Baseball gloves are an investment for parents and players of the sport. Fielding gloves are a critical piece of equipment for infielders and outfielders alike, and when it comes to your tools, you want to take care of them. Let's go over how you can keep your glove in top shape and free of dirt and bacteria to keep your glove clean and long-lasting.

Why You Should Clean Inside Your Glove

There are a couple of reasons you should clean your glove; many are pretty upfront and noticeable regardless of whether you wear the glove. The most prominent side effect of an ill-maintained glove is usually the potent stench that comes from them. Anyone who has played sports knows the smell of unwashed gear and baseball fielding gloves are the same.

But it doesn't take an expert to smell something so rancid. This smell is caused by bacteria that need to be sterilized to be removed. But the bad smell isn't the only symptom of bacteria in the glove. A dirty glove can create an environment for all types of bacteria and viruses to live, including MSRA, which can be very harmful and even kill.

Aside from the risks associated with bacteria and viral infections, the dirt and oils that build up inside the glove can also lead to a few issues. This can be sticky, stinky hands usually covered in brown/black build-up, which is unpleasant and doesn't feel too comfortable on the skin. This explains why you should keep your fielding gloves and sporting equipment clean. Let's get into the details on how to clean the inside of your baseball fielding glove.

Cleaning Your Glove Interior

When cleaning the interior and exterior of the glove, the steps are very similar. However, you will need to pay extra attention to the glove's interior as it most directly contacts your skin. First, I will cover the general care steps for cleaning and maintaining the interior of your glove then I will cover how to bring your glove back to life if it already has that potent sports gear stench.

General Cleaning

1. Using a try lint-free hand towel, thoroughly wipe out the interior to loosen and know out any debris.
2. In a bowl with warm water and some soap, soak and ring out a lint-free towel
3. thoroughly wipe out the interior gently, ensuring to pay extra attention to the areas where the fingers and thumb sit inside the glove. (these portions are often overlooked as they are deep in the glove).
4. Let the glove dry, and then correctly apply your league's regulation-appropriate glove oil protectant before proper storage.

Deep Cleaning

1. Using a try lint-free hand towel, thoroughly wipe out the interior to loosen and know out any debris.
2. In a bowl, mix 1 part water and 1 part rubbing alcohol.
3. Following the same process as the general cleaning, thoroughly wipe out the interior gently, ensuring to pay extra attention to the areas where the fingers and thumb sit inside the glove.
4. Let the glove dry, and then correctly apply your league's regulation-appropriate glove oil protectant before proper storage.

And that's it! I hope this quick how-to guide for cleaning the interior of your baseball fielding glove is helpful!