Hand wraps protect and support your hands inside your fighting gloves. They also can absorb a lot of sweat and start to stink over time. One of the reasons hand wraps stink is because the bacteria in your sweat grows within the fibers. The hand wraps also may absorb the smell from the inside of your boxing glove. The best way to keep hand wraps from stinking is to remove the sweat and bacteria by washing the wraps immediately after each use.
Step 1
Unwind the hand wrap and put it inside a lingerie bag or hand wrap wash bag. The lingerie bag will prevent the wrap from getting tangled around other clothing in your washing machine.
Step 2
Wash the wrap in cold water with like colors, in case the dye bleeds. Use the same detergent you normally would use for your clothing. You also can use detergent formulated specifically for removing odors in sports apparel.
Step 3
Remove the wrap from the bag at the end of the wash cycle. Hang the wraps to dry over a shower rod or laundry line. Allow the wraps to air dry thoroughly before you roll them up; otherwise, the wraps may mildew and smell bad.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid using the dryer, which can break down the elastic in the wraps. Alternate between at least three wraps -- one for that day, one hanging to dry for the next day and a third in case you cannot immediately wash your wrap or one does not dry in time. To prevent your boxing gloves from stinking and affecting your hand wraps, air out your gloves after each use to dry them out. Put the gloves on a window sill in front of a breeze overnight. If you do not have a breezy window, fill two tube socks with cedar chips and put one inside each glove to absorb excess moisture. For added freshness, put a dryer sheet inside each glove.
Things You'll Need
- Lingerie bag or mesh hand wrap wash bag
- Laundry detergent
- Shower rod or laundry line
References
- "Boxing's Ten Commandments: Essential Training for the Sweet Science"; Alan Lachica, et al.; 2007
- "Boxer's Start-Up: A Beginner's Guide to Boxing (Start-Up Sports series)"; Doug Werner; 1998
Member Comments