Caring for your leather gloves should be easy, provided that the leather is of excellent quality. Good leather gloves, like the ones we offer, shouldn’t lose their shape and definition for a very long time. You may pay a higher price for a high-quality pair of gloves, but they are well worth it. Nevertheless, you do need to care for them, since they are expected to last you for a lifetime.
You may have dozens of questions to ask and you’d be right. Can you wash your leather gloves? How can you clean the lining of men’s leather driving gloves? Will washing leather gloves make them shrink? Relax, we are here to help you with the best advice on how to care for your beautiful leather gloves.
Our complete guide to caring for your leather gloves includes a wealth of information, from how to waterproof your leather gloves to how to prevent them from shrinking. Read it carefully to continue wearing your leather gloves for decades.
How to Waterproof Your Leather Gloves
The first thing that comes to mind when purchasing a new pair of leather gloves is what to do to protect them from rain.
It’s worth mentioning here that leather is nothing but ‘skin’ so it has the same properties and the same needs as your own skin. As long as you don’t soak them in a bucket of water or you don’t wear them while swimming, your gloves should be just fine.
However, some of the high-street brands offer products that help enhance the natural resistance of leather gloves against water. Think Nikwax. While using such products could be a good idea, you should proceed with caution, because they may alter the colour of your leather gloves. Light colours are too sensitive, so you shouldn’t use such products to waterproof your gloves.
How to Clean Leather Gloves
Don’t clean high-quality leather items unless necessary. The biggest problem are the colours, as they are quite delicate. Washing your gloves with the wrong detergents may damage them.
Nevertheless, if your gloves are slightly dirty, you can clean them, but only with safe cleaning products. If you don’t know what to use, consider asking the manufacturer of your leather gloves for advice.
How to Prevent Leather Gloves from Stretching
Many people fear their leather gloves will stretch over time and they seek a method to prevent this from occurring. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t try to prevent the stretching of your gloves.
The natural elasticity of leather allows your hand to pass through the narrow part of the glove without damaging it. You should actually be thankful that your gloves can stretch to accommodate your hands.
The issue here is the quality of the leather. In order to enjoy the elegant shape of your gloves for a very long time, you need to invest in a high-quality pair and to pick the correct size for your hands. High-quality gloves that are the right fit will never go out of shape.
How to Clean the Lining of Leather Gloves
Leather gloves manufactured by Cornelia James are lined with either wool, silk or cashmere. These fabrics make our gloves comfortable and warm. Since you can’t submerge your gloves in water, cleaning the lining can be a very tricky business.
Our recommendation is that you avoid cleaning the lining of your leather gloves, as you have good chances to damage the leather in the process.
Should you be keen on cleaning them, consider taking them to a professional dry cleaner service. They will know what to use to remove dirt and stains and make your leather gloves look like new again.