

HandCare Black Nitrile Gloves - Exam Grade, Powder Free (6 Mil)
Looking for powder-free gloves that can go the extra mile on safety, and grip? These gloves are for you. As one of our thicker glove offerings, our...
View full detailsSanitizing our hands is basic in preventing the spread of viruses, but what about gloves? Gloves are still an effective method of protection from certain organisms and toxins. Caring for your gloves is an essential part of their value.
If they are not properly taken care of, your pair of gloves will become ineffective in the face of some rigorous use. They must be washed and cleaned to maintain their integrity. Failure to care for your gloves will also lead to them becoming unusable and rendered useless.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend proper disposal of all protective equipment (PPE) used in healthcare settings. Gloves are among the types of PPE that should be disinfected or if reusable, cleaned and disinfected after each use to prevent any cross-contamination from occurring.
How can you best care for your gloves? The following article provides some guidelines for handling and storing clean rubber gloves.
Gloves are worn for protection, so cleaning them can extend their lifespan and protect against contamination. Here is a step-by-step process to help you clean your gloves whether they are vinyl, nitrile, or latex gloves:
Disinfectants are agents that destroy microorganisms on inanimate objects. They work by destroying the nucleic acids and proteins that make up all microorganisms, but should only be used on objects, never on the skin.
Sanitizers are agents used to rapidly reduce the number of disease-causing bacteria on inanimate objects in a short period of time. The process of sanitizing is basically the same as cleaning, and can be used to clean dishes, hard surfaces, and skin.
To sanitize your gloves, you can use the same process laid out above on washing your glove with mild detergent or sterilize them with an ethanol solution using the process below.
Sanitizers are used at concentrations that kill microorganisms but don't leave behind residue that can harm food or cause skin irritation; disinfectants are used at much higher concentrations to kill microorganisms, but may also leave harmful residues on food and skin.
Sterile latex gloves are often used in healthcare services to prevent the dangerous transmission of microorganisms upon contact. However, gloves can be sterilized at home for tasks in which the risk of infection is not great.
If you do not have an ethanol solution available, prepare it by mixing 100% ethanol with distilled water in a ratio of 7:3. Pour the 70% solution into a clean spray bottle using a funnel to avoid spilling.