Leather Care & Cleaning
Can You Wash Leather Gloves? Usually Not, and Here's the Exception
Usually not: glove makers say don't wash or submerge leather gloves; wipe them with a damp cloth. Which gloves are the exception, by type and label.
Usually not. Glove makers such as Dents and Wells Lamont say not to wash leather gloves or submerge them in water; wipe them with a damp cloth instead. The exceptions are gloves whose label allows washing, such as synthetic leather work gloves.
The full wipe-clean method is in how to clean leather gloves, and the washing machine question in can you machine-wash leather gloves? Both are part of our leather care and cleaning guide.
Wash, wipe or send out? By glove type
| Glove | Hand wash in water? | What to do instead | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dress and driving gloves (lambskin, cowhide) | No | Wipe with a damp, not dripping, cloth | – |
| Lined gloves (silk, wool, cashmere, Thinsulate) | No | Wipe the outside; a glove maker sends linings to a specialist cleaner | – |
| Grain leather work gloves | No | Damp cloth, dry upright | – |
| Split leather palms | No, no water at all | Brush off loose dirt | – |
| Synthetic leather gloves | Often yes, if the label allows | Follow the label | – |
| Heavily soiled or valuable pairs | No | Specialist leather cleaner | – |
What to do instead of washing
Put the glove on, wipe it with a well-wrung damp cloth, and add a very small drop of mild detergent or soap flakes only for greasy marks. Blot, then dry flat at room temperature, away from heaters and sun.
Old gloves marked "washable"
Some older glove leathers, such as chamois, doeskin and "washable kidskin", were traditionally washed on the hands in lukewarm water with mild soap flakes, according to a vintage-clothing blog. That conflicts with today's glove makers, who say not to submerge leather gloves.
Only consider it if the label says washable. Then keep the water lukewarm, never wring, and dry flat at room temperature while reshaping them on your hands.
Quick answers
What happens if leather gloves get wet?
They can stiffen as they dry. Blot them, dry them flat at room temperature and flex them on your hands as they dry. Gloves that stiffen after getting wet usually soften again with wear. More in can water ruin leather?
Is it okay to use Dawn dish soap on leather gloves?
A glove maker advises against liquid soap and suggests soap flakes or a mild detergent. We found no source that tests Dawn.
How do you wash Thinsulate-lined leather gloves?
Don't submerge them. Wipe the leather outside, and leave the lining to a specialist cleaner. Thinsulate is a common winter-glove lining.
Can you dry clean leather gloves?
Only at a specialist leather cleaner; one glove maker recommends this for heavily soiled pairs.
Need a new pair? The Leather Collection men's leather gloves come in lambskin and cowhide, with unlined and lined winter styles.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.