I like Lexol Conditioner to aid in breaking in a glove, just apply a little bit to those areas that you want to flex. As you use your glove during the season apply a little Lexol Conditioner to the whole glove, especially the laces (they get brittle and break when they dry out). Dirt is the enemy of your catchers mitt, so wipe off the glove with a towel (damp is best) after each use. Once the glove is dry, take a medium bristle brush and brush off any caked on dirt, pay special attention to the laces and webbing. At the end of the season, or during the season if you end up playing in the mud, clean your glove with a damp sponge and let it dry thoroughly. I like to use Lexol Cleaner for this (it's a different product). When dry, apply a little Lexol Conditioner to the whole glove. To maintain your pocket put a baseball in it and wrap your glove, the Mizuno neopream glove wrap works well for this. Finally, check your laces and retension as needed (once or twice during the first season, yearly thereafter). If your laces look worn have the glove relaced.