Why Nitrile Gloves Are Better?

In fact, they could be even better! That doesn’t mean one type of glove has to be chosen in favor of another - they all have their uses - but it’s good to know why nitrile gloves are becoming so popular.

What are nitrile gloves?

Nitrile gloves are made out of synthetic rubber but they don’t contain latex, and this is part of the reason why they’ve been gaining so much attention over the last few decades.

That said, there are many other reasons why you should choose nitrile gloves. Let’s check them out!

History Of Nitrile Gloves

Back in the ‘90s, disposable nitrile gloves hit the scene.

Made out of acrylonitrile and butadiene monomers, nitrile gloves were found to have many benefits over their latex competitors - for starters, nitrile is more chemical resistant than latex.

We have two men - Neil Tillitson and Luc DeBecker - to thank for inventing nitrile gloves a decade earlier, in the ‘80s. What made these gloves become popular was because of how latex allergies were proving to be quite common at the time. This made people want to find an alternative to latex gloves.

Although latex allergies are quite rare nowadays, with less than one percent of people in the United States having a latex allergy, some people are at a higher risk of having allergic reactions. These include healthcare workers. Between eight and 17 percent of healthcare workers are allergic to latex.

Interestingly, while latex allergies seemed to be more common during the ‘80s and ‘90s, these days they are less common because of how people have been using latex alternatives, such as nitrile.

Why Nitrile Gloves Are Better Than Other Gloves 

The prevention of latex allergies is just one reason why nitrile gloves have become so popular.

Here are some other nitrile glove benefits.

• Nitrile gloves are useful in emergency healthcare settings when a patient’s latex allergy status is unknown.
• Nitrile gloves are resistant to tears and punctures. This makes them highly durable.
• Nitrile gloves are extremely resistant to a variety of chemicals, oils, and solvents that can cause damage to latex gloves.
• Nitrile gloves are waterproof and greaseproof.

Nitrile Gloves: What Are Their Uses? 

As a result of their various benefits, nitrile gloves have become a staple in hospitals and other healthcare settings, as well as veterinarian practices.

However, because they’re so versatile, they can be used for a variety of other work by various people, such as factory workers, security guards, housekeepers, and more.

How You Can Use Nitrile Gloves At Home

If you want to find gloves that are versatile for a variety of tasks at home, you’ll want to reach for nitrile gloves.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve all wanted to find quality gloves that will protect us against the virus, and that’s why you might want to wear nitrile gloves when coming into contact with people and items that could be contaminated.

Nitrile gloves are a solid choice because of how strong and durable they are, although it’s important not to rely on wearing gloves alone to protect you as simple mistakes when wearing them can put you at risk of being contaminated.

You can find out more about this by reading, “Do Gloves Help Prevent Coronavirus?”

Viruses aside, you can also use nitrile gloves at home to protect your hands and health in other ways.

Here’s a rundown of some common nitrile glove uses.

• Cleaning the home. Sometimes you’ll need to clean and disinfect your home with the use of harsh chemicals. You don’t want them to come into contact with your skin, and wearing nitrile gloves will prevent that since they’re very resistant to chemicals. They also won’t degrade after coming into contact with such substances. In addition, you can engage in potentially dangerous tasks, such as picking up broken glass, in a safer way by wearing nitrile gloves because they’re such a protective barrier for your skin.
• If you love gardening, you’ll come into contact with a variety of things, such as soil and bacteria in the soil, fertilizer, and other chemicals. Nitrile gloves will be able to protect your skin against these offenders. In addition, since nitrile gloves are resistant to punctures, you will be able to prevent injuries, whether from thorns or your gardening tools.
• Protecting your hands from cooking dangers, such as cutting or burning yourself, will be an easy task for nitrile gloves that are resistant to tearing and breaking. However, wearing gloves while you cook will also help to prevent bacteria from spreading.

What Are The Benefits Of Nitrile Gloves In Different Colors?

You’ve probably seen that nitrile gloves come in a variety of colors, such as white, blue, orange, and black.

The different colors serve various benefits. For starters, they make it easier to spot any punctures or tears. In addition, they can make it easier to hide stains produced by various substances.

Examples can be seen when working with grease, such as in the case of mechanics, or when working with ink, such as in the case of tattoo artists.

Related Questions 

What are some drawbacks of nitrile gloves?

Nitrile gloves can lack some tactile grip when compared to latex gloves.

But, you can work around this. Make sure you choose nitrile gloves that have 3-mil thickness as well as textured fingertips.

Can you find nitrile gloves with greater cuff length?

You can find nitrile gloves that protect your hands and wrists much more effectively.

An example is Ammex Gloveworks HD nitrile gloves that offer 9.5 inches of material from your fingertips to glove cuffs, so you’ll feel more protected against harsh chemicals.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wondered if you should choose nitrile gloves or not, after reading this article you now know how beneficial this type of glove can be.

Not only great for use in medical settings, nitrile gloves can be used in a variety of situations - and even in the home for a range of tasks.

Resources:

Asthma and Allergy Association of America