Do you have a pair of leather gloves that feel tighter than the last time that you wore them? Did your leather gloves shrink?
In this article, we will discuss whether or not leather gloves shrink and the situations to lead to leather glove shrinkage. We will also address the possibilities of unshrinking leather gloves and shrinking the individual fingers of a leather glove. Finally, we will review common methods that people use to shrink leather gloves.
Leather gloves without a water-resistant sealant shrink after being wet and dried. Shrinking occurs less with each exposure to water until a stable point is reached. However, leather gloves dried with a heat source lose natural moisture faster, resulting in a tighter fit. Conditioning eliminates the tight feeling and restores some length.
Table of Contents
Do Leather Gloves Shrink Over Time?
Leather gloves stretch over time, but the type of leather determines the amount of stretching.
Can You Unshrink Leather Gloves?
Gloves that have become extremely hard and brittle due to repeated drying without being re-moisturized are least likely to unshrink. Leather gloves that are stiff and brittle can be re-moisturized with a natural oil such as Neatsfoot Oil or conditioners like Leather Honey. However, reapplying moisture will cause minimal stretching in the gloves.
Leather gloves will stretch after some time of wear because the natural moisture and oils from the hand will cause the leather to stretch.
Is It Possible to Shrink the Fingers of a Leather Glove?
The fingers of leather gloves can be reduced by using a steam iron to apply direct heat. However, applying too much heat will cause the fingers to deform. The little fingers or the thumbs experience the most curling. Curling is reduced by removing the heat and holding the glove fingers in the original shape until the glove has cooled.
Do leather gloves shrink when wet?
Untreated leather gloves stretch when wet and shrink during drying. The moisture loss during the drying process removes the natural moisture inherent in the leather fibers. Shrinking occurs more rapidly when a damp leather glove is dried with a heat source. However, water-resistant gloves do not stretch when wet.
Do Leather Gloves Shrink After Washing Them?
Leather gloves shrink after washing with soaps and detergents when they are not properly conditioned after drying. Cleaning leather with a proper solution will provide a more thorough cleaning and reduce potential shrinkage. Leather gloves should be cleaned with natural products such as Leather Honey Cleaner.
Avoid using soaps and detergents because they strip the leather gloves of their moisture at a much faster rate than pure water.
Leather Honey cleaner comes as a concentrate that needs to be diluted. Once diluted, it can be added to a spray bottle for easy use.
Spray the cleaner on a cloth and wipe down the leather gloves. You’ll be amazed at the amount of dirt removal. Once the cleaning is finished, apply Leather Honey Conditioner to restore any lost moisture.
4 Ways To Shrink Leather Gloves
The size of leather gloves can be reduced by first removing water-resistant sealants and then applying water to the leather surface and allowing it to dry. However, the rate of leather glove shrinkage can not be controlled. The shrinking methods have to be repeated, and it is possible that the leather may eventually stretch back to its original size.
There are several DIY methods for shrinking leather gloves. I have included the most common methods below.
Cold Water Method
Getting the leather wet and letting them dry is the most common way of shrinking leather gloves.
- Spray the gloves inside and out with cold to room temperature water
- Put on the gloves
- Wear them until they are dry
You could also try this after letting them shrink on their own by wetting and letting them dry without wearing.
Hot Water Method
The hot water method is a way to speed up the break-in process of leather gloves.
- Heat some water to just under boiling.
- Dip the gloves in the water until they are thoroughly soaked
- Remove the gloves from the hot water and lay them flat
- Allow the gloves to cool to a room temperature
- Put on the gloves
- Open and close your hand continually for about 2 – 3 minutes
- Continue to wear the gloves as they air dry.
Once dry, the leather gloves will be conformed to your hands. If the gloves don’t fit, repeat the process. Some people suggest using a heat source such as a hairdryer, microwave, or oven, but I don’t recommend these methods because they will make your gloves extremely stiff and brittle.
The entire process of wetting and drying the leather with a heat source removes the natural moisture. The natural moisture has to be restored, or the gloves will become stiff and begin to break. Apply a leather conditioner such as Leather Honey to restore the natural moisture.
With the hot water method, expect some of the dye colors to bleed onto your hands. You may have to wash your hands for a few days to remove all of the dye.
Alcohol
On many leather products, a sealant will be placed on the leather product’s outer surface to prevent the transfer of dies. The sealant, also referred to as a top-coat, acts as a water-resistant barrier. The leather sealant has to be removed before using the water method for shrinking. Removal of the sealant is achieved with a deglazer.
Several companies such as Feibings sell a 4-ounce bottle of deglazer for approximately $10. I think that it is too expensive. Fiebing’s deglazer is made up of 90% water and 10% alcohol, so I make my own solution and keep it in a spray bottle.
The solution can be sprayed on the leather gloves, and then it can be wiped off to remove some of the protective coatings. Once the protective coating is removed, the water methods described above can be used for shrinkage
Heat and Steam
You will need tracing paper and a steamer or steam iron.
- Pull your glove into shape and stretch the fingers lengthwise.
- Place a piece of cardboard under the glove to prevent impressions
- Place the paper over the glove.
- Be sure no leather is exposed and completely covered.
- Put the iron on hot and with steam.
- Press the iron on the glove and iron the glove firmly.
- Pausing a few moments in between.
- Iron both sides of the glove. The glove should be hot.
- Allow the glove to cool before placing it on your hand
- Repeat until the leather glove fits perfectly.
The best shrinkage happens over repeated procedures and not all in one go. So a few cycles of heat and cooling work best.
A few precautions
- You’re using heat, so always be careful.
- Use your best judgment to know WHEN to stop.
- The little fingers or the thumbs may be the first ones to curl. If you notice it happening immediately, stop and pull and stretch the finger and hold it into shape until it cools.
- Unlined and thin leather gloves require skilled and careful techniques.
How much time and how much pressure you use depends on how thick the leather is. Thin leather requires less time. Pressing down adds creases to the glove. Avoid creases that extend from the outside edge of your forefinger to the cuff by not ironing the edges.
Source: ciceroleather.com
