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Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

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Posts: 8
(@running_tigger)
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I hear you on the glove funk—no matter how many times I wash mine, they still end up smelling like a gym bag left in the sun. I’ve tried airing them out, even tossing them in with baking soda, but nothing’s foolproof. Disposables are handy for the sticky jobs, but I always feel a bit guilty about the waste. As for goggles, I’d rather deal with fog than spend an afternoon picking sawdust out of my eyes... learned that lesson the hard way. If someone cracks the code on stink-proof gloves, I’m right there with you.


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walker741643
Posts: 7
(@walker741643)
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I hear you on the glove funk—seems like even after a wash cycle, that smell just lingers. I’ve switched to those nitrile-coated fabric gloves for most jobs; they breathe better and seem to hold up longer, but yeah, they’re not immune to the stink. For goggles, anti-fog spray helps a bit, but nothing’s perfect. I’d rather have foggy lenses than risk eye injuries, though—got a tiny splinter in my eye once and that was enough for me.


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wildlife689
Posts: 15
(@wildlife689)
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I get the appeal of nitrile-coated gloves—they do breathe better than the old rubber ones, and they last longer for sure. But I keep wondering about the waste side of things. Even if they’re reusable, they still end up in the trash eventually, and I haven’t found any recycling options in my area. I’ve been trying out those bamboo fiber gloves with a natural latex coating. They’re not perfect, but they seem to break down a bit better when they finally wear out. Still, they pick up that same funk after a while... maybe it’s just the price of working with your hands.

On goggles, I totally get the fog frustration. I’ve tried a few different sprays and wipes, but honestly, nothing’s foolproof—especially on humid days up on a roof. I’ve started using a pair with little vents at the top and sides. They fog less, but sometimes dust sneaks in. Guess it’s always a trade-off between comfort and safety.


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rayfisher9757
Posts: 1
(@rayfisher9757)
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- Totally hear you on the glove dilemma. I’ve got a pile of worn-out nitrile gloves in the garage corner, just waiting for a recycling miracle that probably isn’t coming.
- Tried those bamboo/latex ones too. They *do* seem to break down faster, but yeah, the “funk” is real. I started tossing mine in the wash with baking soda—helps a bit, but nothing’s perfect.
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“Guess it’s always a trade-off between comfort and safety.”
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had goggles fog up so bad I felt like I was working in a sauna. The vented ones are better, but then you get grit in your eyes… can’t win.
- Sometimes I just use a face shield if I’m doing demo work—less fog, but looks like I’m about to weld something instead of patching a roof.
- On the waste side, wish there were more local recycling options for gloves. Closest thing I found was a mail-in program, but shipping used gloves feels kinda backwards for “green” efforts.
- At this point, I just try to stretch each pair as long as possible and hope someone invents a compostable glove that doesn’t smell like old gym socks after two weeks.


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