Hand Hygiene, Boxing and YOU!!

While it is often correctly mentioned that boxing is a full-body activity with most of the punching power being generated by the legs and core, it is primarily our hands which take the punishment. This is why it is important that when we train on the heavy bag, we wrap our hands, use at least 12-ounce gloves, and of course use proper form. 

We must take care of our hands and this extends beyond even the physical impact. We also want our equipment to last and stay in good condition. Then there are hygienic issues to be considered as well- for you and those you train with. Here are several important tips to keep in mind:

Wash (And Dry) Your Hand Wraps After Every Use!

It doesn't matter how clean you are, how clean your hands are, how clean your gloves are, or anything else: when you box for more than a few minutes, your hand wraps are not going to smell good. They get sweaty and wet with very little ventilation and they stink. Don't take it personally, it is an undeniable, scientific fact of life. If by some chance, your unwashed wraps don't smell particularly bad to you, I guarantee you they do to others. It can be pretty pungent too and very specific. So just like you would wash a T-shirt that got completely soaked with sweat after one use, you should do the same thing with hand wraps.

This smell is caused by bacteria and repeatedly exposing yourself to this bacteria can cause skin irritation and rash. In the case of hand wraps, you are also transferring this bacteria to your gloves. So it's not just about being nice to your coaches and training partners, washing your hand wraps is good for you too.

I have met some people who didn't know that they could wash their wraps and others who thought they could wash them but not put them in a dryer. You absolutely can and should put them in the dryer! Hand wraps are too long to dry properly without heating in a dryer. And if your hand wraps are wet when you use them, even after being washed, they are going to acquire bacteria more quickly.

PRO-TIP - Worried about your wraps getting tangled up in the laundry? Get a zip-up
mesh bag and put the wraps inside when you wash and dry them. They come in all sizes and are pretty cheap, $5-10 max.

Use Lotion For Your Hands

Sounds like a little thing but it really can make a difference. Punching something solid with dry, cracked skin can be painful, bloody in some cases, and it's not going to heal extra slow unless you do something. Now of course, you may think that raw, bleeding hands makes you kind of tougher but it will affect your punches somewhat, even if you try to consciously avoid it.

I like to just use lotion before I go to bed at night and it helps. Depending on your
hands, you may need it more frequently. Pretty much any moisturizing lotion is good but again, if you have really chapped hands, you might need something more serious.  I like the Duke Cannon "Bloody Knuckles" balm for those rough cases. Plus it just makes me feel manlier than say, L'Occitane

Dry/Disinfect Your Gloves

Just like wraps, the reason why old gloves smell bad is because they get damp, don't dry well, and thus, bacteria. But you can keep your gloves smelling fresh by disinfecting and drying them yourself, with the drying part being the most important. There are several ways to do this. First, as soon as you finish boxing, you can put these cedar-filled bags inside your gloves to help soak up some of that moisture. These are known as either "glove dogs" or "glove devils.” I have no idea why they are called either of those things, but they definitely help.

What helps even more is using a boot dryer of some kind. It is just a small unit with two plastic tube-like things sticking up that emit heat. I put my gloves on them immediately after use and turn up the heat for about 15 minutes. This has been a game-changer for me. Gloves I use every day have been able to last indefinitely stink-free. You don't need anything fancy here either. Mine cost about $16 bucks on Amazon. Plus you can use it for your boots too!

Disinfecting is not a bad idea either, especially if you are trying to rescue gloves that have already acquired a bit of an odor. You can use just regular old Lysol or in extreme cases, Odor-Aid. You don't need a lot of it either so a bottle should last you a long time. Just one or two squirts after use can take a pair of gloves that you were pretty much ready to give up on because of the smell can turn things completely around.