Like any other leather item, baseball gloves must go through a “Break In” process to provide maximum comfort to the user. In this process, it is common to use several types of oil to achieve the best results.
In this article, we’ll help you answer, “Can you use olive oil on baseball gloves,” and some helpful information related to this topic. Let’s explore!
Can You Use Olive Oil on Baseball Gloves?
Fortunately, the answer is Yes. You can use olive oil to “Break In” your baseball gloves. But you need to know that it will lead to some side effects:
- It will darken your gloves.
- It will make your baseball gloves slippery.
Baseball gloves differ slightly from other leather items such as shirts, bags, or shoes. You may not have a problem, or even enjoy, when your leather shoes get darker. The same may not happen with your baseball gloves.
The good news is that you can avoid this side effect if you properly break in or refresh your gloves with olive oil.
How to Break in a Glove With Olive Oil?
If you want to break in your baseball gloves with olive oil with the best results, just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Gather the necessary things:
- Olive oil.
- Clean, soft cloth.
- Fan or air heater (for drying your gloves).
Step 2: Put some olive oil on your soft cloth.
Step 3: Apply olive oil to the whole gloves by gently rubbing the cloth. Make sure all its outer surfaces are covered with olive oil.
Step 4: Place your gloves in a dry place and let them dry for at least a day (24 hours). Using a fan or air heater to dry gloves is the fastest and best way.
Step 5: Inspect your gloves after a day. We recommend using a soft dry cloth to wipe them if they are slippery. Then give them another 12 hours to dry.
FAQs
What Kind of Oil Can I Use on a Baseball Glove?
You can use other options like Vaseline, mink oil, glove manufacturers’ oils, tanner’s glove oil, and saddle soap is okay.
Is It Good to Oil Your Baseball Glove?
Oiling is the best way to break in or refresh baseball gloves. It is also a good habit to treat these gloves before storing them away for the offseason.
How Do You Lubricate a Baseball Glove?
- Step 1: Take a minimal amount and put it on a soft, clean cloth like a dish towel.
- Step 2: Rub the oil into the gloves. Remember to use only enough oil to cover the glove.
- Step 3: Let them dry overnight.
How Much Glove Oil Should You Use?
When using oils to break in or refresh your gloves, avoid using too much. Otherwise, it will deteriorate the leather faster and ruin your baseball glove. Ensure to be stingy with it, especially in the early going.
It’s best to start with a small amount of oil. Then, you can always add more later if needed. On the other hand, if you apply too much, it is not easy to take back.
Is Baby Oil Good for Baseball Gloves?
Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t. The baby oil may make your gloves too slick, and they may absorb too much oil. Always prioritize baseball glove oil for the best results.
Olive Oil vs. Coconut Oil: Which One Is More Usable?
Olive oil is better than coconut oil in baseball gloves. Coconut oil is even considered one of the oils that cannot be applied to baseball gloves.
Olive oil can make these gloves slippery and tear their laces. After that, your gloves will not dry anymore, no matter how long you leave them, as coconut oil ingredients have soaked into them.
Why Do You Need A Break in Your Baseball Gloves?
When you buy new baseball gloves, they will feel a little stiff. The stiffer they are, the less control you have over their movement. It will limit your ability to catch well. So break-in is necessary to eliminate stiffness.
The Bottom Line
Can you use olive oil on baseball gloves? Yes, you can. Besides, you can avoid side effects if you follow our guide correctly.
Remember that olive oil is not the ideal choice to break in or care for your baseball gloves. We always recommend baseball glove oil as it is designed for these purposes, while olive oil is made for cooking.
Hopefully, this post is helpful to you. Thanks for your time!