6 Baseball Glove Oil Alternatives (#4 Will Surprise You)

Oiling a baseball glove can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t done it before. Luckily we have a great baseball glove oiling guide if you need one.

However, things can get even more complicated if you don’t have your baseball glove conditioner. What can you use instead, or can you use any?

There are various baseball glove oil alternatives: lanolin oil, neatsfoot oil, mink oil, olive oil, shaving cream, and vaseline. These alternatives will soften the leather and get the intended job done with various effectiveness. Generally, the best alternative to use is lanolin or neatsfoot oil.

To learn more about each alternative specifically, let’s take a closer look.

Related: Can You Play Baseball Without A Glove?

What Can You Use Instead of Glove Oil?

There are six recommended glove oil alternatives to a traditional baseball glove conditioner. Keep in mind that most of them vary in effectiveness, so be sure to check them all out before deciding.

1. Lanolin oil

Lalonil is already a component of every baseball glove oil out there. Read the sides of glove oils, and you will notice different amounts of lanoline already part of the product.

That is because lanolin protects, preserves, and softens leather which is why you are adding the glove oil in the first place. Lanolin oil is a secretion from wool animals, usually sheep.

Anyways, Lanolin can be even a better glove oil than a traditional conditioner because it’s easier for the skin as it doesn’t usually have any added chemicals. So, if you have sensitive skin or don’t like the idea of using chemicals against your skin, then pure lanolin oil is a great alternative.

2. Neatsfoot Oil

Neatsfoot oil is rendered and purified from the shin bones and feet of cattle. I don’t know who came up with the recipe, but I know it’s good for your baseball glove.

Neatsfoot oil is made to soften and condition leather so that it will do the job for your baseball glove, that’s for sure.

Remember that you shouldn’t get prime neatfoot oil because it has petroleum-based chemicals that can harm the glove. Instead, use pure neatsfoot oil that won’t harm the glove and do its purpose.

3. Mink Oil

Mink oil is made from the fat layer under mink skins. I know, Gross. Anyways, its purpose is to restore the moisture content on leather, which is why mink oil is yet another good alternative for your leather baseball glove.

However, mink oil isn’t as good as lanolin oil or neatsfoot oil because its effect doesen’t come to the same level as the others, mainly because the duration it works is shorter. Still, you can use it to do a quick oil job on your glove, but if you have other named oils, I recommend them instead.

4. Olive Oil

Olive oil is often a surprise for people when looking for alternatives to baseball oil. Still, it can be used safely with a small con to its name.

Olive oil will slightly darken the leather of your baseball glove, so if you have a white or some other light-colored glove, you might not want to use it.

The oil will soften the leather, though the job will get done well. Just be extra careful not to add too much olive oil at once.

5. Shaving Cream

If you play baseball, it’s a good chance that you are a man, and if that’s the case, it’s a good chance that you have shaving cream! You’re in luck then.

You can use shaving cream to soften the leather on a baseball glove as it softens your skin when you are shaving.

Be careful to use only fragrance-free shaving cream because other types have alcohol and perfumes added that might damage your glove. At a minimum, other types of shaving creams won’t do any good for your glove.

6. Vaseline

Vaseline is another commonly found substance in many households. You can use vaseline to soften your glove if this is your case.

Vaseline is a mineral-rich substance that has moisturizing properties effective enough to soften the leather. In addition, it protects your glove from direct sunlight and hot temperatures so the glove won’t go dry.

Patience is a virtue here as well, so don’t apply a ton of vaseline at once. Instead, add vaseline sparingly to a rag and then rub it into the glove fully before adding more. The chances are that you don’t need more because it spreads like crazy. At this point, if you do need more, add more!

Is Alternative Glove Oil Usage Safe?

Generally, using alternative glove oils is safe if you follow certain ground rules and stick with the recommended alternative oils. There are other alternatives I have seen named, such as coconut oil, baby oil, etc. I haven’t personally tried those two, but I have heard that they are no good, as you might imagine.

About the ground rules, follow these instructions to guarantee a good outcome:

• Use the recommended alternatives
• Don’t apply oils directly
• Apply small amounts at once
• Go through the whole glove before adding more
• Dry the glove at room temperature & airflow
• Check the glove’s condition twice in 24 hours

What Oil Is Best for Baseball Gloves?

All of the alternatives above are valid options for working your glove through with some oil. The reason for the whole process anyways is to break in the glove faster and preserve and guard it against cracks by moisturizing it. That being said, if you don’t have traditional baseball glove oil, which alternative is the best?

Lanolin oil is the best oil for a baseball glove because it’s found in all baseball glove conditioners. Thus, its effect and properties are specifically used in baseball glove treating. Pure lanolin oil doesn’t have chemicals like regular baseball glove oils, which are great for sensitive skin.

However, lanolin oil isn’t exactly the most common oil in a household, so if you don’t have a baseball glove conditioner, then the chances are that you don’t have lanolin oil. If you do, that’s a great use! If you have sensitive skin, it might be a great idea to purchase pure lanolin oil instead of a regular glove conditioner altogether.

How to Apply Baseball Glove Oil or Alternative?

Whether you have a normal glove conditioner or an alternative, it is important to know how to apply it to your baseball glove.

In short, Apply a small amount of substance to a clean rag. Start rubbing your glove from the palm area in a small circular motion and continue to the other areas until you have gone through the whole glove. Once fully covered, wipe off the excess oil with a clean rag and let it dry at room temperature.

Check out our baseball glove oiling guide if you want the full step-by-step guide.