Eye and hand protection: disposable vs. reusable gear?

Rotating gloves is a total sanity-saver, I’m with you there. I’ve got a “clean” set for anything electrical or plumbing-related, and then a pair that’s basically sacrificed to the crawlspace gods. I tried using disposables for everything at first, but after one too many times pulling my hand out of a glove with half of it still stuck to a pipe, I switched to reusable nitrile for anything that takes more than a few minutes. They’re tougher, but yeah - cleaning them after a gross job is never fun. Sometimes I just hose them off outside and let them dry in the sun, but if they’re really nasty, I’ll admit I’ve tossed a pair or two.

Goggles are another story... I’ve yet to find a pair that doesn’t fog up the second I start sweating in an attic. The anti-fog wipes work for maybe ten minutes, then it’s back to wiping them on my shirt (which probably isn’t helping). If anyone ever invents truly fog-proof goggles, they’ll make a fortune.

Anyway, I guess it’s all about picking your battles - sometimes convenience wins out over comfort or cleanliness.

Goggles are another story... I’ve yet to find a pair that doesn’t fog up the second I start sweating in an attic.

I hear you on the goggles - every attic job I’ve done ends with me half-blind from fog or sweat. Have you tried those vented ones with the foam seal? I thought they’d help, but the dust just gets in and then it’s a different kind of mess. For gloves, I’m with you on tossing the nastiest pairs. Anyone actually had luck getting that crawlspace funk out of reusable nitrile, or is it just wishful thinking?

- I’ve actually had better luck with anti-fog spray on basic safety glasses than with any goggles, vented or not. Not perfect, but less annoying than wiping every two minutes.
- For gloves, I tried soaking my reusable nitriles in vinegar and baking soda - didn’t totally kill the crawlspace smell, just made them smell weird in a different way. At this point, I just buy the bulk packs and toss ‘em when they get gross.
- Honestly, I’d rather deal with a little dust than not being able to see. The foam seals always seem to make me sweat more anyway...

I hear you on the goggles fogging up - tried a dozen brands, and I still end up pulling them off halfway through an attic. For gloves, I’ve washed the reusable ones, but after a couple crawlspace jobs, nothing gets that funk out. Bulk disposables just save me the headache. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle trying to stretch the life of gear that’s seen too much.

Bulk disposables just save me the headache. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle trying to stretch the life of gear that’s seen too much.

- I get the appeal of disposables, especially after a nasty job. But for stuff like yardwork or painting, I still lean reusable - just toss 'em in the wash and they're good enough.
- For goggles, anti-fog spray helps a bit, but honestly, nothing's perfect in a hot attic. Sometimes I just crack a vent or take more breaks.
- Disposables are a must for crawlspaces though. The smell never really comes out, no matter what detergent I try. Learned that the hard way...
- Guess it depends on how gross the job is and how much you want to spend on gear.

I’m with you on crawlspaces - once that smell gets in, it’s game over for reusables. I’ve tried soaking gloves overnight and even running them through a vinegar wash, but nothing really works. For regular yardwork though, I just stick with the same old canvas gloves until they fall apart. Curious if anyone’s found a reusable glove that actually holds up to oil stains or paint? I always end up tossing those after a couple projects.

Yeah, I hear you - once the funk sets in, those gloves are done for. I’ve tried every trick in the book, even left a pair out in the sun for a week... still smelled like crawlspace. For oil and paint, I’ve never found a reusable that truly survives more than a couple rounds. I just accept they’re sacrificial at that point. Canvas is great for yard stuff, but anything messier, I just grab the disposables and don’t look back.

I get what you mean about the “funk” - once that smell settles into a glove, it’s like it’s part of the material. I tried soaking a pair in vinegar and baking soda, then washed them twice, and they still had that weird musty odor. My wife wouldn’t even let me keep them in the garage after that.

