Types of Disposable Gloves and Their Uses

In today’s society, during a pandemic, it has been increasingly important to defend ourselves against pathogens and to keep our hands clean. This is something that is easier said than done in many cases. Our busy schedules cause us to handle more and more each day and now adding PPE on top of this, it can be a lot for one person to keep track of. That is where some valuable research comes in! Being in the know about different types of protective hand wear is very important, especially during the world’s current state. Taking the time to educate yourself on the types of options available to you will save you and your family a lot of time, frustration, and money in the future. This of course doesn’t include the peace of mind you will acquire after reading this article and making an informed decision for your safety and the safety of others around you.   

Types of Gloves to Protect Your Hands

Unless you are in the service or medical industry, you probably haven’t given much thought to the types of disposable gloves that exist and their many uses. We have all used disposable gloves sometime in our life and will again. Each individual type of glove has its own unique properties for its own unique tasks. From thin single use to thick multi reusable, it is important to know their differences before starting the task at hand. At Eco Gloves, we set out on a mission to combine the best qualities of each type of disposable glove and put them all into one eco-friendly design. Before we get into that, let’s take a look at all the choices in disposable gloves available today.

Hybrid Gloves

Hybrid gloves are made from synthetic materials that may include vinyl, LPDE, nitrile, rubber and miscellaneous elastomers that combine the benefits of versatility, lower cost, and greater availability of vinyl for improved fit and feel, greater comfort, and better protection. Adding synthetic rubber to vinyl gloves imbues them with nitrile-like properties, enhances their elongation rate, elasticity, and flexibility, and increases their tensile strength. They are not sustainable. 

Polyethylene Gloves

First, we have the basic Polyethylene gloves. These are the very thin, plastic gloves that are designed for light-duty tasks such as food prep. These are great for restaurant workers since they are easy to dispose of and change between tasks. They are looser in fit and shouldn’t be used for tasks that require a lot of dexterity.

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl disposable gloves are also used for food prep and are latex-free. Vinyl gloves are not resistant to many chemicals and are made form 100% synthetic material so they are cheaper to make and make them great for low risk activities. Many hairdressers will use this disposable glove to dye hair!

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are one of the most widely used today. They are used from everything from food prep to medical exams. These disposable gloves are said to fit like a second skin, that is why they ae so popular in many industries. Unfortunately, latex can cause allergic reactions in some people. Some states have banned Latex gloves for this reason. The plus side to this type of disposable glove is that if that are disposed of properly, they are biodegradable!

Nitrile Gloves

Then we have nitrile gloves. These are one of the most versatile, and popular disposable gloves used in today’s world. There are many varieties and thicknesses and can be used for almost any task. They are latex-free so there is no risk for allergic reactions. The strength of these gloves is higher than latex giving them a better resistance to chemicals. Next time you are in your doctor’s office, take a look at the box on the counter and you will most likely see Nitrile Gloves.

Neoprene Gloves

Neoprene gloves, while disposable, can be reused. This type of glove is thick, heat resistant, and perfect for dishwashing and even janitorial work with harsh chemicals. While these offer more protection for tougher jobs, they are not biodegradable and are very cruel on our environment. 

Compostable Biodegradable Gloves

Compostable Gloves, like Eco Gloves, are made from plant-based materials. They are compostable and biodegradable, making them less harmful to our environment. These gloves are great general purpose and food handling gloves. 

These are the five basic types of gloves available to the average consumer in our current market. We decided that that wasn’t enough for us and made it our goal to combine all the best qualities of each type of glove in package it into one eco-friendly product. Not only are Eco Gloves very convenient and easy to keep with you for whenever your needs should arise, they are also perfect for every job you run into. Whether you use Eco Gloves for food prep or hygiene in a healthcare setting, you can rely on the certified excellence of our product. Usually with products made from sustainable materials, you have to sacrifice quality for that low carbon footprint. Fortunately, with Eco Gloves, we are able to make high quality 100% renewable resource gloves. Another added bonus, our Eco Gloves are Latex free for those with allergies.

A barrier between you and the germy things you touch

So, let’s be honest, our lives get us into some messy stuff. Opening doors, handling money, shopping, eating on the go, you name it. With everything we do, we are at risk of touching germy surfaces. Just going to the bank is a small task that requires you to come in contact with a lot of germs. The door you open, the ATM buttons you press, the money you put in your wallet are all harboring a boat load of germs. Without a barrier for your hands, you are risking transferring those germs to your car door, to the steering wheel, and so on and so on. In our current pandemic and even when we do recover, it is important to use a barrier to keep ourselves safe.

How to achieve a cleaner, healthier life

Living a cleaner, healthier life starts with the choices you make today. Using a protective barrier for your hands is something that is a very simple change to implement into your daily life. It can help you to feel more secure with your safety and take the worry out of going about your day, which for a lot of us, is a big win. It is also important to keep in mind that disposable gloves not only protect you for pathogens and germs, but they protect the people around you as well. We are all in this together! Now that you have done your disposable glove homework about the types of products out there, you can make an informed decision for the health and safety of everyone!