Hand wraps are essential for MMA fighters and boxers. The wraps ensure that your sweaty hands do not come in contact with the gloves and spoil them.
If the boxing gloves come in contact with sweat, they will retain the odor, and it will be challenging to get rid of it no matter how hard you try.
In addition, sweat can cause bacteria and fungi to increase in the boxing gloves, making you more susceptible to infections.
These hand wraps also have another function. They provide support to the wrist and hands during punching and training. You will be grateful for this when you train for extended periods on a bag.
Related: Hand wraps reviewed
Due to repeated usage, hand wraps tend to get sweaty and smelly, and the last thing you need is to keep using them like that.
If you are new to boxing or MMA, you may wonder if you are some tips and suggestions to help you take care of your hand wraps and wash hand wraps so that they smell and feel good and do not lose their shape and elasticity.
How to Wash Boxing Wraps
The good news is that there is no learning curve when you want to learn how to wash boxing hand wraps.
You can wash them like you wash your clothes, and you can easily use the laundry detergent that you use every day for washing your clothes.
The only thing to keep in mind is that if your wraps are brightly colored, wash them on their own. On the other hand, if they are neutral in color, you can wash the wraps with other items.
Here are a few tips on how to wash boxing wraps:
Quick Cleaning:
When you use boxing wraps, they will get sweaty and wet after each use. As a result, some people do not like reusing them. So, if you are keen to learn how to clean boxing wraps after each use, you can easily do it without putting them into a washing machine.
You can quickly rinse the hand wraps under running water to get rid of the sweat and grime that may have built up after your training. You do not need to use soap but if you do, use any regular hand washing soap.
Would you please make sure you thoroughly rinse out the soap residue not to irritate your skin when you use the boxing wraps again?
After rinsing out the wraps, allow them to air-dry. Next, unravel the wraps and hang them neatly on a hanger or spread them out on a towel.
If you are using a towel, you will have to turn the wraps every few hours to ensure they completely dry.
Washing Hand Wraps in a Washing Machine:
Can you wash boxing wraps in a washing machine? The answer is a resounding yes. Here are a couple of ways that you can easily wash your boxing wraps in your washing machine.
1. Tie the Wraps into a Loose Knot
When you put the boxing wraps into your washing machine, one issue is that the wraps will become a tangled mess. In addition, it will take you time and effort to unknot the wraps.
To prevent this from occurring:
- Take each wrap and fold it in half.
- Fold it again.
- Tie both the wraps together at the center with the help of a loose knot. This will keep the wraps from getting entangled.
2. Remember to Seal the Velcro
If you leave the Velcro open, it could tear. So, to ensure that you do not damage the Velcro when you wash the hand wraps in the machine, it is best to close the Velcro of each wrap so that it is protected when you are washing it.
3. Place the Hand Wraps in a Pillowcase
Washing hand wraps in a pillowcase is a good idea if you do not want to tie a knot; it prevents the wraps from tangling. Be sure to tie the open end of the pillowcase to stop the wraps from coming out during the washing and rinsing cycles.
While this is an excellent alternative to a hand wrap wash bag, like the Revgear hand wrap wash bag, the problem is that the laundry detergent will not penetrate the pillowcase as much as you would like. Hence, using a pillowcase to wash your boxing wraps may not offer the results you envisaged.
4. Wash in a Mesh Laundry Bag
The best way to wash wrist wraps without tangling them and ensuring that they get thoroughly cleaned is to use a mesh laundry bag.
You can even get a dedicated hand wrap wash bag that is designed for this purpose. Meister Wrap Bag for Washing Hand Wraps with Drawstring and Sanabul Handwrap Zippered Washing Bag are sensible choices.
Seal the Velcro and place the wraps into the mesh bags. Next, run the washing machine on a delicate cycle using cold water. Once the machine finishes washing and rinsing, remove the mesh bag and take out the boxing wraps. Let them air-dry by hanging them on your shower rod, laying them flat on a towel, or hanging them on a hanger. It will take three to four hours for the wraps to dry.
Point to Note:
Remember never to use the dryer to dry the hand wraps after washing them. The heat from the dryer will damage the wraps. Also, drying them in the dryer will cause the boxing wraps to get entangled.
It is best to dry them on a hanger. Pull one end of the wrap across the inside of the hanger. Make sure that it is in the middle so that the hanger is balanced correctly. Ensure that the boxing wraps are not creased or crushed. Use your fingers to straighten out the creases. That will ensure that the wraps dry out evenly, and you can quickly wrap them around your hands and wrist.
The Bottom Line
Now you know how to wash wrist wraps. As you see, it is straightforward to maintain clean and odor-free wraps. So go ahead and use these tips, and you will never have to worry about smelly wraps or contract a bacterial or fungal infection from them.