For painting, I’m with you - reusables just don’t last. I tried those thicker nitrile ones thinking I could wash and reuse them, but after a couple of sessions with oil-based primer, they got stiff and started to crack. Latex gloves are a bit better for water-based stuff, but they tear so fast. Have you ever found a disposable that doesn’t leave your hands smelling like rubber for hours afterward? That’s my main gripe.

Yard work is where I still use canvas or leather. I’ve got a pair of old goatskin gloves that have survived everything from rose bushes to hauling firewood. They’re stained and beat up but somehow still comfortable. But as soon as I’m dealing with anything sticky or greasy, it’s straight to the box of disposables.

One thing I’ve wondered - do you bother with those glove liners under disposables? I tried it once thinking it’d help with sweat and the smell, but it just felt bulky. Maybe I’m missing something. Also, for eye protection, do you stick with the cheap safety glasses or go for something more comfortable? Mine always fog up when I’m working outside in the humidity.

It’s funny how you end up with a whole bin of “almost good” gloves that you keep around for random jobs... but when it comes down to it, half of them are just waiting for the next trash run.

- Totally agree on the glove funk - once it’s there, it’s game over.
- I’ve never found a disposable that doesn’t leave some kind of smell. The blue nitrile ones are a bit better than latex for me, but still not perfect.
- Tried glove liners once, felt clumsy and sweaty... didn’t see the benefit.
- For eye protection, I switched to anti-fog coated glasses (Uvex brand) and they’re miles better than the cheap ones. Still fog up if I’m really sweating, but less annoying overall.
- That bin of “almost good” gloves? Story of my life - can’t bring myself to toss them until they’re basically falling apart.

- I’m with you on the glove funk - once they start to smell, it’s like nothing gets rid of it. But I actually get a lot more mileage out of the “reusable” rubber gloves (like the yellow Playtex ones for dishes) for most DIY stuff. They’re not as dexterous as nitrile, but I can flip them inside out and let them dry, and the smell’s way less of an issue. Just takes a bit to get used to the fit.

- Disposables are handy for messy jobs, but I go through them so fast that it feels wasteful and adds up cost-wise. The blue nitrile are better than latex for sure, but I still end up with sweaty hands and that weird powdery smell. If I have to use disposables, I try to double up and reuse the outer pair if they’re not too gross - might be a bit cheap of me, but it stretches the box.

- Glove liners never worked for me either. Tried cotton ones under rubber gloves when painting and just ended up with soggy hands. Not worth the hassle.

- On eye protection, I’ve had Uvex anti-fogs too. They’re definitely better than the bargain bin stuff, but honestly, if you’re working outside or in a humid basement, nothing’s totally fog-proof. Sometimes I just wipe them down with dish soap and water - old tip from my uncle - and that helps a bit.

- That “almost good” glove bin... yeah, same here. I keep thinking I’ll find a use for the ones with tiny holes (maybe for yardwork?) but they just pile up until it’s ridiculous.

- All in all, I lean reusable when I can, especially since disposables end up costing more over time. Only exception is when working with chemicals or really gross stuff - then I’ll splurge on a fresh pair every time.

- Curious if anyone’s found a reusable glove that doesn’t get gross after a few uses? Most of mine last a month or two before they’re stiff or stinky, even with drying.

All in all, I lean reusable when I can, especially since disposables end up costing more over time. Only exception is when working with chemicals or really gross stuff - then I’ll splurge on a fresh pair every time.

Same here - reusables just make more sense for most jobs, especially if you’re trying to cut down on waste. I’ve had decent luck with the thicker nitrile-coated work gloves (the kind with a fabric back). They don’t get as funky as rubber, and if you rinse them and hang them up, they last a while. Still, nothing’s perfect - eventually they stiffen up or start to smell, especially after roofing adhesive or tar. Haven’t found a glove that stays fresh forever, but rotating a couple pairs helps.

Haven’t found a glove that stays fresh forever, but rotating a couple pairs helps.

