Washing gloves

[Chef Isaac]

I picked up some seafood the other day and the bag of clams had a leak.... and they were sitting on top of my gloves.

So I supppose it is time to clean them.

Any recomendations?

[Propolis30]

Mine are leather with canvas arms. I always just wash mine in the washing machine on gentle and hang them to dry. If you wash them with the bee suit you will have yellow splotches from the leather all over the suit. Learned that the hard way.

[SweetBettyBees]

Ditto on that. I have always washed my gloves in the washer with other work clothes, (regular detergent and a little fabric softener) dry them in the dryer, too though that does make them a little stiff when they first come out. The gloves I'm using have lasted three years being washed about once a week during season and they're as good as new. Did, for the first time, wash gloves and top together yesterday and as Prop mentioned above the jacket came out a lovely shade of pale yellow. Will probably bleach out but actually, it's not a bad color... I would love to be at the point where I rarely use gloves but I'm afraid I'm not there yet. I think it's a good idea to wash them periodically anyway if you're getting some stings.

[ScadsOBees]

Clams? Spray the gloves with water and leave them out in the hot sun for a while...
Then you won't have to smoke the bees because their eyes will be watering so much they won't be able to see you.

But then again so will yours...

I only do this once a year or so, but I soak mine in mineral spirits to get out the excess propolis. Then clean with soap and hot water. If you use water and soap it will just get out the water soluable stuff, not the propolis. I don't bother with the washing machine anymore (for my gloves that is!!I do use it for the rest of my clothes!)

I don't have any advice as to how to deal with clam odors, but I don't usually get that on my bee gloves.

-rick

[ainsof]

Hey Chef,

Lemon juice will get rid of the fishy smell from hands. Perhaps that'll help. I'd follow-up with mild soap and water to neutralize the pH.

[kuntrycook]

Chef, pour a can of tomato juice over the gloves and let 'em sit a few minutes. I use tomato juice in the kitchen to remove (really REMOVE) the smell of onions and garlic.

A friend, putting out hay for horses at dusk dark one day, siced her black and tan on what she thought was a rabbit; turned out to be a striped kitty! I helped her bath the dog with T/juice and then poured it over her in the tub. I know this works. (Never did figure out what to do about the car she had to put the dog in to get him back to the house and the tomato juice.)

[ainsof]

Good idea Kuntrycook, forgot about that.

You suppose Fabrese would work in the car?

[Big Ed]

Pet stores sell a spray bottle of an enzyme concoction that I believe breaks down the proteins in skunk spray. Works better than anything else.

I wash my beekeeping clothing in a hunting "no-scent" laundry detergent. Seems to work good at removing sting odors.

[clintonbemrose]

Wash gloves? What gloves?
Clint