Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

I lean toward reusable gear, especially for roofing work. The disposables just don’t hold up if you’re handling rough materials or working in the rain - plus, tossing them after every job feels wasteful. Yeah, cleaning reusable gloves is a hassle, but I just keep a couple pairs and rotate them. Goggles are a no-brainer for me - reusable all the way. They fit better and don’t fog up as much. Disposables have their place, but I’d rather not keep buying new packs every week.

I get the appeal of reusables, but I’ve had issues with them in high-turnover situations or when there’s a lot of different people onsite. Disposables make it easier to maintain basic hygiene standards - especially if folks don’t always keep track of their own gear. For goggles, though, I’ll admit the reusable ones usually win out... less fog, better fit, and they don’t get scratched up as fast.

- Gotta admit, keeping track of reusables on a busy site is like herding cats... especially when half the crew forgets where they left their gloves.
- Disposables are easy, but man, the waste adds up fast. I’ve seen trash bins overflowing after just one day.
- For goggles, totally agree - reusables are just better. Less fog, less landfill, and they don’t feel like cheap Halloween props.
- Still, if folks can’t be bothered to clean their stuff, hygiene gets dicey. I’ve seen some gnarly gloves after a week.

Honestly, the waste from disposables bugs me too, especially when you see piles of gloves after a single job. I get the hassle with reusables - cleaning them is nobody’s favorite chore - but I’d rather deal with that than add to landfill. Plus, I swear my hands feel less gross in the thicker, reusable ones. Maybe it’s just me, but disposables always seem to rip at the worst time.

- Totally get the frustration with disposable gloves piling up - after a big turnover or maintenance blitz, the trash bags are half full of them.
- I switched to reusable nitrile ones for most jobs. Honestly, they're a pain to wash, but I just toss them in with the rags and call it a day.
- Noticed fewer hand rashes since making the change. The disposables would always split when I was elbow-deep in something gross, which was...not ideal.
- Only time I still use disposables is for really nasty stuff (think: sewer backups). Otherwise, the reusables seem to last months if I don’t lose them.
- One downside: they’re bulkier, so not great for fiddly repairs. But for hauling junk, painting, or yard work, I’m all in.
- The landfill thing bugs me too - feels good knowing I’m cutting down on that, even if it’s just a little.
- Curious if anyone’s found a good way to keep reusables from smelling funky after a while... mine get pretty ripe.

Curious if anyone’s found a good way to keep reusables from smelling funky after a while... mine get pretty ripe.

I hear you on the smell - mine got so bad last summer I started storing them outside in the sun for a bit, which helped a little. Once, I tried soaking them in vinegar water overnight and that seemed to knock out most of the funk, but it left a weird after-smell for a day or two. Anyone tried tossing them in the dishwasher? I’ve always wondered if that’d wreck them or actually help.

On another note, I still can’t get used to how thick some of the reusable gloves are for electrical work. Ever find a thinner pair that holds up, or is it just a tradeoff?

Anyone tried tossing them in the dishwasher? I’ve always wondered if that’d wreck them or actually help.

Tried the dishwasher once - didn’t totally ruin them, but the heat warped the cuffs a bit. Not sure it’s worth the risk unless you’re desperate. About the glove thickness, I’ve never found a thin pair that lasts more than a few weeks. Always feels like a compromise between dexterity and durability, especially when you’re sweating buckets in the summer. Anyone else notice the “breathable” ones still get gross?

Always feels like a compromise between dexterity and durability, especially when you’re sweating buckets in the summer.

Honestly, I’ve had better luck just rinsing my gloves out in the sink and letting them air dry. Dishwasher felt like overkill, and mine ended up smelling weird after. As for the “breathable” ones, I hear you - they still get swampy if you’re working outside in July. I tried those thin nitrile-coated ones and they lasted longer than I expected, but yeah, nothing’s perfect. Sometimes I just rotate between two pairs so one’s always drying out.

Yeah, I get what you mean about the “breathable” gloves still turning into mini saunas in the summer. I’ve tried a bunch of different brands and honestly, nothing’s really solved that sweaty hands problem for me either. Rotating pairs is smart though - I do the same, just toss one on the line while I use the other. Sometimes I’ll even stick a little fan by them to speed things up. It’s not perfect, but at least it keeps ‘em from getting too gross.

Yeah, I’ve just accepted that sweaty hands are part of the deal, especially when it’s pushing 90 outside. I’ve tried those “cooling” liners too - didn’t make much difference, just felt like another layer trapping heat. What’s worked okay for me is keeping a stash of those thin cotton gloves and swapping them out mid-job. They’re not as sturdy, but at least they dry quick and don’t stink up the place. Still, nothing’s perfect... sometimes I just end up working bare-handed and dealing with a few scrapes.

I get the temptation to just go bare-handed when it gets gross out, but honestly, I’ve seen too many folks regret it after a couple of nasty cuts or chemical burns. I hear you on the cotton gloves - yeah, they breathe better and you can swap them out, but I’ve found they don’t hold up at all if you’re dealing with anything sharper than a light bulb. Once had a pair snag and rip halfway through a job, and suddenly I was picking fiberglass out of my palm for a week.

