Eight Things to Consider when Buying Disposable Gloves

by

Hans Martin

titanfine Product Page

1. Type of Material

One of the first things you should consider is the material used. Different glove materials are useful for distinct purposes, so it&#;s a good idea to learn about the available options before making a purchase.

Latex is an inexpensive glove option for the medical field and they have been indispensable for many healthcare facilities. However, due to latex allergies, they are gradually being replaced by other gloves such as nitrile or vinyl as they won&#;t trigger allergies.

- Nitrile gloves are inherently resistant to chemicals and their strength makes them resistant to punctures. This makes nitrile gloves suitable for work where gloves need to be worn for long periods. Nitrile gloves offer an excellent alternative to latex when allergies are an issue.

2. Sterile vs. Non-Sterile

Strict FDA guidelines must be met for a glove to have sterile rating. Sterile gloves are required for medical and surgical use. Because their manufacture requires strict testing, sterile gloves may be more expensive than non-sterile gloves. The term non-sterile may seem worrying, however, non-sterile gloves are perfectly safe for any non-surgical use and reduces the risk of transmitting diseases. For household cleaning and food preparation, non-sterile gloves are perfectly fine.

3. Powdered vs. Non-Powdered Gloves

Powdered gloves have a cornstarch coating, this makes them easier to put on and prevents them from sticking. However, powdered gloves are banned for surgery and patient examination by the FDA. The powder can adhere to the patient&#;s skin causing inflammation and irritation. The loose cornstarch from powdered gloves may also cause contamination during food preparation. For healthcare and food handling, a non-powdered glove is required, but for other non-medical and non-food use, powdered gloves are perfectly safe.

4. Glove Thickness

Another thing to consider is thickness. Thicker gloves provide stronger protection and resist tears better than thinner gloves.  This allows thicker gloves to be worn and used longer periods. However, a thicker glove may have poor touch sensitivity, which isn&#;t advisable in certain situation. If your work needs a high level of touch sensitivity, you might choose thinner gloves made from a strong material like nitrile. Glove thickness is measured in mils.

5. Comfort and Fit

It&#;s important to choose comfortable gloves, as an uncomfortable glove can hinder someone&#;s ability to perform work properly. Size is an important factor. If a glove is too small, it may be very uncomfortable and impede blood circulation. A small and tight glove is also more likely to tear, which may expose the wearer to risk. On the other hand, if a glove is too large, the loose space between the glove and the skin may also expose the wearer to risk. Loose gloves also have the chance of falling off the hand. When buying gloves, be sure to get and test several sizes to find the perfect fit.

6. Tensile Strength

Tensile strength is the material&#;s resistance to tearing when it gets stretched. Both nitrile and latex have high tensile strength r, they can take a lot of tugging and pulling before tearing.  Tensile strength is critical as tears would compromise safety and protection. It&#;s an important factor for work situations where hand dexterity is required.

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7. Glove Color

Though you may think glove color is only for preference, it could actually be very useful. You can color code your gloves to easily differentiate them. For example, you might choose black for latex gloves and blue for nitrile gloves, so those with latex allergies will have no problem  identifying which to use. You can also color code to differentiate between sterile and non-sterile gloves.

8. Shelf Life

At PalmFlex, we carry hundreds of disposable gloves to suit every fit and function. However, with all the different styles available, it can be difficult choosing the right one for your specific needs. There&#;s disposable glove thickness, powdered vs powder free gloves, exam grade vs industrial grade gloves, and more. That&#;s why we&#;ve broken down the 6 most important factors to consider in order to make the browsing process as simple as possible.

Material

The number one factor to consider when you&#;re figuring out how to choose disposable gloves is the material, which will determine their feel and function. The three most common materials are latex, nitrile, and vinyl.

Latex: Made of natural rubber, latex gloves are biodegradable, chemical-resistant, and maximize dexterity. They are considered the best all-around for fit and function, however they should not be worn by individuals with latex allergies.

Nitrile: Nitrile gloves offer the longest shelf life and are also puncture and chemical resistant. Most are FDA-approved for medical industries and food service. A synthetic material, nitrile removes the risk of latex allergies.

Vinyl: Vinyl gloves are cost-effective and ideal for short-term use. They are also available in &#;stretch&#; vinyl, which resembles the fit and feel of latex without the risk of allergies.

Still not sure which one is right for you? Learn more about the types of disposable gloves materials and best disposable gloves for sensitive skin.

Disposable Glove Thickness

The next factor to consider when determining how to choose disposable gloves is their mil thickness. This can range from 4 Mil (a.k.a. 4 millimeters thick) all the way up to 15 Mil. The higher the mil, the thicker the gloves, and the more wear and tear they will be able to sustain.

Depending how demanding your application is, and how durable and long-lasting you want your gloves to be, will guide the disposable glove thickness you should select.

Industrial vs. Medical Grade Gloves

Medical gloves, also known as exam gloves, are designed with utmost security in mind to protect medical professionals from hazardous microorganisms. In order to qualify for medical grade, the gloves must meet the inspection standards of the FDA and ASTM. If you&#;re a medical professional, look for &#;exam&#; in the product title to ensure your gloves meet the task at hand.

Workers outside the medical field should look at industrial grade gloves. If the glove does not say &#;exam&#;, it is safe to assume that they are industrial grade.

Powdered vs. Powder Free Gloves

Powdered gloves are designed with a lightly powdered, non-irritating corn starch that makes gloves easier to don. If your job requires gloves that you can quickly slide on or off, you may want to opt for powdered gloves.

Powder free gloves are generally more popular for jobs where this isn&#;t a high priority, because the gloves don&#;t leave any residue on hands or clothes. Powder free is mess free!

Color 

Consider how much you want your gloves to visually contrast with external materials. Do you want to increase or decrease their visibility? For example, mechanics often prefer black disposable gloves to lower the visibility of grease. Conversely, cleanroom workers prefer white disposable gloves to make contamination more visible on the glove. Some workers, like those in food service, prefer the gloves themselves to be brightly colored and highly visible.

You may also want to color code your disposable gloves to avoid any cross-contamination from different areas of a lab or simply to improve organization.

Size

The last factor to determine how to choose disposable gloves is size. Picking the right size is essential for any PPE, but perhaps none more so than disposable gloves. Too small, and not only will they cause discomfort, but they also run the risk of tearing. Too big, and they not only decrease performance, but they also run the risk of increasing exposure to contaminants.

The right disposable gloves should feel snug yet comfortable and dexterous. Sizes range from Extra Small up to XXL, so we recommend visiting our glove sizing page to help you find the size that&#;s right for you.

Order Disposable Gloves At PalmFlex Today

Whether it is industrial vs. medical grade gloves, or powdered vs. powder free gloves, it is our mission to offer a comprehensive selection so no professional goes unprotected. We hope we&#;ve made the browsing process clearer with these 6 factors to consider. For further info, you can also check out our disposable glove recommendations by job.

Ready to order? You can shop disposable gloves today or explore our complete disposable PPE collection. We offer free shipping on orders over $80 and discounted prices when you buy in bulk. Reach out to a product expert to learn more about how to choose disposable gloves for your needs.

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