How to Clean and Care for Leather Gloves & Mittens

Learning how to properly clean and care for leather gloves and mittens is an important part of snowboarding, because warm, dry hands are happy hands. Every season, your gloves and mittens are subjected to the harshest conditions, from fidgeting with rough binding straps to airtime grabs on metal edges to rope tows and chairlift bars—all in sub-zero temperatures. So, it’s no surprise that many riders choose leather as their go-to choice for handwear that will last.

And leather gloves and mittens really are a great choice for snowboarding. They are warm, comfortable, and durable, and provide plenty of dexterity and grip in even the coldest weather. But as with any snowboarding gear, gloves and mittens need to be properly taken care of to ensure they last the entire season (and beyond). In fact, leather glove care and leather mitten care are important skills that all snowboarders should know.

Fortunately, learning these skills is easy with Burton’s guide on How to Clean and Care for Leather Gloves & Mittens. Topics featured in this guide include when to clean leather gloves and mittens, how to clean leather gloves and mittens, re-waterproofing leather gloves and mittens, and some tips and tricks for getting an extra season out of your current pair of leather gloves/mittens.

When to Clean Leather Gloves & Mittens

In general, leather gloves and mittens should be cleaned infrequently and only when they really need it. Unless your gloves get really dirty or you spill something on them, thoroughly washing them once or twice a year is usually sufficient. Of course, when your gloves are dirty and in need of cleaning, you’ll know. Been riding and sweating in your gloves for an entire season and they’re starting to smell like a wet dog? Left them out on the porch for a few days in the rain? Or maybe they’re just covered in nacho cheese. Totally your call. Wash as needed.

Leather Glove Care 101: How to Clean Leather Gloves & Mittens

Depending on how dirty your gloves are, you should scrub them lightly first and then more aggressively, but only as hard as needed.

Pro tip: When washing leather gloves or mittens, wash them gently and by hand.

How to Spot Clean Leather Gloves & Mittens

Begin your leather glove care regimen by spot cleaning them to remove the major blemishes and impurities. Start by using a dry rag to gently brush off excess dirt. Next, spot clean the heavily soiled areas with a damp rag (water only) to remove any major grime. Most of the time, spot cleaning will be adequate in returning a pair of gloves back to usable status, but if they are extra dirty or smelly a full wash may be required.

How to Wash Leather Gloves & Mittens

Washing leather gloves and mittens requires a few special steps to ensure that the material is not over-treated. You should always begin the hand-washing process with a spot clean to remove any major grime. Once you’ve spot cleaned, move on to a more thorough washing.

1. Remove the liners. If your leather gloves have liners, remove and wash them separately according to the instructions on the label (some liners can be washed in a washing machine, other liners may need to be handwashed).
2. Apply the proper soap. Dampen a cloth rag (or paper towel) with lukewarm water and apply a small amount of an oil-based detergent, like Kiwi® Saddle Soap or a technical cleaner like Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel™ (which is not just for footwear, of course).
3. Scrub out the grime. Gently clean the entire surface of the glove or mitten by rubbing the rag in small, circular motions. Pay extra attention to heavily soiled areas and add additional drops of soap if needed.
4. Rinse. Rinse the gloves with lukewarm water and gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing or twisting.

Pro tip: Avoid completely submerging leather gloves and mittens when washing them and never wash leather gloves or mittens in a washing machine.

Alternatively, some people prefer the wear-and-wash method.

1. Remove the liners. If your leather gloves have liners, remove and wash them separately according to the instructions on the label (some liners can be washed in a washing machine, other liners may need to be handwashed).
2. Apply the proper soap. Apply a small amount of an oil-based detergent to the palm of each glove, like Kiwi® Saddle Soap or a technical cleaner like Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel™.
3. Put the gloves on and wash. While wearing the gloves, rub your hands together (like you’re washing them in the sink) to scrub out the grime.
4. Rinse. Remove the gloves from your hands and rinse them in lukewarm water. Gently squeeze out the excess water without wringing or twisting.

How to Dry Leather Gloves & Mittens

Drying leather gloves and mittens is mostly a matter of patience, as they cannot be dried in a clothes dryer. In fact, trying to speed up the drying process, either by putting your leather handwear in the dryer or using a hair dryer, could potentially damage the leather and reduce its durability.

With the liners removed, dry your leather gloves in an upright position. To do this, you can prop them up using a bottle or you can hang them from a clothesline. Allow them to dry completely before wearing them. If you plan to apply a waterproofing, note that this can be done when gloves are still damp.

Pro tip: If you cannot prop up or hang your gloves or mittens to dry, lay them flat on a towel and periodically flip them to allow even drying.

Leather Glove Care 101: How to Re-waterproof Leather Gloves & Mittens

Once your gloves are clean and (mostly) dry, you can apply a waterproofing coat to protect the leather and improve performance. While applying a waterproofing coating is optional, we generally recommend it as a best practice for maximum performance.

1. Purchase some leather-specific waterproofing wax. We recommend Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather™, which provides an immediate DWR (durable water repellency) coating.
2. Apply the wax. Squeeze a healthy drop of the waterproofing wax onto the palm of the glove (you can always add more if you need to).
3. Put the gloves on and work the wax in. Rub your hands together (like you're washing them in a sink) to work the waterproofing wax into the leather. Use slow steady strokes to evenly spread the wax across the leather and use your fingers to push wax into the seams of the gloves.
4. Wipe off any excess wax. Set the gloves aside for 15-20 minutes to let the wax absorb, then wipe off any significant excess wax with a damp cloth.
5. Allow your gloves to air dry completely before use.

Pro tip: Waterproofing wax can sometimes darken leather slightly. If your gloves are a light color, test the wax on an inconspicuous area of the glove first to make sure you are happy with the results.

Leather Glove Care 101: Tips & Tricks

Leather gloves and mittens are comfortable, flexible, and warm (and the perfect piece of gear to add to a technical outerwear kit). They are also naturally waterproof. However, there are a few things owners can do to improve performance and increase the useful life of leather gloves and mittens.

Break in New Leather Gloves & Mittens

Leather gloves get better the more you wear them. Wearing them outside in the snow in both dry and wet conditions will help them form to your hands while improving comfort and grip.

Re-waterproof Leather Gloves & Mittens Regularly

Oftentimes, a breathable waterproof membrane (like GORE-TEX®) is added to the inside of the leather gloves and mittens to keep outside moisture from reaching your hands, but the outer leather material can still get wet. To prevent this outer layer from “wetting out” you can apply a waterproofing wax (like Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather™) as soon as you notice decreasing performance.

How often should you waterproof your leather gloves and mittens? Many manufacturers recommend doing this once per month during periods of heavy use.

Dry Leather Gloves & Mittens Completely after Each Use

Even if your leather gloves or mittens don’t seem wet after a day on the mountain, place them somewhere in the open and allow them to dry completely. This can often take 10-12 hours, so it is best to let them sit overnight. Also, avoid putting any leather gear away damp, as this can cause mold and rot that breaks down the material (and causes funky smells).