I hear you on the “reusable” gloves turning into petrified relics at the bottom of the toolbox. I’ve pulled out a pair before, only to have them crack at the fingertips—useless. Disposables do make life easier for messy stuff, but I sometimes wonder if we’re just trading convenience for a pile of trash. For light yard work, I’ll keep reusables around, but I’m picky about cleaning them. Ever had luck actually getting reusable gloves clean enough to trust again, or is it just not worth the hassle?
I run into the same issue with reusable gloves turning stiff and brittle, especially the coated ones after a few months in the truck. In my line of work, I need gloves that can handle tar, adhesives, and sometimes even solvents—those materials just seem to soak into the fabric no matter how careful I am. I’ve tried cleaning them with everything from dish soap to specialized degreasers, but honestly, once they get saturated with grime or start to smell, it’s hard to trust them again. I’ll keep a couple pairs for lighter jobs, like moving shingles or handling lumber, but for anything involving chemicals or sealants, disposables are just less hassle.
I do feel a bit guilty about the waste, but I’ve had reusable gloves literally fall apart mid-job and that’s just not worth the risk. Maybe if there was a truly washable, chemical-resistant glove that didn’t turn into cardboard after a few uses, I’d be all in... but I haven’t found it yet.
- Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had those coated gloves basically turn into potato chips after a few weeks in the garage, especially if they get left in the sun.
- Tried washing them too—sometimes they just end up smelling worse, or the coating peels off.
- For anything with chemicals, I just use disposables now. Not ideal for waste, but like you said, better than risking a glove falling apart mid-project.
- If anyone ever invents a glove that can actually survive tar and solvents without turning gross, I’m buying a dozen... until then, it’s just picking the lesser evil.
I get the frustration with coated gloves falling apart, but I’ve actually had better luck with some of the heavier-duty reusable nitrile ones—like the kind mechanics use. They’re not perfect, but if you keep them out of direct sunlight and wipe them down after use, they seem to last a lot longer than the cheap coated fabric ones. I’ve used the same pair for months doing crawlspace inspections and dealing with all sorts of grime, and they’re still holding up.
Disposables are definitely easier for nasty chemicals, but I always feel a bit guilty about the waste, especially when I’m going through a box a week during busy season. The only real downside with the thicker reusables is you lose a bit of dexterity, but for most jobs, it’s a trade-off I’m willing to make. Haven’t found anything that survives tar, though... that stuff just eats everything. Maybe it’s just about picking the right glove for the job and accepting that nothing’s going to be perfect.
I get the appeal of those heavy-duty nitrile gloves, but have you ever run into issues with them getting stiff or cracking over time, even if you’re careful with storage? I tried a few pairs for plumbing work and they seemed fine at first, but after a couple months, they got kind of brittle. Maybe it’s just the brand I picked up at the local hardware store. Also, for stuff like electrical work or anything fiddly, I just can’t get past how clumsy they feel. For me, the coated fabric ones are cheap enough that I don’t mind tossing them when they start to go, but maybe I’m missing something on the cost side long-term...