Ever heard of reusable nitrile gloves?
The use of gloves as a form of protection is increasing drastically. Some industries require their workers to use gloves daily. And what’s better than wearing reusable nitrile gloves to reduce the cost of this predicament?
These gloves are not only cost-effective but also offer you maximum protection.
If you are curious about reusable nitrile gloves, then you are in the right place.
Because in this article, we will introduce you to reusable nitrile gloves.
Then, we will share the different types of these wonder gloves. Additionally, we will offer you a quick comparison between nitrile and latex.
But we won’t stop there…
After that, we will tell you what makes nitrile an excellent choice for reusable gloves. Then, we will introduce you to some industries that use reusable nitrile gloves. And we will offer you a guide on how to clean them after each use.
Finally, we will tell you all about disinfecting disposable gloves and whether you can reuse them or not.
What are reusable nitrile gloves?
Reusable or industrial gloves are those which you can use more than once. Reusable gloves are popular across a wide range of industries. They resist several conditions and offer more protection.
Reusable nitrile gloves can be purchased in pairs. They are usually a loose fit. However, they resist chemicals and detergents, thus prolonging their life.
Thus, you may have to sanitize them regularly. But they are still cost-effective.
What are reusable nitrile gloves made from?
Butadiene and acrylonitrile are the co-polymers used to manufacture reusable nitrile gloves. Then, these gloves are tested to make sure they are durable and can handle frequent use.
What are the benefits of using nitrile?
Reusable nitrile gloves are not 100% resistant. Yet, they can resist many chemicals such as acids, solvents, fuel, and oil. Additionally, it can endure high and low temperatures.
Bottomline
Reusable nitrile gloves are made using butadiene and acrylonitrile.
They are manufactured to be used more than once. However, they are sold in pairs that require to be sanitized after each use. They also provide more heat resistance, mild chemicals, and punctures.
What are the different types of reusable nitrile gloves?
According to the hazard they can withstand and their use, reusable gloves can be divided into 9 types.
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Anti-vibration reusable gloves
Anti-vibration gloves are worn by workers who use power tools. They are used to reduce the effect of impact, shock, and vibration.
Therefore, this glove type doesn’t prevent the machines you use from vibrating. However, whenever you are wearing them, you will feel the vibrations less.
Thus, anti-vibration gloves have an air-filled space between the glove’s outer surface and its palm.
Benefits of anti-vibration reusable gloves
Being exposed to the vibrations of machines for a long time can reduce the blood flow to the hand. Thus, they can cause several hand injuries like white finger syndrome and vibration syndrome.
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Chemical-resistant reusable gloves
Chemical-resistant gloves are used to offer protection against hazardous chemicals.
Chemicals can cause severe burns. Thus, chemical-resistant nitrile gloves must have high durability and elasticity.
Where can you use chemical-resistant gloves?
- chemicals industry
- Petrochemical and oils
- Mechanical manufacturing
- Mining and agriculture
- Farming and gardening
- Construction
- Household cleaning
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Cold-resistant reusable gloves
Cold-resistant gloves are used while working in temperatures below zero. Additionally, these gloves are insulated to provide optimum protection.
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Heat-resistant reusable gloves
Heat-resistant reusable gloves protect you from extremely high temperatures. They are used by chemists on construction sites and on farms.
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Cut-resistant reusable gloves
If you are in the food industry and looking for help to cut your expenses, then look no more. Cut-resistant reusable gloves are used when you work with sharp objects like knives. Thus, they are a popular choice for caterers.
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Electrical safety reusable gloves
Whether working with a piece of electrical equipment or a power source, you need hand protection. Electricity blasts can cause burns and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Therefore, reusable electrical safety gloves are used when handling cables, exposed wires, and electrical equipment.
Thus, electrical gloves must be thoroughly inspected before each use to ensure that they are intact.
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Puncture-resistant reusable gloves
Cuts and punctures are responsible for 2 out of 5 hand injuries.
Therefore, puncture-resistant gloves are of the utmost importance in several industries.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has a scale to measure strength. The scale ranges from 0 to 5 as follows:
- Light-duty gloves (0–1) are suitable when handling paper and cupboards.
- Light/medium-duty gloves (2) are suitable for packaging and light construction work.
- Medium-duty gloves (3) are appropriate for metal stamping.
- Medium/heavy-duty gloves (4) are suitable for the same purpose as level 3 gloves. Additionally, it can be used for glass handling.
- Heavy-duty (5) gloves are appropriate for mining, construction, demolition, and manufacturing.
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General purpose reusable gloves
These gloves are not manufactured with certain features to prevent a specific hazard.
On the contrary, they are manufactured to be used in more than one setting. They can resist cuts, punctures, heat, and more.
However, they provide less protection than cut-resistant, puncture-resistant, or heat-resistant gloves.
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Special purpose reusable gloves
This includes oil-repellent and flame-resistant gloves.
These unique gloves are externally coated to provide protection against flames and prevent oil adherence.
Latex Vs. Nitrile
Reusable latex gloves
Reusable latex gloves can be used for janitorial purposes. Therefore, they are perfect for scrubbing and general cleaning.
Additionally, they are inexpensive. However, they provide low chemical resistance.
