How To Clean Your Boxing Headgear Properly

Boxing headgear is a must-have for protecting yourself during training and sparring. But wow does it get smelly.

By following a proper cleaning routine and using the right sport-specific cleaning products, you can keep your boxing headgear smelling, feeling and performing great for years to come.

Since 2008, Vapor Fresh has been creating natural cleaning and deodorizing products for sports and gym equipment. Our products are specifically formulated to tackle the unique challenges of sports gear hygiene and are a safe and effective way to clean boxing gloves and all other boxing equipment. 

Here are our recommendations for cleaning and deodorizing your boxing headgear to keep it fresh and in top-notch condition.

Clean Your Boxing Headgear Immediately After Use

The sooner you begin the cleaning process the better off you will be.  Germs thrive in dirty and moist environments. When you allow your headgear to remain sweaty, you’re just allowing the odor-causing germs to thrive and multiply for longer.  The more germs there are, the more difficult the cleaning process will become.

We recommend you start the cleaning process as soon as your training session ends, but the next best option is as soon as you get home.

Always Follow The Manufacturer’s Instructions

You’ll first want to check the cleaning instructions from your headgear’s manufacturer.  Sometimes they recommend specific processes or recommend avoiding certain chemicals.

Regardless of what our general recommendations are, it’s always best to follow specific advice from the manufacturer as they know their headgear best.

Step 1. First, Remove Dirt, Blood and Debris

The first step is to remove any dirt, blood and debris from inside and outside the headgear.  If there’s blood present, you’ll want to use a disinfecting gym wipe like Vapor Fresh to kill 99.9% of any blood-borne germs that may be present.

If there’s no blood, a disinfecting wipe may still be a good choice, however it’s also fine to simply spray your headgear down with a safe sports odor eliminating spray like Vapor Fresh and wipe away the dirt and debris with a microfiber towel. Either way you’ll want to use something to physically wipe your headgear clean to get it back to a hygienic state properly.

Step 2. Next, Deodorize With Vapor Fresh Cleaning Spray

Now that your headgear is back in a hygienic state, you can begin the deodorizing process to prep it for storage and make sure it’s comfortable for next use.

Simply spray your headgear inside and out with Vapor Fresh Cleaning Spray and allow it to air dry naturally.  Allowing the spray to sit helps eliminate deep lingering odors.

Step 3. Finally, Allow To Air Dry Before Storing

Allowing your headgear to air dry naturally ensures that no excess moisture remains that may harbor odor-causing germs.

It’s important to allow the air drying to happen naturally and to avoid artificial heat sources like hair dryers or sunlight.  Those methods can cause your headgear to warp from the excessive heat.

Why Choose Vapor Fresh Sports Cleaning Spray To Deodorize Your Boxing Headgear?

Vapor Fresh Sports Cleaning Spray offers several key advantages when cleaning and deodorizing any sports gear but particularly boxing equipment:

Sweat-specific odor elimination: Vapor Fresh is specifically formulated to combat tough odors that accumulate in sports gear. And it doesn't just mask the smells. This powerful formula penetrates deep into the material, neutralizing odors at their source and leaving your gear fresh and revitalized.

Safe and non-toxic: Vapor Fresh Cleaning Spray is non-irritating, non-toxic and free from harsh chemicals. It’s safe to use on your headgear without worrying about annoying skin irritation that other chemicals may cause.

Quick and convenient: With just a few sprays, Vapor Fresh helps you efficiently deodorize your headgear. It's a fast and hassle-free solution.

Versatile usage: Vapor Fresh can be used to deodorize a variety of sports equipment. You can also use it to clean your boxing hand wraps as well as boxing gloves, shoes, shoulder pads, shin guards, yoga mats and gym bags. It's a versatile deodorizing solution that keeps all your sweaty gear smelling fresh and clean.

Additional Considerations When Cleaning Your Boxing Headgear

Here are some additional tips and considerations to take into account when cleaning and deodorizing your boxing headgear:

Leather Headgear:

If your headgear is made from leather, it requires extra care to keep it in good condition. Avoid immersing leather headgear in water or using harsh cleaning agents. Instead, use a soft cloth or sponge dampened with a mild leather cleaner or a mixture of gentle soap and water. Gently wipe the surface of the leather, paying attention to any stained areas. Afterward, wipe off any excess moisture with a clean, dry cloth and allow the headgear to air dry naturally. Always consult your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first when dealing with leather.

Avoid Irritating Chemicals

Vapor Fresh is a popular choice to clean boxing gear because it’s plant based and completely free of irritating chemicals.  Most cleaning products aren’t necessarily meant for cleaning sports pads, which will come in direct contact with your skin.  Even some sport-specific cleaners contain harsh and irritating chemicals.  But with Vapor Fresh you’ll never have to worry about skin irritation.

Can You Put Your Boxing Headgear In The Washing Machine?

One common question that arises when it comes to cleaning boxing headgear is whether it can be safely washed in a washing machine. The answer depends on the specific instructions provided by the manufacturer and the type of headgear you own. For the most part, the answer is typically no - headgear should not be washed in the washing machine.

The agitation and spinning motion of a washing machine can damage the headgear, leading to tearing and loss of protective structure. Most headgear is not made to withstand the rigors of a washing machine.

Additionally, certain types of headgear materials such as leather or delicate designs may be susceptible to damage in a washing machine.

Instead, we highly recommend hand washing your headgear every once in a while to give it a nice deep clean.

How To Hand Wash Your Boxing Headgear

This is not necessary after every use, but when you feel your headgear needs a deep clean, here’s what we recommend:

Step 1. Fill A Sink With Warm Water And Mild Soap

The easiest thing to do here is to close the stopper in your kitchen or bathroom sink, put your headgear in the sink and then fill it up with warm water and some gentle soap. You’ll want to agitate the headgear just enough to swish the water around to encourage some cleaning action.  If headgear is not fully submerged, do that once, flip it and do it again.

Step 2. Allow It To Soak For 15 Minutes

Next, allow your headgear to soak for 15 minutes. Again, if you cannot fully submerge your headgear, allow half to be submerged for 15 minutes, flip, and submerge the other half for another 15 minutes.

Step 3. Empty The Sink And Refill With Only Warm Water

Now you’re going to remove all the soapy water from the headgear. The easiest way to do this is to drain the sink and fill it again only with water, no soap. Agitate the headgear in the water to try and loosen away any soapy water remaining.

Step 4. Empty The Sink And Rinse Your Headgear Under Running Water

Empty the sink again and run your headgear under running water to remove any last soapy water residue.  This will ensure no sticky or uncomfortable soapy residue remains next time you wear your headgear.

Step 5. Allow To Air Dry Completely

Finally, you’ll want to allow your headgear to fully air dry prior to storing it away.  This will ensure you don’t allow any moisture to remain anywhere that can harbor the odor-causing bacteria that you just worked so hard at removing.

Step 6. Spray with Vapor Fresh Cleaning Spray

To really ensure you’ve eliminated all odors, spray your headgear inside and out with Vapor Fresh Sports Cleaning Spray.  You’ll want to allow it to air dry again before storing it away but this time it should only take 10-15 minutes.

By avoiding machine washing and opting to hand wash instead, you can maintain the protective structure of your boxing headgear while ensuring it remains fresh, clean and hygienic.

Trust Vapor Fresh With All Your Sports Odor Eliminating Needs

Cleaning and maintaining your boxing headgear is not only essential for hygiene but also crucial for prolonging its life and ensuring maximum comfort. By following these proper cleaning techniques and using Vapor Fresh Sports Cleaning Spray, you can keep your headgear fresh, odor-free and in top-notch condition.