Alright, folks, let’s talk about something we all deal with in the garden: dirty gloves. I was out there this weekend, elbow-deep in soil, planting my tomatoes and peppers. By the time I was done, my trusty gardening gloves looked like they’d been through a mud wrestling match. And you know what, it got me thinking, can you actually wash gardening gloves?
So, I decided to put it to the test. First, I knocked off all the loose dirt. I just banged them together outside – didn’t want to bring all that mess into the house, you know? Then, I took a good look at them. They were pretty caked with mud, so I grabbed the garden hose.
Rinsing and Soaking
I gave them a good rinse with the hose, trying to blast away as much of the stuck-on dirt as possible. It did a decent job, but there was still a lot of grime embedded in the fabric. I decided to go for a soak.
- Filled a bucket: I filled a bucket with some cool water – didn’t want to use hot water, thought it might damage the gloves.
- Added detergent: I added a squirt of regular laundry detergent – nothing fancy.
- Soaked the gloves: I tossed the gloves in and let them soak for a good 30 minutes. I figured this would give the detergent time to really loosen up the dirt.
Washing and Drying
After the soak, I took the gloves out and gave them a good scrub. I just used my hands, rubbing the fabric against itself. You could see the dirt coming out in the water – pretty satisfying, I gotta say!
Then, I rinsed them thoroughly under the faucet until the water ran clear. I really mean it, you gotta rinse them really well, or you will get that soapy stuff on your hands next time.
The last part was just letting them air dry. I laid them flat on a towel outside in the sun. Took a few hours, but they dried up nicely.
The Result
And guess what? They came out looking pretty darn good! Most of the dirt was gone, and they smelled a heck of a lot better. They weren’t brand new, but definitely clean enough to use again. I’d say it was a success! So yeah, you can totally wash your gardening gloves. Just remember to knock off the loose dirt, give them a good rinse, soak them in some soapy water, scrub, and then let them air dry. Easy peasy!
And that’s it, that is what I have done with my gardening gloves. I’d say it’s worth it! Keeps them in good shape, and saves you from having to buy new ones all the time. What about you? How do you clean your garden gloves? Let me know!
