Filthy, stinky leather + suede gardening gloves

oliveoyl

My gardening gloves have gotten rather grotty and it's time they were given a good clean... but I don't know how.

They're leather and suede and need cleaning both inside and out. Can I put them in the washing machine or will the suede get wrecked?

Help please.

LJM

do they have a label on them at all any where, you could try washing them but pop them in something like a pillowcase tied up

oliveoyl

No, no label... they probably did have instructions on a tag, but if so, it's long gone. Should I use regular wash powder or something else... I've got woolite, soda crystals etc?

Sunnyday

I`ve got a pair of ordinary leather gloves and they were in a terrible state, i shoved them in the washing machine with a dark wash and dried them on the radiator

They ended up like giant black crisps with fingers

I would recommend putting them on at various stages of drying to help keep their shape, I ut some hand cream on when i was wearing them and rubbed it in as if i`d got no gloves on and they are ok, wearable and in a runny shape but i reckoned that they would have to go in the bin otherwise so i had to give it a go.

That was two years ago and although they are weird i still wear them

SD

maryb

Get some saddle soap from a show repairers and rub the dryish lather into the gloves while they are on your hand then sponge it off with a damp microfibre cloth. Inside might be more tricky - try turning them inside out and scrubbing with a nail brush. Again, try not to get them too wet. After that they will be better but not perfect, but at least you should be able to wear them without them being too gross