What about vaseline for my glove?

For years people swore by using vaseline on their mitt. With it’s thick viscosity it gives the user the sense that your applying something good to your glove. Is this really true? Let’s take a look inside.

First, not all “Vaseline” labeled products are the same. It depends on how it’s processed. But generally speaking Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is intended to create a barrier to lock a skin’s moisture content in. It’s a thick, viscous barrier that sits on the skin’s surface.

This works if the skin is a living organism, like your skin, where the moisture needed for healthy skin comes up from inside your body.

With a baseball glove, the leather is no longer living and doesn’t have its own source of moisture from the inside. Vaseline, acting as a barrier on the surface, does not bring moisture into the leather’s internal fiber structure.

What it does do is add substantial weight to the glove without adding moisture internally. The added weight makes the glove more difficult to handle. And, it can be problematic to the ballplayer fielding a ball.

Also, vaseline is sitting on the surface, creating a slickness, making it more difficult for the glove to “hold on to” the ball. It doesn’t make sense to have a slippery mitt that adds to the chance of making an error in the field.

Because of its chemical composition, it doesn’t evaporate easily. It stays put until you remove it or it wears away.

Finally, its blocking properties don’t allow the leather to breath.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly manufactured by Unilever in India. It is made from water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycol Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Mineral Oil, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Glyceryl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Acrylates/c10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Stearamide Amp, Cedrol, Dihydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride and Hydroxyethyl Urea.

Bottomline is that it doesn’t do terrible harm to your glove leather but doesn’t do any good either.

Use products that are intended to improve the health of your glove leather. That’s what the tech team at Advanced Leather Solutions did in creating the Mitt-Spit line of baseball glove care products. The are engineered to specifically improve the leather’s health and performance without adding weight to the glove.

Check out the Mitt-Spit line of products here: Mitt-Spit.com or click here Mitt-Spit Baseball Glove Care Products for the most advanced and effective care products for your glove.

Mink, Neatsfoot or Olive Oil on Baseball Gloves --- Here's Why Not.

Mink oil comes from the skin of a mink.   Neatsfoot come from the hoof of a cow and other animals. Olive oil from, well olives. Animal or vegetable oils are never good for leather because of the potential of rancidity.  The oil can turn rancid.

To understand why, here's a short chemistry lesson.   There are two ends of the animal or vegetable oil spectrum: There is Saturated oils on one end and Unsaturated oils on the other.   Saturated oils are really stable, whereas unsaturated oils can be unstable.

There is a scientific method for testing this.  It’s called the Iodine Value (sometimes referred to as Iodine Index).  The higher the iodine value of an oil, the less stable it is, which means more sensitive to oxidation.   Simply put, the more likely to go rancid.  

The Iodine Value of mink oil is between 80 and 95.  Neatsfoot oil runs between 69 - 75. Olive oil is way up there as well at around 85. These are pretty far up that scale. Mitt-Spit glove oil is about 1. The same low rancidity potential exists for Mitt-Spit Break-in. That means virtually no chance of rancidity with Mitt-Spit products.

Mink, olive and neatsfoot oils all have fairly high Iodine Values.  There are 3 other factors necessary.  Exposure to air (oxygen), heat and light. This is why olive oil bottles are generally green (not clear glass), are stored with the cap on tight and supposed to be stored in a dark cool place.

Your baseball glove however is outside in the sun, exposed to air and gets plenty warm.  So your mitt is exposed to all three factors: Air, Heat and Light.  If it's loaded with olive, mink or neatsfoot oil, It doesn't take long for the oil in the glove to go rancid. What does this mean to you?  Anything going rancid in the leather will help deteriorate that leather.  It will make your glove smell and is generally unhealthy. Yuk!

Mitt-Spit products on the other hand is made from an oil that is often found in cosmetics, or even as a food additive.  It's very safe for your mitt too.  As mentioned, Mitt-Spit glove oil and Mitt-Spit Break-in have an iodine value of about 1.  For the sake of your glove,use Mitt-Spit products. If you invest in the correct care products, you’ll never be sorry. Go here to buy Mitt-Spit Products.

Crazy Stuff for Baseball Glove Care

So here's the latest nutty newsflash for baseball glove care...  Old motor oil.  Yup... Some guy swears by it. Hey, I guess it's OK because it's better than putting used motor oil in a land fill and polluting the water.

Come on now.  Where does this stuff come from anyway?  What a bunch of nonsense!

Look, if you want to ruin your glove try some of these hocus-pocus things.  Otherwise, let the guys who know leather provide the right products.  That's what the Mitt-Spit team is all about.

If you have questions about leather care, send us an email or give us a call. We have a deep understanding of leather. You’ll get honest, straight answers to your questions. Try us out. You can contact me directly— Kevin@AdvLeather.com or call us 800-541-5982. Or, go directly to the Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove. You’ll see the difference quality makes.

Shaving cream for your baseball glove care --- really?

