A Guide to Gloves

We all know washing our hands is an important step to take to help reduce the spread of illnesses and viruses. When it comes to COVID-19, sometimes you may want or need a bit of extra protection, which can come in the form of gloves. When used properly, gloves can help shield you from virus-carrying particles. So, what type of gloves should you wear and when should you wear them?

When to Wear Gloves
You should always wear gloves when you are cleaning, handling food or caring for someone who is sick. While cleaning and disinfecting, they can help protect your skin from the chemicals in the products you are using as well as the germs that might live on your surfaces and supplies. While handling food, it’s important to wear gloves to avoid spreading germs and bacteria to others. When it comes to caring for others who are sick, the gloves will work to help protect you from catching anything.
While not always necessary, you can also wear gloves at work or when out in public. Wearing gloves when you go out can give you some added peace of mind. They must be worn and used properly, or you risk unintentionally spreading the virus more. The virus can live on the surface of gloves, so taking the right precautions to avoid cross-contamination and disposing of gloves correctly is essential.

What Types of Gloves to Wear
Gloves come in a variety of different materials, so finding the right type of gloves depends on personal preference and what you are using them for. The most common types of gloves are latex, nitrile, and vinyl.
Latex gloves are good for cleaning projects and those working in industrial settings. The Protective Industrial Products (PIP) 62-322PF/XL Ambidextrous Disposable Latex Gloves available at Q Source are a great option for laboratories, cleaning, and production settings. These gloves are powder-free, disposable, and liquid-proof. Remember that some people are allergic to latex, so make sure allergies aren’t going to be a problem before purchasing latex gloves.

Nitrile gloves are more puncture resistant than latex gloves and are a good alternative when it comes to latex allergies. They also stand up well to most chemicals. The QRP BQF12-L Qualatrile Nitrile Powder-Free Gloves are perfect for cleaning, food handling, pharmacies, labs, and industrial settings. These disposable gloves offer protection while retaining flexibility and tactile sensitivity.
Vinyl gloves are another great alternative to latex, and they tend to be a little looser compared to nitrile gloves. The Protective Industrial Products (PIP) 64-435PF/XL Ambidextrous Disposable Vinyl Gloves are medical grade vinyl gloves that work great in pharmaceutical, food handling, and lab environments. Vinyl gloves are also usually a more budget-friendly option than others.

Avoiding Cross-Contamination
Don’t let wearing gloves give you a false sense of security. Gloves will keep germs and bacteria off the skin of your hands, but those particles will still exist on the surface of the gloves. If you aren't careful, you can still end up spreading those particles to yourself and get sick.

Say you’re in a grocery store. If you touch a contaminated surface, your glove now has those germs on it. If you touch another object or surface with your gloved hand, you’ve now spread it. While wearing gloves, it’s important to not touch other surfaces you might end up touching later in the day when you no longer have gloves on. This includes items like a cell phone, wallet, keys, or sunglasses. If you need to grab your wallet or phone, remove and dispose of your gloves before doing so. You can put on a new pair after. As always, also avoid touching your face, especially around your nose, mouth, and eyes.

Disposing of Gloves
It’s important to properly dispose of your gloves. Gloves should be thrown away after each use or when they’ve been soiled. Never reuse gloves or leave used gloves lying around.

When removing gloves, be careful to not touch any of your skin. Grab the first glove by the wrist area and start to pull it off, making sure to turn the glove inside out in the process. Put the removed glove into your other hand. Slip your ungloved fingers into the glove you still have on. Avoid touching the outside of the glove while doing this. Pull the second glove off while turning it inside out like you did with the first. The first glove should now be inside the second. Throw away your used gloves in the nearest trash can. If there isn’t a trash can nearby, tuck them away in your pocket or bag to take care of later.

Other Measures to Take

Don’t forget to take other safety measures when at work or out in public during the COVID-19 outbreak. You should always wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before putting gloves on and after taking them off. When cleaning, disinfect high-touch surfaces with a cleaner like isopropyl alcohol. Maintain social distancing guidelines and wear a face mask when you are around others.