We now buy disposable poly gloves as part of our new norm. Wearing face masks now comes as naturally as putting on shoes before we leave the house in most countries across the world. Our hands are all dry and sore from all the hand sanitizer we are applying if we haven’t remembered to buy disposable poly gloves. We are scared to cough or sneeze in public for fear of becoming a social pariah. Two meters is the magic number, and social distancing is THE phrase of 2020.

These are the times we live in. Forget your designer shades, red leather kitten heels or the latest smart phone – face masks and disposable poly gloves have become our trusted accessories.

The huge array of designs, colors and styles of masks means that we can start merge them in with our style, but how can we do that with disposable poly gloves? Unfortunately, we are probably just going to have to live with the fact that they are always going to be disposable poly gloves, but remember that they are a key part of our protection against COVID-19 and spreading the virus.

Doctors and nurses have been using plastic gloves for years to protect them from germs and infections. Plastic gloves perform a valid and much needed role in health care services. But now, in 2020 everyone is using them.

Many people are using poly disposable gloves when they get on the bus, the train or metro. Many supermarkets are insisting people wear these gloves to go into their stores to stop cross contamination. Some are asking people to wear them to handle perishable goods like fruit and vegetables to stop people handling them with their bear and potentially virus ridden hands.

Handling money is probably one of the most common ways in which we can pick up germs from other people and many people are using disposable poly gloves to handle money in their day to day lives or if they work in shops or the service industry.

There are lots of different types of gloves to choose from – nitrile, vinyl, latex, polyethylene. Nitrile gloves are some of the most popular in these days of COVID as they are the ones that protect from viruses, bacteria, blood and infected bodily fluids. These are the gloves that most doctors and nurses and health care workers will wear. They have also become very popular among the general public during the pandemic.

Doctors, nurses and dentists will use nitrile gloves for medical examinations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, dentistry, clinical examinations and in the laboratory. 

Latex gloves are generally used in homes and industry. They can also be used in certain medical examinations. Vinyl gloves can also be used in health, medical and dental environments, to protect people against low biological and chemical hazards. 

Polyethylene gloves are the most economical and the easiest to put on and off. They are usually used in machine and automotive maintenance for cleaning in places like petrol stations, they are also the most used by the general public and widely used in the food sector.

If you work in industry or the health sector, then your disposable glove supplier will advise you on the right type of glove for the work you need your staff to undertake.

How often should you change disposable gloves?

It depends which industry you are working in. Medical staff should change gloves after every patient or job. In the food sector, workers are recommended to change their gloves every two hours just in case there are any unseen punctures in the material. The longer someone wears gloves the more likely it is that the quality will diminish.

Can I reuse disposable gloves?

The idea of disposable gloves is that they are only designed to be used once and then thrown out. They are supposed to stop cross contamination and people are wearing them for too long, they could make the spread of virus or infections worse.

Should I wash my hands with gloves on?

Authorities advise that gloves should only be used once. Hand washing should take place before you put a pair of gloves on and every time you take a pair of gloves off.

Can I use hand sanitizer with disposable gloves?

Disposable gloves are designed to be disposable and only worn once. It is not advised to use hand sanitizer with these gloves to extend the life of the gloves. It is safer to change gloves in between examinations or procedures, contact with patients or whatever job a person is using them for to prevent cross contamination. Scientists say that the chemicals in hand sanitizer can affect the gloves by making them more porous, which means any bacteria or infection could get through to the skin.

Are poly gloves safe?

Poly gloves are a good option for people who suffer with allergies. They are powder and latex free so are less likely to cause allergic reactions.

Why would people choose poly gloves over others?

Poly gloves are the most economical for people who are going to get through a lot. They are loose fitting, so that means they are comfortable to wear and easy to get on and off. They are the most breathable, which again make them the most comfortable to wear. They are non-leaching. This means that chemicals from the gloves are not shed into food or whatever the person is handling. This is why they are so good for food service and food preparation. These are also the thinnest gloves you can buy, so it means you can touch and feel things easily and you have greater dexterity. This is really important for people who are handling small land fiddly items. 

How much do disposable gloves cost?

It will depend what type of glove you are buying and how many. With many manufacturers, you will pay less the more you buy. Just make sure you have done your homework and you are buying the correct gloves for the job you need doing.