Cleaning leather gloves

[Curly green finger's]

Hi, does anyone have any good tips in cleaning propolis of leather gloves .
Cheers.

 

[enrico]

Strong soda solution
E

 

[Swarm]

Put the gloves on and 'wash' your hands really well in a strong washing soda solution. Wring out as much as you can, pull the leather back into shape and allow them to dry and apply a coat of neatsfoot oil to them before they totally dry.
I doubt you will remove it all but you should get the worst of it out.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Washing soda? What sort of strength?
I've two pairs to clean and would rather keep them as the one pair were given to me 4 seasons ago .
I've washed them already Eric and my other half said soak them in a bowl for a day in washing powder ?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Put the gloves on and 'wash' your hands really well in a strong washing soda solution. Wring out as much as you can, pull the leather back into shape and allow them to dry and apply a coat of neatsfoot oil to them before they totally dry.
I doubt you will remove it all but you should get the worst of it out.

Never heard of neats foot oil before Steve?

 

[Poly Hive]

I wrecked a Brooks saddle with neats foot oil.

Don't leather gloves belong in the stone age now a days?

PH

 

[Millet]

I find the best thing for cleaning leather gloves is in the coal fire..Nitriles do not need cleaning they also go in the coal fire and a new pair for each inspection are used..

 

[Curly green finger's]

I find the best thing for cleaning leather gloves is in the coal fire..Nitriles do not need cleaning they also go in the coal fire and a new pair for each inspection are used..

I can't get on with them Steve. Plus half my bees are mongers you almost need the leather gloves.

 

[Murox]

Try some Latex gloves with long cotton sleeves, you can easily 'wash' your hands with the gloves on "as you go".

 

[Millet]

I can't get on with them Steve. Plus half my bees are mongers you almost need the leather gloves.

I always end up with the odd mental hive each season and i take very few stings to my hands wearing nitrile gloves..most of the time it is my fault when i get stung by squashing the odd bee..

 

[pargyle]

I had a plastic feeder that was really plastered in propolis .. I'd run out of washing soda but I had some granular caustic soda ..

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-external-caustic-soda-1000g/36329_BQ.prd

Dissolved about 100gm in about 5 litres hot water - add the crystals to the water - not the water to the crystals (very important). There is an exothermic reaction as the crystals dissolve. You need to have good rubber gloves as this solution (even a drop of it !) will burn and blister your skin.

Wow .. did it dissolve propolis .. unbelievable !

Whether this would sort your gloves out, I don't know - I'm not sure what it will do to leather .. but it certainly dissolves propolis. Needs a good rinsing in clean running water to get rid of any residue.

Powerful stuff ...

 

[Murox]

I always end up with the odd mental hive each season and i take very few stings to my hands wearing nitrile gloves..most of the time it is my fault when i get stung by squashing the odd bee..

Very true, but why do the little sods seek out the wrists, ankles and face when they really go for it?

 

[pargyle]

Very true, but why do the little sods seek out the wrists, ankles and face when they really go for it?

Several million years of evolution has taught them that just about everything on the planet wants the honey they produce and how best to stop them !

 

[Swarm]

Never heard of neats foot oil before Steve?

Go to your nearest Saddler, it's wonderful stuff for leather, instant suppleness.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I've tried different types of gloves but I like the leather ones... I've got two volcano hives which I need to either requeen or unite in the spring.
My f0 and f1 amms are very gentle and I don't wear gloves at all I'm glad that there 85 miles apart from the mongrel bees ... my mentor said that my mongrel bees are mainly Italian bees I don't no how there still Italian bees as they were my grandads bees from the late 90s

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Never heard of neats foot oil before Steve?

go to a saddlers - either that or Mars oil - which is also good for prolonging the life of deck shoes, but you're better off reserving leather gloves for gardening - use either nitriles or marigold gloves - with a pair of gauntlets for extra protection from the wrist to the elbow

 

[Swarm]

I wrecked a Brooks saddle with neats foot oil.

I bet you did, I used to treat all my dogs collars with it. From stiff new leather to soft as chamois in a few minutes.

If you want to help keep them clean, Mark, try some latex/nitrile over them.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Thanks for the advice I've lots of washing soda and will try that first , again I'm concerned as to what this will do to the leather.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I bet you did, I used to treat all my dogs collars with it. From stiff new leather to soft as chamois in a few minutes.

If you want to help keep them clean, Mark, try some latex/nitrile over them.

I tried this Steve but i couldnt feel my hands after a few mins way to tight and using latex is to sticky , gloves sticking to the frames.

 

[Swarm]

Thanks for the advice I've lots of washing soda and will try that first , again I'm concerned as to what this will do to the leather.

They will dry out stiff and hard and will eventually start to split as the leather degrades, hence the neatsfoot.