Goalie gloves are one of the essential pieces of equipment for a goalkeeper; majorly because it helps in protecting the hands of the keeper from ferocious shots. The gloves are designed in such a way that they provide a cushioning effect for the balls.
As you know, the goalkeepers serve as the last line of defense protecting the goal post. In a game of soccer, match shots are usually fired from both short and long ranges. This is why the goalkeeper gloves must be in top condition to repel these shots.
The many actions in a soccer match often leave the gloves wet with moisture, grass, and mud from the playing surface. This will give off an offensive smell when not properly taken care of, this is why it is essential to know how to dry goalie gloves.
How To Dry Goalie Gloves?
The drying process of goalie gloves is similar to that of other items used by soccer players generally. The only slight difference is the material used in the production of gloves.
These materials will go a long way in determining what drying method to be applied. The materials include polyurethane and other grades of latex.
Method 1: Using the natural air method
After washing, making use of natural air in a well-aerated environment gives the best outcome.
However, ensure you do not place directly under the sun but in a shade. This allows the natural process of evaporation to take place; drying out only the excess moisture in the gloves.
Tools needed
- A shaded location
- Proper ventilation
Pros
- Gives the best result as only the moisture in the gloves is dried off.
- Preserves the quality of the gloves and guarding against latex degradation.
- Removes any odor from the gloves.
Cons
- Dependent on having a bright sunny weather condition.
- Slow and time-consuming.
Method 2: Using moisture absorbing medium
There are several materials capable of readily absorbing moisture from other media. Materials such as paper and towels can absorb moisture from the gloves.
The goalie’s gloves can be wrapped up by a towel to suck out residual moisture in them after a wash. Paper can also be inserted into the finger slots of the gloves.
Tools needed
- Paper
- Towels
Pros
- It’s a faster means to dry the gloves.
- The towel and paper can be replaced when wet till the desired result is achieved.
- Stretches and removes all moisture.
Cons
- Takes a lot of time to dry completely.
- Leaves some parts of the glove wet.
Method 3: Placing under a fan to dry out
Placing the gloves directly under a fan cooling system is also a viable option when seeking to dry out a goalkeeper’s gloves.
You could place the gloves on a towel and position them at a point where they get optimum air from the fan system.
Tools needed
- Standard Fan
- A shaded environment
Pros
- The process is fast and effective.
- Doesn’t cause damage to the core material components.
Cons
- Solely dependent on the availability of electricity.
- It doesn’t help deal with the presence of germs and other disease-causing agents.
Method 4: Using a Dryer
Dryers are not advantageous to soccer boots alone but can also be used when drying gloves. This depends however on properly regulating the temperature to make sure that the gloves aren’t exposed to too much heat.
Be it a cleat dryer or a glove dryer, you are guaranteed to have your gloves optimally dry and ready for use. Generally, glove dryers are used for hats, gloves, and other soft household items.
They are also efficient in drying out goalie gloves. The glove dryer uses low heating techniques to drain the water in the gloves, leaving them clean and dry.
Moreover, they are also specially designed for gloves and are best suited when in a rush. You may as well want to know that this method gives the best drying results when compared to other methods.
To use the glove dryer, you only need the air or heat in your home. When you want to dry your gloves, you place the glove dryer over a unit of your home’s floor register or baseboard register.
This makes the heat or air flow through the dryer, then what you need to do after that is place your goalie gloves over the dryer’s nozzle. The air or heat then does its magic in drying your gloves. But this is especially for a nonelectric eco glove dryer.
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Tools needed (pick one of the tools below)
- Cleat dryer
- Glove Dryer
- Washing machine Dryer
Pros
- Automatic, effective and fast.
- Eliminates possible fungus.
- Preserves the goalie’s glove quality
Cons
- They are heavy and take up a lot of space.
- Repeated usage damages your gloves.
Method 5: Using heat energy from an incandescent bulb
In cold climates where access to sunlight energy is minimal, incandescent bulbs are used as a means to heat the environment. The heat they give off is mild yet effective for drying.
Furthermore, the heat is not harsh enough to burn a material placed close to it but is enough to dry it out and reduce the moisture content in it.
To dry with an incandescent bulb, you need to install the bulb in a table lamp or use a lamp with the bulb installed in it. Then you place the gloves over the lamp and heat from the lamp will dry out the moisture in them. However, this will take time, so you can try this overnight.
Tools needed
- Table lamps
- A table
Pros
- The gloves remain safe and undamaged.
- Suitable method when limited to confined spaces.
Cons
- Doesn’t remove the offensive odor given off by wet cleats.
- May not thoroughly dry the glove.
What To Avoid When Drying Out A Goalie’s Glove?
Whatever you do, make sure you do not dry out your gloves using any of these methods:
- Placing on a radiator
The temptation to use hot or heating devices to speed up the drying process must be avoided. These devices can burn the latex used in the production of gloves.
- In front of a fire
Do not place gloves in front of a fire as that tends to eat off the lining on the surface of the gloves, making them brittle and unpleasant.
- Using an iron
This, as appealing as it may seem, is not a wise choice. A hot iron will burn off the surface of gloves, or even create holes in them. This damages the gloves and makes them unusable.
- Placing them directly before the sun
Gloves are built in such a way that some quantity of moisture must be present in them. Goalkeepers are even advised to wet them before use in a game.
This is why it is not advisable to place them directly under the sun. As the sun dries it, it makes the gloves hard and brittle, shortening their lifespan.
- By “wringing” them out
Wringing out the gloves is also not an advisable procedure as the wringing process may result in a tear or a cut along the sides of the gloves. The component used in protection is soft n and could easily be damaged especially when wet.
Conclusion
The importance of a goalie can not be overemphasized. And having a properly functioning pair of gloves as a goalie is critical to their finishing saves and by extension the teams’ success.
All methods listed above yield favorable results and selecting the one that best suits the resources you have at your disposal shouldn’t be difficult.
Do what you need to keep your gloves in the best possible condition to facilitate a good performance and keep you at your best.
Related post: How To Dry Soccer Cleats?
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!