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Glove Care Instructions
Special care must be taken to insure maximum performance, durability and life of
your glove. The Glove Doc recommends Lexol to condition and clean your gloves. The
following instructions are designed to help you attain maximum life from your ball
glove.
WARNING! EXCESSIVE GLOVE OIL WILL DAMAGE AND SHORTEN THE LIFE OF YOUR NEW
GLOVE. Neatsfoot oil and Mink oil are not recommended as they tend to make the glove
heavy and cause dirt to stick to surface of the glove.
- Apply a small amount of Lexol to a cloth or applicator pad and apply the conditioner to the areas of the
glove that are currently stiff and firm that need to be more flexible, such as the
pocket, the break, and
the base of the web. Work the conditioner into the leather
evenly. Do not apply it directly to the glove as it will be too concentrated at the
point of application. Allow the conditioner to absorb into the leather for 24 hours
before using.
- Play catch daily until the glove is ready for game play (75 – 100
throws per day for 1 to 2 weeks) if after 2 weeks the glove is still too firm,
re-apply the conditioner to those area to soften the leather and continue to play
catch.
- Apply conditioner to your glove very lightly at the end of each season
prior to storage. Apply conditioner to the finger tips and the inside lining to
keep the leather from becoming brittle be sure to clean the excess dirt from your
glove before any application or conditioner.
- Store your glove in a dry place
with a ball in the pocket to maintain shape. Do not store it in a plastic bag, as
it will draw moisture and mildew.
- Keep the leather lacing in your glove pulled
tight, as the laces will stretch with use. Note the degree of lace tension when
the glove is new and try to maintain this tension. Always keep knots tied. If a
lace comes unstrung or breaks, be sure to restring it through the proper holes to
avoid damage to the glove.
- The above instructions have been developed to maximize
the life of your ball glove. There are always a number of off-the-wall techniques
that are suggested to help break in ball gloves. They are generally short cuts that
reduce the life of the glove. You have to be aware of the frame of reference of
the individual(s) making these suggestions. Their objective may not be to maximize
the life of the glove. ;)

Below are some techniques that you want to AVOID.
NEVER soak
your glove in water. The water causes the laces to become brittle and it detans
the glove leather and soaks the padding causing dry rot.
NEVER put your glove in
an oven or microwave. The heat can damage the fibers of the leather. A microwave
can concentrate heat to such a degree that the leather will actually burn. Heat
and water causes the leather fibers to re-crosslink creating shrinkage making the
leather stiffer and can cause the leather to crack.
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