Still, nothing’s perfect... sometimes I just end up working bare-handed and dealing with a few scrapes.

That’s where I’d push back a bit. A few scrapes here and there seem minor until you get a deep one or something gets infected. I get that disposable gloves feel sweaty and gross, but I started using nitrile ones under a lightweight reusable pair - sounds like overkill, but it’s not as hot as you'd think. The disposables catch the sweat, and the outer layer gives you actual protection. I toss the inner ones when they get gross, and the outer gloves last a lot longer than cotton. Not perfect, but it’s been better for me than swapping out cotton all day.

The other thing is, if you’re working around tenants or in shared spaces, bare hands just look unprofessional. People notice. I’ve had tenants comment on it, believe it or not. Plus, if you ever have to handle anything with chemicals or even just old insulation, you’re better off with a barrier - even if it’s not comfortable.

I’m not saying there’s a magic answer, but I’d rather deal with a little sweat than risk stitches or a nasty infection. At least with the double-glove thing, you can adjust on the fly - rip off the inner pair if it gets too much, and you’re not totally unprotected. Just my two cents from too many years of patching up dumb mistakes.

I’ve been trying out that nitrile-under-reusable combo too, and honestly, it’s made a difference when I’m dealing with anything sharp or messy. The sweat factor is real, but it beats getting fiberglass in your skin - been there, not fun. One thing I’m still figuring out is which reusable gloves actually last more than a few weeks without tearing at the seams. Anyone found a brand or material that holds up to both chemicals and rough surfaces?

I get the appeal of the nitrile-under-reusable trick, but honestly, doubling up always made my hands sweat like crazy - almost to the point where I’d lose grip. I’ve had better luck with single-layer heavy-duty latex or even those cut-resistant coated gloves (the gray ones with the rough palms). They don’t last forever either, but at least you can feel what you’re doing. Chemicals are tough though... I haven’t found anything that handles both solvents and rough stuff for long. Sometimes it feels like you’re picking the lesser evil, depending on the job.

- Double-gloving always felt like prepping for surgery, but with way more sweat and less precision. I tried it once for stripping paint and ended up pouring water out of my gloves when I was done. Not ideal.
- Those gray cut-resistant gloves are my go-to for anything sharp or splintery. I can actually pick up screws without feeling like I’m wearing oven mitts.
- Latex is hit or miss for me - sometimes they hold up, sometimes they just disintegrate if I look at them wrong. Plus, the powder gets everywhere.
- Chemicals are a pain. I’ve melted through more pairs of gloves than I care to admit. Still haven’t found one glove that does it all... unless someone’s got a secret stash of “indestructible” gloves?
- Anyone else notice reusable gloves start to smell like a swamp after a few uses? Maybe that’s just me...

Curious - has anyone found a glove that actually holds up to both solvents and rough work, or is it just wishful thinking?

Still haven’t found one glove that does it all... unless someone’s got a secret stash of “indestructible” gloves?

If you find those, let me know. I’ve tried nitrile for chemicals and they’re decent, but they rip fast if you’re handling rough stuff. The “swamp” smell is real - mine end up outside to air out more than I’d like to admit. Honestly, I just keep a pile of different gloves and swap depending on the job. Not perfect, but better than melted hands.

Haven’t found a glove that covers every scenario either. I’ve tried the heavy-duty reusable ones for crawlspaces and demo work, but they’re clumsy for anything detailed. Nitrile’s fine for chemicals, but yeah, one snag on a nail and they’re toast. I keep a box of disposables for quick stuff and leather or coated gloves for the rougher jobs. Not ideal, but at least my hands aren’t shredded by the end of the week. The smell thing’s just part of the deal... I’ve given up trying to avoid it.

I get the frustration with gloves never being perfect, but have you tried those thin cut-resistant ones? They’re not as tough as leather, but I’ve found they handle detail work better than the thick rubber or leather types. The disposables are handy, sure, but do you ever worry about the waste? I go through a ton some weeks and it feels a bit excessive...

I hear you on the disposable glove waste - it adds up fast, especially with messy projects like staining or painting. I’ve switched to those thin cut-resistant gloves for most of my woodworking and yard work. They’re not perfect, but I can wash and reuse them a bunch of times before they wear out. They don’t offer as much protection as leather if you’re dealing with heavy stuff, but for detail work or anything fiddly, they’re way more comfortable and precise. For greasy jobs, I’ll still use nitrile disposables, but I try to limit it. It’s a tradeoff between convenience and waste, honestly.

Those thin cut-resistant gloves are a solid choice for most jobs, totally agree. I’ve noticed folks sometimes overlook how much more dexterity you get compared to bulky leather - makes a big difference when you’re fiddling with screws or small parts. I do miss the extra padding leather gives when moving lumber, though... nothing like a splinter to ruin your day. For paint and stain, I’ll admit, I still grab disposables on occasion. Sometimes convenience wins out, but it’s all about balance, right?