Help with Cleaning/Restoring Rawlings Mantle MMP

[sunnyjim]

Dear Fellow Glovers:

I have a Rawlings Mantle that is "used, but not abused" (solid "very good condition"); I want to hang on to
it, for a display. Here's my reason for writing:

The glove has been cleaned or oiled (?) to where the little finger is "light brown/buckskin", and the palm is
several shades darker--I have attempted to "clean", but no luck, in "lightening" the tone of the palm of glove.
I would be open to paying someone (within reason), to work with the glove, and "lighten the palm leather tone";
how is this done (if possible?). Would welcome practical tips, or advice--I LOVE the glove--just don't like the "dark oil staining!"

Feel free to pm me--thanks for reading, and hope to hear from someone with experience and wisdom, in addressing such concerns?

Sincerely,

Mike

[okdoak]

I've had some luck with Murphy's Oil Soap. I use a toothbrush and do a small area at a time. Sometimes I have to go back over the stained area a few times. I try to wipe off the excess before the leather gets saturated. I cleaned this Spalding Triple Play like that. As you can see, it didn't remove all of the old oil stain. Wish I knew how to do that.
Before:



After:

[czog32]

I have had luck with Lexol cleaner. I put the Lexol in one container and water in another. With a toothbrush I apply the Lexol and rinse it out with the water. You have to do a little bit at at time but I can turn that water dark brown with residue. I bought a PM Musial one time and after several applications the words Playmaker Supreme appeared on the thumb.....

Good luck,
Chris

[ebbets55]

Bear with me on this. To get the black grime off I use rubbing alcohol. Keep in mind the glove cannot have any other conditioner or saddle soap residue on it. If it is just the black grime on an uncleaned glove give it a try. It will definitely dry out the leather. Wait for it to dry, which will be very quickly (if you don't wait for it to dry, it will darken). Then condition the hell out of it with Vaseline, Lexol or Lanolin, whichever you prefer. I prefer Vaseline. I have had amazing results using rubbing or isopropyl alcohol. Greg, that Triple Play would have worked well but I wouldn't try it now since it has been cleaned. Looks great by the way.

I have used this method to get the hard black grime out between the fingers of lots of 40's & 50's gloves. It responds well. Just let it dry and then condition it.

JD

[mikesglove]

I've also had good luck with rubbing alcohol on grime. it really is an excellent solvent for cleaning some types of darkening on gloves. I recommend wearing rubber/nitrile gloves in a well ventilated area to avoid prolonged exposure and breathing of alcohol vapors. Wearing an organic solvent filter respirator is always a good idea. Start with a nice soft rag. Q-tips work well in tight areas. The first picture shows the start of the cleaning in the pocket area. The leather does dry out quickly as JD states so the second picture is after the conditioning to regain the suppleness of the leather. I've never cared for Lexol. My conditioner is probably just a "Trader Joe's" unscented hand lotion. This glove was a lot of work.

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[okdoak]

I've never tried rubbing alcohol because I worried that it would stain the leather. After seeing the results you and JD have had with it, I'd give it a try now. Your gloves look great!

[stockbuddy]

Hi Guys,

Super job on cleaning those old gloves. Mike, awesome glove to boot. WOW!

Dave

[ScottWNJ]

I've always been afraid of ruining a glove by trying to clean it. But after seeing your results, I'm tempted to try. Mike, it's hard to believe that there was such nice leather under that grime. Great job on all of them.

Scott

[ebbets55]

I have always admired that cleaning job Mike. Nicely done. Remember guys, its that black grime that makes the leather hard or stiff. Get it outta there and then condition it and you'll be amazed how soft you can get a glove or how much the hide can be rejuvenated.

JD

[softball66]

I've found that product called "Goo Gone" works a little bit faster than alcohol. And it is tricky in that this will dry out the leather quickly and problems arise, when, after cleaning, the
darkened oil will try to come back when you try to condition the area.
When the book "Glove Affairs" came out the author questioned the use of vaseline and explained that "researchers" had discovered a problem with vaseline "cross bonding" and clogging the pores
of the leather.
Recently as I had pre skin cancer treated and frozen in some instances, my dermatologist recommended putting
VASELINE !!!!!
as a source of healing and conditioning on my spots. So I guess we can rule out cross bonding and pore clogging if it's recommended by doctors as a post treatment precaution.