Clean Beekeeping Gloves
Every beekeeper needs to have a pair of heavy gloves – even if you don’t always wear them. However, with repeated use, leather beekeeping gloves need to be cleaned. They become stained and sticky – overall rather gnarly and more difficult to use. Never fear, with proper cleaning and conditioning, your leather and goat hide gloves can have a prolonged lifespan. In this guide, I will share some of the best practices for keeping your beekeeping gloves in top shape.
Beekeeping is not an inexpensive hobby. But, proper care helps all of your tools and supplies last longer. I normally use disposable gloves but I have leather beekeeping gloves too – for those difficult situations (or extra spicy hives).
Why Cleaning Beekeeping Gloves Is Important
There are several reasons that cleaning beekeeping gloves is a good idea:
- clean gloves are easier to use
- more hygienic
- prolongs life of product
Obviously, clean gloves are easier to work with. Bits of honey and beeswax on the gloves sticks to everything you touch. Bee propolis is even stickier.
This is frustrating when you are working with hive components or even lighting your bee smoker. When you want to put something down – you want it to let go!
Hive hygiene is another factor to consider. It is very important to prevent moving germs to from apiary to another. Perhaps you go to look at a friends hive – you don’t want to bring back any bee diseases to your apiary.
But, this principal applies even within your own bee yard. Clean gloves prevent bacteria and other harmful pathogens from growing on your gloves.
And one of the most important reasons, is that regular cleaning extends the lifespan of your gloves. The startup cost of beekeeping is considerable – protect your investment.
Thankfully, most items will last for years if you take care of them. Yes, even your bee suit needs to be washed occasionally.
Materials Needed
Let’s look at some of the common materials used to clean beekeeping gloves made of cow leather and goat leather.
Mild Soap or Conditioner
For leather gloves, you can use a specialized leather cleaner but mild soap works well too. Your goal is to clean the gloves as much as you can without damaging the leather. Avoid using strong detergents as they can strip the leather of its natural oils.
Warm Water
Warm water is the beekeeper’s best friend for cleaning gloves. Water does a wonderful job of dissolving honey residues on the gloves and it can aid in removing bits of wax too. Do not use really hot water as that can damage the leather.
Soft Brush or Cloth
Some beekeepers use a cloth to remove stains but I prefer a small soft brush. Soft bristles are important because we don’t want to damage the leather grain. Our goal is to loosen the wax or propolis from the leather.
White Vinegar
If your gloves are really gnarly, you may consider using a bit of white vinegar. This is a natural cleaner that can help break down bee propolis – one of the most difficult substances to get off your gloves.
Vinegar also has antibacterial properties that can help disinfect gloves. However, I would not trust in situations where you might be working hives with AFB (American Foulbrood). That is a job for disposable gloves anyway.
Cleaning Cow Leather vs. Goat Leather Beekeeping Gloves
Cow and goat leather are the two most popular materials used in making gloves for beekeepers. The steps to clean them are very similar – with just a few noted differences.
Cow Leather
Cow Leather is more durable that goat leather making it suitable for prolonged heavy-duty tasks. The surface is more uniform with a smoother grain. They tend to be less flexible and take longer to break in.
Cleaning Process
1. Brush the glove surface well to remove any loose dirt
2. Prepare a cleaning solution of mild soap or leather cleaner in warm water. You do not want to use excessive water as it will take the gloves longer to dry.
3. Dip a soft cloth or brush into the cleaning solution and gently wipe down the gloves. Don’t soak the leather with water – just gently rub the solution in across the leather surface.
4. For tough stains, a small amount of white vinegar can be applied. However, test on a small area first as this may discolor the leather.
5. Use a clean towel to wipe off excess moisture and allow the gloves to air dry. Afterwards, apply a leather conditioner to keep the cow leather supple. Buff with a clean cloth.
Goat Leather
Goat leather beekeeping gloves are soft and pliable and fit great right out of the box. They have a more pronounced grain – the texture is not as smooth. This causes them to hold onto more dirt so cleaning is important.
Cleaning Process
1. Brush off any loose dirt, wax etc with a soft brush. Pay special attention to seams and crevices were it seems to accumulate. This preparation step takes a bit more effort than that for cow leather – be gentle but really work to get the dirt, wax loose.
2. Use the mild soap or leather cleaner mixed with warm water to gently scrub the surface. A sponge works well too. Pay special attention to areas with a heavy buildup of honey, wax or propolis.
3. If you have stubborn stains, try cleaning your goal leather beekeeping gloves with a mixture of baking soda and water. Always try a hidden area first.
4. Pat dry with a clean towel and allow to air dry. Goat leather dries faster than cow leather due to its more breathable nature.
5. Follow up with a leather conditioner if desired. You can even make your own DIY beeswax leather conditioner. Goat leather absorbs oils and conditioners more easily so you will only need a small amount to keep them supple.
Expert Tips
Now, I do not “soak” my leather gloves – though some folks do. What about the gauntlets or sleeve parts of the glove that are often canvas? These too can get dirty and even absorb some bee pheromones from stings.
You can give them a freshening up by soaking the cloth part of the glove in a bit of water with a little bleach (1/3 cup per gallon of water). Then rinse them well without getting a lot of water on the leather parts.
Remember- this is for hygiene and usability as much as anything. Those gloves will never be completely clean again – much like my white bee suits 🙂
Storing Cleaned Gloves
Certainly, you will not clean your beekeeping gloves every time you use them. Mine are lucky if they get it once a year! For most people, twice a year is enough.
But, once they are cleaned – proper storage helps ensure they will be ready to use next time.
- be sure they are completely dry before storing
- use a breathable storage bag – no plastic
- store in a cool dark space
- to retain shape – you can stuff them with tissue paper or a soft cloth
- protect from pests such as mice
FAQs
It’s best to avoid using general household cleaning products on your beekeeping gloves, especially those containing harsh chemicals or bleach, as they can damage the leather and may leave strong scent behind.
As a general guideline, you should clean your beekeeping gloves after every few uses or whenever they become noticeably dirty or sticky. Regular cleaning helps prevent the buildup of honey, wax, and propolis, which can degrade the leather over time.
In most cases, using a washing machine to clean beekeeping gloves is not recommended, especially for leather gloves. The agitation and exposure to soaking may cause them to shrink and/or degrade the leather.
A Final Word
Properly cleaning of your beekeeping gloves helps them last longer and and remain effective in protecting you during beekeeping activities. This applies to beekeeping shoes or boots too! If like me, you only use heavy gloves occasionally, the cleaning interval can be longer. But, conditioning the leather is still important. With regular cleaning, conditioning, and proper storage they will serve you well for many seasons to come.