. However, the instructions for cleaning gloves are not always the same, as the difference in features, quality, and especially, materials require us to figure out the correct method for each type of gloves.
Polyester is among the common materials used for making work and daily-activity gloves. Below are how to wash polyester gloves and advice for handwashing and machine wash. Read on!
Table of Contents
How to Hand-wash Polyester Gloves
Step 1: Prepare the necessary items
Since you plan on hand-wash polyester gloves, which are often knitted pairs made of soft fabrics, it is important you choose a cleaning product that is not too abrasive. Here’re what you should have before cleaning the gloves:
- Mild detergent/soap
- White vinegar/rubbing alcohol
- Clean towels
- Cold water
- Drying rack/cloth clippers
- Microfiber cloth/a sponge
Step 2: Treat the hard stains
If there are stubborn and noticeable hard stains on your gloves, you can use white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to treat them first.
- You can mix vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4. Then, use a small microfiber cloth to apply the cleaner onto the stains and dab them a little.
- With rubbing alcohol, you can use a soft sponge to apply the agent onto the dirty areas. Blot the stains until you see the glove has already absorbed the rubbing alcohol.
Now, you should wait for 10-15 minutes for the cleaner to work. Then, rinse it off with cold water and start washing your pair.
Step 3: Make soapy water
Just like when washing any glove, you should tap on the polyester pair a little to get rid of any debris stuck onto it. Remember to do this on both sides of the gloves.
Fill your sink with water, and please make sure you use cold water for washing polyester gloves. Now, pour some drops of mild detergent into the cold water and use your hands to stir to create bubbles.
Step 4: Soak the pair and wash it
The next step should be soaking your pair in soapy water, then using your hand to rub on the pair to remove sweat, oils, or any type of dirt from it.
Try not to rub too harshly, and remember to turn both your gloves inside out and repeat the process.
Step 5: Rinse and dry the pair
After hand washing gloves with detergent and cold water, it is time you rinse them off to remove all the soap. You can fill the sink with water and rinse the pair twice. You should squeeze the glove to get all the access water out, but do not wring it too hard.
When drying polyester gloves, you can use a clean absorbent towel to absorb the water before hanging them on a drying rack or with clippers. A little sunlight will make the gloves dry more quickly.
Can I Machine-wash Polyester Work Gloves
Yes, you can. Among various glove materials, polyester, wool, nylon, and cotton are the materials that allow machine-washing.
Knitted gloves made of polyester and cotton are commonly used among workers due to their soft, snuggly, and warm properties. And the good news is, you can wash those pairs by the washing machine, too.
However, for the polyester-cotton gloves with plastic dots made for better grip, machine-wash them only when you are too busy. By that, we mean it is possible to use the washing machine, but hand-washing this type of gloves is recommended.
The steps are pretty easy, and all you need is cold water and a mild detergent. However, if stubborn stains cannot be removed by soap, you might want to treat them first with rubbing alcohol or vinegar. Check out step 2 in the guide above for more details.
Here’re some things you should remember when machine-washing your pair:
- Always use cold water and mild soap and avoid any kind of bleach.
- Do not set high heat, preferably no heat, when you tumble dry them.
- Do not pour vinegar or rubbing alcohol into the washing machine to treat the stains. Do it before you machine-wash the pair.
Conclusion
You can indeed hand-wash and machine-wash your polyester gloves, and the steps are elaborated on in the two guides above. Hopefully, our detailed steps on how to wash polyester gloves offer you help when you clean your pieces for the first time.
As stated above, these methods might not be applicable to other types of gloves made of different materials or featuring waterproof, chemical-resistant, and other special properties. You need different guides for those.
Thank you for reading!
This is Edward Manning, the editor in chief of Construction Informer. Quite a bit of my time is spent researching the market and interviewing experts in the field so that I can give you reliable information.