Shaving cream?  A baseball glove care solution? Here's the bogus theory.  Shaving cream is good for your mitt because it has lanolin in it.   So the well-meaning but completely wrong idea is that lanolin will help soften your glove.  It doesn't.

Lanolin is a natural product that comes from the skin output (like sweat) of sheep and other wooly animals.  It's natural purpose is to help as a water resistance for the sheep's fleece (wool).  It's sometimes called "wool wax" or "wool grease."   It helps the rain water run off their furry coat, keeping lamb's skin dry.  Great for the lamb, but useless for your baseball mitt.

Hold on...  there is more to the story.  

We're going to talk more about this in another post, but for now understand that shaving cream is alkaline.  And, it means bad news for leather, because leather pH is the opposite of alkaline.  It's acidic.   

And, it leaves a soap film on your mitt.   Soapy films are not good for any skin, including leather.

What does alkaline chemistry do to leather?  It creates a chemical reaction inside the leather that breaks down the internal fiber structure, weakening the leather.  

So, here's the takeaway:

1. Lanolin doesn't soften, it waterproofs.

2. Shaving cream, like most soaps, is alkaline.  It's actually harmful to leather.  

You want to keep your leather mitt in good shape?  Use Mitt-Spit Solutions Conditioner --- a baseball glove oil that lubricates the leather fibers, keeping the leather supple and is pH balanced to the leather.  So, it is actually good for your mitt. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove. You’ll see the difference quality makes.

A creative use of Mitt-Spit Break-in - put it on new laces before you lace up a glove.

Nate Petty of Magnolia, TX came up with a brilliant idea for using the Mitt-Spit Break-in product when re-lacing. Often the new laces are stiff, sometimes stiffer than the glove leather itself. What Nate discovered is if you apply the Mitt-Spit Break-in product to the laces before you start the lacing project, it makes a lacing job a lot easier. Try it. See if it works for you too. Thanks for the tip Nate. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Does glove oil plug up the pores of baseball glove leather?

There is a lot written on the internet about baseball glove care.  Much of it is wrong, for example, the clogging of leather pores with conditioning agents.  The general theme is that the "conditioner" blocks the ability of the leather to breath.  So let's take a look at the science of it.  

To answer the question directly --- the right glove oil chemistry does not clog leather pores.  However, a heavy, viscous chemistry can.  For example, Vaseline slathered across a piece of leather will NOT soak in, but just sit on the surface.  All it does is add weight to the glove and block the leather (skin) from breathing.  So,  you end up with a greasy, gloppy mess that does in fact block pores.

A good starting point is to ask: Why does leather need regular glove oil anyway?

Here's some background:  Leather has natural moisturizing agents that have been infused into the leather at the tannery.  This is what makes the leather pliable, not stiff as wood.  A average of 25% of the leather's mass is moisture.  Because leather is porous, it breathes.  So, it loses moisture through evaporation.  As leather loses moisture, it stiffens and actually can shrink (loses mass).  Therefore, it's important for the long term life of glove leather, to keep the leather moisture content at the proper level.  This is accomplished by using a properly chemically engineered glove oil.

What then is the right chemistry for a leather glove?  

A baseball glove oil should have the following attributes:

1.  A softening agent that the leather will absorb is essential.  If it doesn't soak in then it's useless. The glove oil should be absorbed deeply, migrate into the internal leather fibers, not just the surface.

2. Baseball glove oil should be engineered specifically for baseball glove leather, not cross marketed from other intended uses.  There are many different types of leather.  How the leather is tanned (processed) at a tannery determines its characteristics.  The products developed for treating that leather, once in the hands of a consumer, should take that into consideration.

3. It should be made with quality ingredients that will have long lasting, positive effects on leather.

4. Glove oil should be pH balanced to the leather.  If it isn't, then it can actually be harmful, (i.e. saddle soap) break down the leather, shortening the life of the leather.  More on this point in another post.

5. It should be easy to apply and creamy in texture so you can see it as you apply it.  

6. It should NOT leave a sticky or oily residue on the leather.

7. A thin coating of glove oil should dissipate into the leather rapidly.

8. It should leave a smooth, leather-like feel to the glove after it has been applied.

9. It should have a pleasant, new leather aroma. 

These are the attributes Advanced Leather Solutions engineered into Mitt-Spit Glove oil.  With 38 years experience working with leather as a leather restoration company, Advanced Leather Solutions know what's good for leather and what can be harmful.  We understand the chemical engineering behind quality leather care products and have applied this knowledge to Mitt-Spit Solutions, a whole class of products that you can count on for the long term vitality of your baseball glove. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Great Break-in Process for a New Glove

Once again a great idea comes from our customers.

This is also from Walt H. in the Mobile area.  Using our Mitt-Spit Break-in product on a very stiff A2000 baseball glove, Walt came up with a brilliant strategy for speeding up to break-in process.

