A pair of vintage gloves can be a real treasure, whether found at an antique store or passed down from a beloved family member. Unfortunately, cleaning gloves can be a challenge and many beautiful gloves are rarely worn because they are stained or dirty. Depending on the type of stain, however, this may not have to stop you from putting your beautiful gloves back into circulation. Here are a few authentic vintage methods for cleaning gloves.
You will first need to know what type of material your gloves are made from. These tips are specific to 4 types of leather commonly used in vintage gloves: kidskin, chamois or doeskin, washable kidskin, and buckskin.
Please be aware that gloves suffering from serious discoloration or perspiration stains may not be salvageable, but it is worth a try. Generally speaking, gloves should be handled with care during the cleaning process. While leather gloves could withstand vigorous handling when first manufactured, their age may contribute to a general fragility. While cleaning gloves, remember to handle with care.
1. Cleaning Gloves: Kidskin
Immerse the gloves in a bath of gentle cleanser. Leave them for a couple of hours to let the dirt loosen, then rub them between your hands and either scrub them with a brush or on a washboard. Thoroughly rinse the cleanser out of them, and pat them dry using a soft towel. Put them on glove stretchers to keep their shape, and leave them to dry in a warm area. Avoid drying the gloves too quickly, as this may cause stiffness. Smooth and shape the gloves with your hands once they have thoroughly dried.
2. Cleaning Gloves: Chamois or Doeskin
These gloves are best washed while wearing them, in order to maintain their shape. Make a bath of lukewarm water and pure, mild soap or soap flakes. Because these gloves have a tendency to become hard and stiff when dry, make sure to dissolve plenty of soap in the water. The more you use, the softer and more flexible your gloves will be. First make a good soapy bath and plunge your gloved hands in to free up any dirt. Then rinse them several times in a lukewarm water bath. Dip the gloves one final time in a water bath with enough soap in it to give it a milky appearance. Then towel dry the gloves without twisting them. Once removed from your hands, you can carefully shape them and leave them to dry flat on a plush towel. When finished cleaning gloves, keep them away from any heat source so that they will not dry too quickly.
3. Cleaning Gloves: Washable Kidskin
These gloves can be cleaned in much the same way as the chamois or doeskin gloves. The only difference is that once they are dry, you can restore their softness and luster by rubbing some clean dry talcum powder into the leather.
4. Cleaning Gloves: Buckskin
Buckskin is a little tougher than the other gloves, but can be cleaned in much the same method, using white soap or soap flakes and lukewarm water if they are of high quality. If they are more utilitarian, a commercial glove cleaning solution may be satisfactory. Either way, they can generally withstand a good brushing to get the surface thoroughly clean.
Remember, when cleaning gloves that are many years old, you will need to use incredible care. Even if the leather is in good condition, there is a chance that the stitching has deteriorated over time. Weigh the risks before taking the chance of cleaning your irreplaceable vintage items. While these are authentic vintage glove-cleaning methods from the early 20th century, only you can decide if the possibility of causing damage to your gloves is worth it.
