This is a guest post by Neil, who is a freelance writer.
There was a time, not so very long ago, when deciding what kind of gloves to buy for those icky household chores – from scrubbing pots to descaling shower stalls – was a pretty simple, boring decision. You grabbed a pack of long yellow gloves made out of some kind of rubbery material, and that was that. Not any more.
Today, stroll down the cleaning supplies aisle at the local supermarket, and you’re bombarded by a bewildering array of work gloves, in colors from clear to bright purple, made out of substances that seem like they’d be more at home in the chemistry lab. Nitrile? Neoprene? You just wanted a pair of gloves to protect your hands from the tile cleanser!
Well, it turns out that work gloves have come a long way in recent years, and now, with a little knowledge, you can get the perfect glove for any household-related job, and keep your hands clean and safe in the process.
Latex
For hygenic food preparation, especially in the warm days of summer, thin latex gloves are tough to beat. They’re lightweight, disposable, and very cheap, especially if you buy a box at a time. Great for other tasks as well, where you need maximum dexterity.
Latex-free Nitrile
If you are allergic to latex, nitrile is the glove material for you. It’s a synthetic rubber, and nitrile gloves range from very thin, like latex, to a heavy-duty nitrile that offers greater protection. More stores are now carrying nitrile gloves in the cleaning supplies aisle.
Plastic
What we call plastic gloves are actully made of polyethylene, which is probably why we just say “plastic gloves.” These are the cheapest in the store, and can be used for food preparation and other lightweight tasks such as working with cosmetics.
Rubber Gloves
As the tasks get tougher, the gloves get stronger. Rubber gloves will serve you better than latex for tasks that call for some elbow grease – think about cleaning stubborn stains out of a sink, removing wallpaper (love that!), or even light gardening. It’s a time-tested material, and it offers some protection against cuts to your hands.
Neoprene
OK, let’s say you’ve decided to change the oil on the family car. If that doesn’t sound like you, just think of some equally gross chore that involves possible contact with a nasty chemical or substance. We’ve all been there. Well now it’s time to move up to the neoprene section. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber, and it comes in grades that offer serious protection against acids, solvents, grease, and so forth. Neoprene is still fairly flexible, so you can do your work and keep your hands safe as well.
Plastic dot gloves
My personal favorite! These are the gloves that come in a range of materials, from cotton to nitrile to polyethylene, that share one thing in common – they have little plastic dots all over the palms! These are perfect for making sure whatever task you’re doing, you’ll have a good grip on things. The dots make the palms really non-slip. This can be important if you’re handling things like wet bottles or other slippery items that can actually be pretty dangerous if you drop them. If you need a firm grip plus protection, plastic dots are the way to go! (Plus they come in some really cool colors)!
So next time you’re stocking up on cleaning supplies, check out all the options for work gloves. Chances are you’ll find something new – something that may make your tasks a little easier and safer.
Neil Street is a freelance writer who writes on a wide variety topics. His favorite all-round gloves are those purple nitrile ones, which look very futuristic. Neil recommends this glove supply website for affordable work gloves of all kinds.
Gloves are key. Chemicals or detergents can cause serious skin problems with overexposure .
I have had to go to the hospital because of a skin irritation from using scrubbing bubbles.