Reusable nitrile gloves
These gloves are also used for janitorial purposes. However, they are also used by mechanics, plumbers, and the food industry. Additionally, they provide more chemical resistance than latex gloves.
However, these superior qualities happen to cost more.
On the other hand, all types of reusable gloves can cause cross-contamination if they are not properly cleaned after each use.
Bottomline
Although reusable latex gloves are more expensive, they offer more protection than latex gloves. Additionally, they can be used in a broader range of fields.
Why choose reusable nitrile gloves?
We choose gloves that offer us more protection, safety, and comfort. These reasons are what make reusable nitrile gloves the go-to choice all the time.
Here are some features that will make reusable nitrile gloves your favorite;
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Tensile strength
This is the most essential feature of reusable nitrile gloves. It is the amount of force the glove can withstand before it tears. And nitrile gloves are known to have high tensile strength.
Therefore, they can withstand stretching more than latex and vinyl.
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Chemical Resistance
No glove can resist all chemicals, but some gloves provide more chemical protection than others. Therefore, chemical resistance depends on the chemical used and the contact time with that chemical.
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Accidental contact
This occurs for a short duration of time. Therefore, disposable gloves are more than enough for this chemical exposure.
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Extended contact
This occurs for a long duration of time. It means that you work with chemicals most of the time, you use hazardous chemicals, or you immerse your hand in chemical solutions.
Thus, this requires reusable nitrile gloves because they are thicker and can handle extended exposure.
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Thickness
The thickness of your glove is directly related to the protection it offers. Reusable nitrile gloves are thick to provide more protection from punctures, cuts, and chemicals.
Bottomline
Reusable nitrile gloves have certain features that provide optimum protection. This includes high tensile strength and high chemical resistance.
Additionally, they are sold in different thicknesses, so you can choose the level of protection you need.
Who uses reusable gloves?
Reusable nitrile gloves are used for industrial purposes. They are a perfect choice for construction, manufacturing, and automotive work.
Additionally, they can be used in cleaning, janitorial work, and the food industry.
However, since these gloves are thicker than usual, they can not be used when tactile sensitivity is needed. For instance, they are never used by medical professionals.
Some regulations for some industries Regarding specific industries, some regulations related to reusable nitrile glove use and manufacturing.
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The food industry
Reusable gloves used in the food industry are required to follow the standards set by the local health authority. These gloves are in direct contact with food; therefore, they should minimize the spread of infections.
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The cleaning industry
The reusable gloves used in the cleaning industry are also regulated by the standards set by local health authorities. As they are used to disinfect surfaces and prevent contamination.
Additionally, these gloves are used to handle detergents and cleaning chemicals. Therefore, they must be chemically resistant and thick enough to offer protection.
Bottomline
Reusable nitrile gloves are used in many fields. This includes heavy construction and demolition, janitorial work, and other fields.
However, they need to follow the regulations of local FDAs if used in the food or cleaning industry. These regulations help minimize the risk of contamination.
How do you clean reusable gloves?
Reusable nitrile gloves need to be cleaned after each use. The manufacturer usually supplies a list with cleaning instructions.
Nevertheless, here are some general steps to guide you through the process.
Don’t remove your reusable gloves when you are done with your task.
First, run hot water over them to remove any grime. You can also use soap for this step.
Second, take off the gloves. Wash your hand carefully before proceeding
Third, flip the gloves inside out.
Fourth, let them soak in soap and water for a couple of minutes.
Fifth, wash the gloves with water and hang them to dry.
Sixth, use a disinfectant to sanitize the outer surface of the gloves.
Seventh, store the gloves properly.
Finally, wash your hands again to ensure your safety.
Can we reuse disposable gloves?
Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, disposable glove use has increased significantly. Therefore, the idea of sanitizing a used disposable glove crossed the mind of many researchers.
Their studies revealed that latex and nitrile gloves could handle several disinfection processes before their qualities change. However, the disinfection process must follow specific guidelines and materials.
Still, disposable gloves are generally meant to be used once. Therefore, using any decontamination method to clean them can damage their integrity with time.
Additionally, cleaning solutions can weaken the disposable glove’s protective qualities. This occurs by creating microscopic tears in the glove material or changing the gloves’ elongation qualities.
Therefore, reusing cleaned disposable gloves can spread infections rather than prevent them.
Bottomline
Under no circumstances should you consider disinfecting and reusing disposable gloves. This can damage the glove and lead to more harm.
Final thoughts
First, reusable nitrile gloves are sold in pairs to be used more than once. Therefore, these gloves are cost-effective.
Second, you can find 9 types of reusable gloves that protect you from many hazards. These hazards include shocks, chemicals, cold, heat, cuts, punctures, and electricity.
Additionally, reusable nitrile gloves can be coated to become oil-repellent or flame-resistant.
Third, nitrile offers reusable gloves with some superior qualities. This includes high tensile strength and chemical resistance.
Consequently, these gloves can be used in heavy-duty industries like construction.
Fourth, reusable nitrile gloves offer far more protection than those made from latex.
Fifth, even though these gloves can be reused more than once, they need to be cleaned after every use.
Finally, now that you have all the information about reusable nitrile gloves go ahead and make your purchase.
