How to Get the Smell Out of Hockey Gloves
Quick answer: Hockey gloves smell because sweat soaks into the palm and finger liners, which almost never dry fully. To eliminate it, saturate the inside liners and the exterior with The Stink Solution's Hockey Odor Eliminating Spray, which breaks down the odor on contact using OAM Technology. Skip the washing machine, which can wreck the palms, and let the gloves air out open between skates.
Why do hockey gloves smell worse than everything else?
Ask any player which piece of gear clears a room and the answer is the gloves. Every hand cramp, every faceoff, every whistle, your palms are sweating into that liner. The moisture has nowhere to go, bacteria settle in, and the smell gets sharp fast.
Worse, gloves are the piece people are most afraid to clean, because the palms are delicate and the washing machine can tear them apart.
Can you put hockey gloves in the washing machine?
It is risky. Machine washing can break down the palm material and warp the fit, and the gloves often come out damp for days, which just restarts the odor cycle. You do not need the machine to solve the smell.
How do you actually eliminate the glove smell?
Saturate them, inside and out. The Stink Solution's OAM Technology identifies the odor, binds to it, absorbs it, breaks it down, and eliminates it on contact, so there is no waiting and nothing masking it.
- Open the glove cuff wide to expose the interior.
- Saturate the palm liner and finger liners where your hand sweats most.
- Saturate the exterior shell.
- Set the gloves open in a ventilated spot to dry.
Apply heavily. A light pass will not reach the liner where the odor actually lives.
The spray is Plant Based, Enzyme Free, Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and safe on skin, which matters for the piece of gear that sits directly against your hands. It will not stain the palms.
How do you keep gloves fresh between skates?
Pull them out of the bag the second you get home and let them breathe. Treat them with the spray after high-sweat sessions, and keep a 4 oz bottle in the bag so you can hit them rink-side before the smell sets in. Consistency here is what keeps the gloves from becoming the piece everyone complains about.
Fix the glove smell today
Grab the Hockey Double Pack of 16 oz Sprays for $29.99 (regularly $39.98). Keep one bottle at home and one in the bag so your gloves never get the chance to turn.
Want to see the full range? Browse the Hockey collection.
Hockey Glove Odor FAQ
How do you get the smell out of hockey gloves? Saturate the inside palm and finger liners plus the exterior with a hockey odor eliminating spray that breaks down odor on contact, then air the gloves out open. Avoid the washing machine, which can damage the palms.
Why do hockey gloves smell so bad? Palm and finger liners absorb sweat and rarely dry fully, so odor-causing bacteria build up faster in gloves than in almost any other piece of gear.
Can I machine wash hockey gloves? It is not recommended. Machine washing can break down the palm material and leave the gloves damp for days. An odor eliminating spray solves the smell without the risk.
Is the spray safe to use inside gloves that touch my skin? Yes. It is Plant Based, Made Without Harsh Chemicals, and safe on skin, and it will not stain the liner or palm.