That’s been my experience too - rotating gloves is about the only way I’ve found to keep them usable for longer, especially if you’re dealing with sticky stuff like roofing tar. I’ve tried soaking nitrile-coated ones in a mild bleach solution after especially nasty jobs, but after a while they still get stiff or lose their grip.

I do think reusables are the way to go for most projects, though. The waste from disposables adds up fast, and honestly, the thin ones just don’t hold up for anything rough. That said, when I’m dealing with solvents or stripping paint with chemicals, I don’t mess around - disposables all day. Too many stories about folks getting rashes or worse from reusing gloves that absorbed something nasty.

Curious if anyone’s found a glove that actually stands up to tar or oil-based stuff without turning into a biohazard in a week. Until then, seems like swapping pairs and letting them dry is about as good as it gets.

Yeah, I hear you - nothing I’ve tried really holds up to tar for long. Even the “chemical resistant” gloves get gross after a week or two. Rotating pairs and letting them dry out is about the only trick that’s worked for me too. At least it keeps your hands from smelling like a tire fire all day...

Man, I thought I was being clever by double-gloving - disposable nitrile under thick rubber - but it just made my hands sweat like crazy and didn’t really help with the tar funk. Has anyone actually found goggles that don’t fog up instantly? I keep ending up with blurry vision halfway through a job...

Double-gloving always sounds smart until you’re basically wringing out your own hands after an hour. I’ve had the same sweaty mess happen - honestly, I started cutting little ventilation holes in the outer pair just to keep my sanity. Didn’t do much for the tar funk either, but at least my hands didn’t feel like boiled hot dogs.

On the goggles front, I’ve tried a few brands that claim “anti-fog,” but most still end up fogging once things heat up. The only thing that’s sort of worked is wiping a tiny bit of dish soap on the inside and letting it dry before putting them on. Sounds weird, but it helps for a while. Also, if you can swing it, those goggles with indirect vents (little slits at the top and bottom) seem to last longer before fogging over.

Reusable gloves are great for grip and protection, but I keep a box of nitrile around for quick jobs or when I need to swap out fast. Just wish someone would invent gloves that don’t turn your hands into mini-saunas...

I hear you on the sweaty glove situation - last time I did some plumbing under the sink, my hands looked like I’d been swimming for hours. I’ve tried those “breathable” coated gloves, but they still get gross after a while. For goggles, I’ll second the dish soap trick. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. Still waiting for someone to invent gear that doesn’t make you feel like you’re in a sauna...

I get the sweaty glove thing, but honestly, I’d take a little discomfort over tossing out a dozen pairs of disposables every week. Those “breathable” gloves aren’t perfect, but at least you can wash and reuse them. Plus, I’ve found disposables just rip way too fast - especially if you’re dealing with rougher surfaces or tools. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather deal with some damp hands than keep burning through boxes of gloves.

Reusable gloves have definitely saved me a few trips to the store - and money too. I’ve had the same pair for months, just toss them in with the work clothes. Disposables are fine for painting or quick jobs, but they never last through yardwork or anything rough. It’s a trade-off with the sweaty palms, but honestly, I’ll take it over picking bits of torn glove out of the mulch again.

Reusable gloves are my go-to for any of the heavier jobs around our buildings - clean-outs, yardwork, even some plumbing. I keep a couple pairs in the utility closet and just rinse them off or toss them in the wash with rags. Disposables are handy for painting touch-ups or dealing with anything especially gross, but like you said, they rip way too easily if you're digging or hauling brush. The trick for me has been finding a pair with a good fit - too loose and you’re fighting the gloves as much as the job. Sweaty palms are annoying, but I’ll take that over buying new gloves every week.

I hear you on the fit - nothing worse than gloves that bunch up or slip off when you’re trying to grab shingles or haul debris. I’ve tried a few “heavy-duty” disposables for messy sealant jobs, but they always tear right at the thumb. Reusables last me way longer, even if my hands get sweaty and gross by lunch. I’ll take a little discomfort over having to dig through a box for another pair every hour.