How to Care for Your Fencing Clothing
Updated: Aug 16
Fencing clothing does not require complicated maintenance, but a few simple habits can make a big difference. The most important things are to let your equipment dry properly after training and to wash it carefully when needed.
Good care helps preserve the quality, fit, and protective properties of your fencing garments — and keeps them fresher for longer.
Always Let Your Equipment Dry
After practice or competition, it can be tempting to leave everything inside your fencing bag until the next session. But a fencing bag should not be used as long-term storage for damp clothing.
The fencing kit needs air.
After every training session or tournament, take your clothing out of the bag and hang it up in a well-ventilated area. This allows moisture to evaporate and helps prevent unpleasant odors from developing. If damp clothing is left sealed inside a bag, mold may eventually appear.
The same rule applies to jackets, breeches, plastrons, socks, and gloves: air them out properly before packing them away.
Never put fencing clothing in a tumble dryer. High heat can damage the fabric and shorten the garment's lifespan. Always air-dry fencing clothing naturally, either on a hanger or on a line.
How to Wash Fencing Clothing
Before washing any fencing garment, always check the care label inside the item or the washing instructions on the product page. Different fabrics and finishes may have specific requirements.
As a general rule, fencing clothing can usually be washed by hand or in a washing machine, but it should be treated gently.
Before washing, fasten all zippers and close all Velcro® closures. This helps prevent snagging and protects the fabric during the wash cycle. Open hook-side Velcro can catch on certain materials and cause damage.
Use a color-safe detergent only. Avoid detergents that contain bleach, optical whiteners, or oxidizing agents, as these may affect the fabric and the garment's appearance.
Wash on a cool, gentle cycle, using water no hotter than 30°C (86°F, Low temperature setting). Do not use bleach or fabric softener.
After washing, line dry the garment in a well-ventilated area. Do not tumble dry or iron.
Caring for Fencing Gloves
Fencing gloves often need a little extra attention, especially if they have darker-colored areas or synthetic leather parts.
If your glove is dark-colored, wash it separately to avoid color transfer to other clothing.
If your glove is made of synthetic leather, briefly wear it on your hand after washing before leaving it to dry. This can help the glove return to its natural shape.
As with other fencing clothing, gloves should be air-dried only. Do not place them in a dryer or directly on a radiator.
Caring for Your Lamé and Saber Glove
Lamés and saber gloves are not ordinary clothing. Their metallic threads carry the electrical signal that registers valid hits, so caring for them is about protecting conductivity, not just cleanliness. A lamé that looks perfectly fine can still fail a conductivity check at a competition.
Although some suppliers state that lamés and saber gloves are machine washable, we do not recommend it. The safest method is to hand wash in a clean sink with lukewarm water and a mild, color-safe detergent, then hang to dry.
Never use bleach, fabric softener, or washing powder. Bleach attacks the metal directly, softener coats the threads and insulates them, and powder does not fully dissolve, leaving grit in the weave. Use only a mild, color-safe liquid detergent — free of bleach, optical brighteners, and oxidizing agents.
Handmade or natural bar soap is not a safer alternative, even though it has fewer ingredients. It is strongly alkaline and reacts with minerals in tap water to leave a residue that settles between the metal threads. What matters is not how few ingredients a detergent has, but whether any of them attack metal.
How to wash a lamé:
Fasten all zippers and hook-and-loop closures first, so they cannot snag the metallic surface
Fill a clean sink with lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild detergent
Submerge the lamé and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes
Gently rub any visible dirt with your thumb or a very soft brush — do not scrub
Rinse several times in clean, lukewarm water
Hang to dry away from direct heat
Never:
Never use hot water
Never wring or twist the garment
Never put a lamé in a washing machine or dryer
Never iron or dry clean
Never leave a sweaty lamé in a closed bag
The same rules apply to the conductive cuff of a saber glove, since it carries current the same way a lamé does.
Marks left by weapon contact will not always come out, and on many lamés they do not affect conductivity. If a mark does not lift easily, leave it rather than scrubbing harder.
Washing regularly matters more than washing gently. Most dead spots come from dirt and sweat building up between the metal threads, not from the threads breaking — so a lamé that is never washed will usually fail equipment checks long before one that is washed often.
Always follow the care instructions supplied with your specific lamé, and consult your supplier if you are unsure. Ferre Fencing cannot be held responsible for any item damaged due to improper care.
Storage and Transport Tips
Avoid storing or transporting damp fencing clothing in plastic bags or sealed containers. Trapped moisture can quickly lead to odors and may damage the equipment over time.
It is also best to avoid placing blades directly against your fencing clothing, especially if the clothing is damp. Moisture can cause blades to rust, and rust may stain the fabric.
Whenever you pack your fencing clothes away, even just for transport, make sure all Velcro® closures are fastened. This small step helps protect the fabric from unnecessary snagging.
Simple Care, Longer Life
Fencing clothing is designed to work hard, but it still needs proper care. Dry your kit after every session, wash it gently when needed, and avoid heat, bleach, fabric softener, and sealed storage.
With a few simple habits, your fencing clothing will stay cleaner, fresher, and ready for your next practice.
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