Well now, lemme tell ya, cleanin’ them leather baseball gloves ain’t rocket science, but ya gotta do it right if ya want ’em to last. Don’t go treatin’ ’em like some ol’ rag, ya hear?
First off, get yerself some stuff. Ya need some mild soap, the kind ya use for dishes is fine. And get a brush, but not a hard one, somethin’ soft, like what ya use on the horse. Oh, and ya gotta have some oil, the kinda stuff ya put on boots, ya know? Keeps the leather from gettin’ all dried out and crackly.
Now, the first thing ya gotta do is get the dirt off. That glove’s probably been through heck and back, rollin’ around in the dirt and whatnot. So take that soft brush and just brush all that loose dirt and gunk off. Don’t be shy, give it a good scrubbin’. If there’s mud caked on, just use your fingernails or something dull and carefully remove it.
- Brush off the loose dirt
- Wipe away any stubborn mud
Next up, time for a little washin’. Get a bucket or somethin’ and put a little warm water in it. Not hot, mind ya, just warm. And put a little bit of that soap in there, not too much, just a little will do ya. Now, take a rag, dip it in the soapy water, and wring it out good. Ya don’t want it drippin’ all over the place. Then just wipe down that glove, inside and out. Get in all them nooks and crannies. Don’t be scared to give it a good once-over.
Now, here’s a trick my old man taught me. After ya wipe it down with the soapy rag, take another rag and just use plain water this time. Wipe it down again to get all that soap off. Soap’s good for cleanin’, but it ain’t good for the leather if ya leave it on there.
Once ya got all the soap off, ya gotta let it dry. But don’t go throwin’ it in the dryer or puttin’ it out in the hot sun. That’ll just ruin it. Just let it dry natural-like, in a shady spot. Maybe put it on a fence post or somethin’. Let it stay there for a few hours, or maybe even overnight, till it’s nice and dry.
Now, when it’s dry, it’s gonna feel a little stiff. That’s where that oil comes in. Oil’s like food for the leather, keeps it soft and supple. So take a little bit of that oil and rub it all over the glove, inside and out. Not too much, just a little dab will do ya. Work it in real good, get it into all them seams and creases.
After ya oil it up, ya gotta work it in. Put that glove on and just play catch with it, even if it’s just by yourself. Or just flex it and bend it, ya know? That’ll help the oil get in there and keep the leather nice and soft. And do not use WD-40, you hear? It would be the worst thing to use on your favorite glove.
And that’s all there is to it. Cleanin’ a leather baseball glove ain’t hard, ya just gotta take yer time and do it right. If ya take care of that glove, it’ll take care of ya. And a good glove, well, that’s like a good friend, ya know? It’ll be with ya through thick and thin, help ya catch all them fly balls and grounders, and maybe even help ya win a game or two.
Keepin’ it clean, that’s the key. Don’t let the dirt and grime build up on it. Clean it regular-like, maybe after every few games, or whenever it starts lookin’ a little rough. And always oil it up after ya clean it. That’s how you take care of things, the way I see it. If you want something to last, you gotta take care of it, and treat it right.
So there ya have it. A step-by-step guide to cleanin’ a leather baseball glove, from a person who knows a thing or two about gettin’ things done. Now, go on and get them gloves cleaned up. And don’t forget to have fun out there on the field!