Using two socks filled with rice that was warmed up in his microwave oven (about 30 seconds), Walt put one warmed rice-filled sock on the bottom of a small soft-sided insulated cooler.  He applied Mitt-Spit Break-in to the glove and then put the second warmed rice-filled sock into the glove pocket and laid the glove on top of the rice-filled sock already inside the cooler.  Then closed the cooler.  About 3 hours later, he pulled the glove out and was ready to play ball!

So here's how that works.  The break-in oil is very viscous.  So it's loaded with the right ingredients for softening the leather.  Because it's so viscous, it takes a long time to be absorbed by the glove.  However, the gentle warming of the glove with the warmed-up rice -filled socks reduced the viscosity of the critical ingredient in Mitt-Spit Break-in allowing the leather to rapidly absorb this essential ingredient, rendering the glove fully broken in.  Genius!

Thank you Walt for this great idea.

Additional thoughts...  Never put a glove in the microwave directly.  The microwave function warms something up by agitating the water molecules (H2O) in the target.  If you use a microwave to heat food, you know it heats unevenly.  If you use it on a glove, then some areas of the leather will dry out much faster than others.  You risk permanently damaging the leather.  Once damaged, it cannot be recovered.  Whereas the rice-filled sock approach gradually and gently warms uniformly.  go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Prepare Your Glove for the Off-Season

Fall is here in the United States.  It’s time to think about doing what’s best to prepare your glove for its winter “hibernation.”  Here are some tips.

1      After a season’s use, it’s a good idea to give your glove a thorough cleaning.  With the Mitt-Spit glove cleaner, generously apply to all surfaces.  If you have the Mitt-Spit cleaning glove, use it.  It’s an excellent way to apply the cleaner as it gives you good finger dexterity to get into all the nook and crannies.  Let the cleaner sit on the glove for a minute or two.  Then, use a soft dry cloth to wipe away to soapy residue.  This will remove the potential for mold or mildew developing.  The Mitt-Split cleaning glove can be reused many times over.  Simply throw it into the washing machine and it will be ready for next season.

2      Apply Mitt-Spit Glove Oil to the glove using a soft cloth, like a micro-fiber towel.  A light coating is all that is necessary.  Be sure to use the right oil.  Products like mink oil or coconut oil have a potential for turning rancid --- Yuck!  Mitt-Spit glove oil will not turn rancid.

3      Put a baseball into the glove pocket and wrap the glove in a soft cloth, or cloth bag. Lightly secure with a rubber-band or the like.

4      Store the glove in a location which is protected from freezing.  So that means, keep the glove indoors for the winter in the northern states.  An inside closet works great.

Do this and your glove with sleep well all winter long and when spring season comes along, you’ll be ready to play ball with a glove the looks and feel fresh and supple. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products for your glove.

Baseball Glove Gurus Love Mitt-Spit

Had a nice conversation with Walt H. of Mobile, AL.  He is semi-retired, spending his time now repairing and restoring baseball gloves.  Walt lives in the sports crazed capital of America, Mobile, AL area where more professional baseball and football players come from per capita than any other place in the country.  People from the Mobile area are serious about baseball.

In one specific instance, Walt has a decades old glove that was heavily soiled and hadn't been conditioned in about forever.  He used the Mitt-Spit system of cleaning and conditioning and reported back that it worked wonders.  He said it was just like what we show in our video demonstration.  Walt is a repeat customer who ordered another full bundle of the Mitt-Spit Cleaner, Conditioner (glove oil) and Break-in products.  It's nice to hear from people who have a passion for what they do and want to use the best baseball glove care system for their work.  Thanks Walt for being a great customer.

If you've used Mitt-Spit products on your glove, we'd love the hear from you.   If you haven't tried Mitt-Spit yet, do your glove a favor.  Join the ranks of satisfied customers.  It's easy.  Place your order today! Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy.

Microwave your baseball glove - DON'T!

Microwaving your baseball glove.... Simply not a good idea. In fact a terrible idea.

The thing is, what makes the leather of your glove soft and pliable is the moisture content (oils) in the leather.  If the moisture in your glove gets hot in the microwave, it accelerates evaporation causing the leather to dry out. What does that mean?  A stiffer glove, not a softer glove. 

Don’t cook your glove. It will shorten the life of the leather. Instead, add moisture with Mitt-Spit Glove Oil conditioner to soften your glove.  A softer leather makes your ability to catch a ball a lot easier than with a stiffer leather. Think about it. Don’t turn your glove into a hunk of wood. Keep it soft and supple for better ball handling.

It is true a warm baseball glove will absorb Mitt-Spit Glove Oil faster than a cold glove. Warm the glove gradually. For example, put in in a car that is sitting in the sun for a bit. Then apply the Mitt-Spit Glove Oil and it will absorb in more evenly and faster. Go to Mitt-Spit Products to buy the correct products. You’ll notice the difference quality makes.