Wet gloves are easy to forget at the bottom of a riding bag. Getting them ready for the next outing starts with taking them out promptly and checking their care label, not putting them on the hottest radiator. The same routine matters whether your muddy ride was on an MTB or an eMTB.
Start with the instructions for your exact gloves
Waterproof, insulated and leather-palmed gloves do not necessarily share a washing or drying method. Read the label inside the cuff and check the manufacturer’s care page. If the label is missing or unclear, ask the brand before using a machine, dryer or cleaning treatment.
There is a useful example of why this matters: GORE-TEX’s glove guidance permits low-heat tumble drying for shell gloves, while Endura’s general fabric-care advice says to drip dry rather than tumble dry. Neither instruction is a universal rule for every winter glove.
Remove water gently and give them time
For GORE-TEX gloves, the published method is to squeeze gently from the fingers towards the wrist, then line dry with the cuffs pointing down. Keep them away from heaters and direct sun. These are instructions for that construction; follow your own glove maker where it differs.
Plan drying around the next ride rather than promising yourself a fixed overnight turnaround. Before packing, check inside the fingers as well as the outside. If you ride on consecutive wet days, rotating two suitable pairs is more practical than trying to force one pair dry with extra heat.
Do they need washing first?
Remove loose grit before washing and follow the specified detergent and method. GORE-TEX recommends a gentle hand wash with a small amount of liquid detergent, without bleach or fabric softener. It advises against machine washing its gloves. Do not assume that a jacket’s machine-wash setting is suitable for the gloves beside it.
Endura warns against leaving technical clothing rolled up wet because this can encourage mould and damage. Its care advice also excludes fabric conditioner and strong direct sunlight when drying. Unpack the rest of your riding kit at the same time, but treat each item according to its own label.
Drying is not the same as reproofing
If water stops beading on the outer fabric after correct cleaning and drying, consult the maker’s reproofing instructions. Do not transfer an ironing or heat-reactivation step from jacket advice to a glove: GORE-TEX explicitly says not to iron its gloves.
For clothing-specific advice, see our waterproof jacket washing and reproofing guide. Our waterproof MTB jacket guide covers the other half of a wet-weather setup.
Choose gloves you can live with between rides
Warmth, fit and lever feel still come first, but check the care requirements before buying. A thick pair that suits occasional winter rides may be less convenient if it is your only pair for daily use. Our MTB glove guide helps compare the different riding briefs. Keep the washing label or photograph it while it is readable: the right routine should stay with the gloves throughout their life.