Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to have the correct pH of baseball glove care products like cleaners and conditioners?
Let’s start with the science: Leather is naturally acidic.
On the pH scale, leather measures between 4.5 and 5.0 [1]. When you apply a product with a conflicting pH (typically alkaline), it triggers a destructive chemical reaction known as neutralization.
This reaction attacks the leather's internal chemistry, breaking down the fiber structure and rotting the glove from the inside out. The more frequently you use the wrong product, the faster this deterioration occurs. This chemical breakdown is the primary reason glove lacing eventually turns brittle and snaps.
This pH related damage is particularly susceptible to high-end gloves made with Kip leather because Kip leather is from immature calfs where the epidermal leather of the calf skin hasn’t fully matured lacking the toughness and durability of a full mature steer. This inherent weakness translates to a more rapid deterioration of the internal fiber structure is the calfskin is exposed to chemicals that are not pH balanced to the calfskin.
What is baseball glove lacing made from and why does it break?
Baseball glove lacing is made from strips of leather (typically rawhide). The quality of the leather used plays an important role. Low-end leather known as “Split-Hides” are inherently weaker consequently more prone to breaking compared to top-grain leather. Because it is a natural material, leather is susceptible to environmental damage and physical stress.
Laces break primarily due to the following factors:
Drying Out: Practices like spitting in the glove or using products on the glove that are not pH balanced cause the leather to dry out, leading to brittleness, cracking, and eventual breakage.
Lack of Tension: When laces are allowed to become loose, they suffer increased stress and tension during catches, which can cause them to snap.
Manufacturing Defects: Laces that are cut too thin or nicked during the manufacturing process are prone to shredding or failing prematurely.
Low-Grade Leather: If the manufacturer uses low-grade leather like a split-hide then you can expect the laces to fail.
General Wear: Over time, repetitive impact causes laces to naturally fray and loosen, signaling the need for repair
What is the Iodine Index have to do with my mitt and why do I care about it?
Using glove oil or conditioners made with the wrong type of oil is bad for the leather. Mink oil, Neatsfoot oil or Lanolin all have an elevated Iodine Index ranging between 80 and 100. Here’s the science behind it.
The Iodine Index sometimes called the Iodine Value measures the level of unsaturation in an oil—essentially, how many unstable chemical bonds are waiting to react. When leather treated with high-iodine oil is exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet (UV) rays act as a catalyst, triggering photooxidation.
This reaction causes damage inside the leather through two primary mechanisms.
Chemical Attack: The oxidation process rapidly breaks the oil down into peroxides and free fatty acids. These acidic byproducts chemically attack the collagen protein fibers of the hide, weakening the glove's structural integrity.
Polymerization: As the oil oxidizes, it can cross-link with the skin proteins. Instead of lubricating the fibers, the oil hardens (polymerizes) around them—similar to how paint dries—causing the leather to become stiff, brittle, and prone to cracking.
Compare that with Mitt-Spit Glove Oil which has an Iodine Index of about 1. The leather technicians at Advanced Leather Solutions, the maker of Mitt-Spit understand the science of leather. All the products made by Advanced Leather Solutions are engineered to improve the condition of leather whereas so many of the glove care products are made with oils that have a high Iodine Index. These other products actually are causing damage.
Why is it important to know the pH of a baseball glove cleaner?
When a cleaner with a pH of 9 (alkaline) comes into contact with leather (acidic, pH 4.5–5.0), it triggers a damaging chemical reaction that neutralizes the leather's natural acidity.
This interaction leads to several destructive outcomes:
Fiber Breakdown: The alkalinity attacks the internal collagen fibers, weakening the structural integrity of the hide and causing it to lose strength.
Accelerated Aging: This chemical imbalance, often referred to as "leather burn," causes the leather to harden, darken, and eventually crack prematurely.
Tanning Destabilization: High pH products can effectively reverse the tanning process, stripping the leather of the agents that preserve it, which leads to rotting or deterioration over time.
