How to Steam a Baseball Glove at Home | Step-by-Step Guide

When you spend time researching and finally purchase a new baseball glove, you feel happy and satisfied. However, the real challenge lies in maintaining the glove. Proper maintenance of a baseball glove is essential for any player who wants to perform their best on the field.

The new leather gloves are often very tight and stiff, which can be problematic when you want to use them for games like baseball. To get the most out of your new baseball glove, you need to break in a baseball glove, and the best way to do this is to play catch. Although it can be time-consuming, playing catch is a very safe and effective way to break in your new gloves.

Breaking in new baseball and softball gloves can be accomplished by using various methods. One of the most popular methods is steaming, which is quick and efficient. However, it’s essential to note that steaming can harm the leather fibers, resulting in the voiding of Wilson’s one-year glove warranty.

In this blog, learn how to break in a glove at home with a steaming method. I know this is quick to break in your gloves but I do not recommend this method I always recommend playing catch as the best way to break it. But if you still want to break the gloves in this method follow the below instructions carefully.

Why steaming is important to break the baseball glove?

First of all, before steaming the gloves you know why steaming is important?  Baseball players commonly steam gloves to break in and shape them to fit comfortably. Here are some reasons why steaming is essential:

• New baseball gloves are typically stiff and rigid due to the high-quality leather used in their construction. Steaming softens the glove leather, making it more pliable and easier to work with. 
• Breaking in a new glove can be a time-consuming process, involving repeatedly using and manipulating the glove to loosen it up. Steaming can expedite this process by making the leather more receptive to form around the player’s hand.

• Steaming allows players to customize the shape of the glove to their hand and position preferences. They can mold the glove to fit their fingers, and thumb, and form the pocket of the glove exactly the way they want.

• Steaming also helps to condition the leather, making it more durable and lasting. Additionally, it helps to open up the pores of the leather, allowing it to absorb and retain more moisture.

How to properly steam the baseball glove at home? Step-by-Step Guide

Steaming breaking baseball gloves can be a difficult task and requires careful attention. If done improperly, there is a high chance of burning the glove leather and even causing harm to your skin. It’s important to be cautious while completing this process.

If you have the budget for it, some manufacturing companies offer steaming services at a reasonable price.

Moreover, if you don’t have any budget you can complete this method at your home I warn you this is not a good idea, but if you still do want to steam the gloves at home you must need some items: 

Material Needed 

1. Baseball glove 
2. Pot or steamer to make sure the steam 
3. Towel or cloth
4. Rubber mallet or ball
5. Glove conditioner(optional) 

Step 1: Prepare the Pot or Steamer

• Boiling water: Take the large pot and fill halfway water inside the pot.  Then put the pot on the stove and heat up. Last close the top of the pot to any lid to build the steam inside.
• Use a steamer: If you have a garment steamer, you can use that instead. Fill the steamer with water and turn it on to generate steam.

Step 2: Prepare the Glove

After preparing the pot next to prepare the glove for steaming, Open the glove fully, and if it has a wrist strap or laces, undo them to ensure the steam penetrates all parts of the glove.

Then take a clean piece of cloth wipe the new baseball gloves and wrap up the baseball gloves with a thin layer of a towel.

Step 3: Steam The Glove 

This step is difficult for you because this step you hold the glove into the steam which can damage your skin so be careful to complete this step. So this point you should wear the oven mitt and any heat-resistant glove.

Hold the glove over the steam source, allowing the steam to penetrate the leather. Be careful not to get too close to the steam, as it can be hot. Move the glove around so that all areas receive equal steam exposure. You’ll want to do this for about 2-3 minutes to ensure the leather becomes soft and pliable.

Step 4: Reshape The Glove

While the glove is still warm and pliable from the steam, use your hands to shape it to your desired fit. You can flex the fingers, bend the palm, and shape the pocket according to your preferences.

Be gentle and patient, as the leather is most pliable when warm. You can also use a wooden mallet or a baseball to further shape the glove to your liking.

Step 5: Let It Cool and Dry Naturally:

After steaming and shaping you need to some time to dry your glove.  Allow the glove to cool and air dry naturally. Avoid using heat sources like a hairdryer, as excessive heat can damage the leather. The drying process can take several hours to overnight, depending on humidity levels.

Step 6: Oil and Conditioner(Optional)

If your leather glove is dry now is the time for glove conditioning, apply a good leather conditioner or oil to keep it soft and prevent brittleness.

Tips for Safely Steaming Your Baseball or Softball Glove

• Please read the Glove Care Instructions: Check if your glove manufacturer gives specific instructions for steaming or conditioning. Following their guidelines can help you avoid potential issues.

• Use a Steaming Apparatus Safely: If you’re using a pot of boiling water or a kettle to generate steam, be cautious to avoid burns. Keep the pot or kettle away from the glove and ensure you don’t accidentally spill hot water.

• Protect Your Hands: When handling the hot glove or steam source, wear heat-resistant gloves or use oven mitts to protect your hands from burns.

• Don’t Over-Soak the Glove: Avoid overexposing the glove to steam, as excessive moisture can damage the leather. Steam the glove for a few minutes and check its pliability regularly.

• Prevent Overstretching: While shaping the glove, be gentle to avoid overstretching the leather. Overstretching can lead to a loose and less effective glove.
• Avoid Direct Dry: Don’t dry the gloves in direct sunlight or any other electric equipment like a hair dryer. Always dry at room temperature.

• Regularly Check: Check your baseball gloves regularly, otherwise, they lose shape. 

• Use New Glove: Applying the steam method only to the brand new baseball gloves, don’t use this method to reshape the old gloves.

Can Steaming Be Safe For Breaking Gloves? 

Yes, steaming can be a safe and effective method for breaking in baseball gloves if done correctly. When done properly, steaming helps soften the leather, making the glove more pliable and comfortable to use. 

However, if you’re not professional and are trying to first time apply method I highly recommend you not try this alone, make sure any of your family members and friends are here when you try this. Because highly chance of burning your gloves and even damaging your body parts be careful to use this method.

Otherwise, if you still want to break in these gloves, I recommend going to a sporting goods store where you can break them in for a very reasonable price.

FAQs

Conclusion 

If you ask me about the steaming method, then I always say this is not a good idea to break the new leather baseball gloves but the method helps you to break the gloves and tough. 

I’m not stopping you from trying this method I only say this is a highly risky method because in many cases, over-steaming gloves damage and catch fire or damage your skin this thing I say is not a good idea but if you still want to break-in the gloves into the steaming method, then you can try the steaming method to break in gloves at your home. Good Luck!