I hear you on the glove dilemma. I keep thinking about how many nitrile gloves I’ve tossed over the years—feels wasteful, but sometimes those reusable ones just don’t cut it for the really messy stuff. Has anyone found a reusable glove that actually holds up to paint thinner or caulk remover? I’ve tried a couple, but they either get holes or the grip goes slick. And for anti-fog glasses, do the sprays actually work, or am I just smearing more gunk on my lenses?
Has anyone found a reusable glove that actually holds up to paint thinner or caulk remover?
I’ve yet to find a truly reusable glove that stands up to solvents like paint thinner for long. Even the heavy-duty butyl ones eventually get tacky or start leaking at the seams. For short jobs, I still default to nitrile and just try to minimize waste. As for anti-fog sprays, mixed results—some brands help for a bit, but after a couple hours in a crawlspace, I’m wiping them down anyway. The wipes seem less streaky than sprays, though.
Even the heavy-duty butyl ones eventually get tacky or start leaking at the seams.
That’s been my experience too. I went through a phase trying to find “the one” glove that could handle paint thinner, caulk remover, and all the other nasty stuff I end up using on old house projects. I tried those thick black chemical gloves (think dishwashing gloves on steroids), but after a few sessions stripping paint off window sashes, they started getting soft and sticky—especially around the fingertips. Once that happens, it’s game over.
Here’s what’s worked for me lately:
1. For anything with strong solvents, I just use disposable nitrile. I buy them in bulk and double up if it’s a long job. Not perfect for waste, but at least my hands aren’t burning or smelling like chemicals for days.
2. If I’m doing something less harsh (like scraping latex caulk or cleaning with mineral spirits), I’ll use those blue reusable nitrile-coated work gloves. They’re not totally solvent-proof, but they last longer than plain nitrile and give better grip.
3. For eye protection, anti-fog is hit or miss. Like you said,
The wipes do seem less streaky than sprays—plus they’re easier to stash in a pocket.some brands help for a bit, but after a couple hours in a crawlspace, I’m wiping them down anyway.
One thing I’ve noticed: if you rinse your gloves right after using solvents (before they dry out), they seem to last a little longer. Not sure if that’s just wishful thinking or actually helps.
I keep hoping someone will invent a glove that feels like nitrile but lasts like leather... Until then, it’s just picking the lesser evil depending on the job.
Curious if anyone’s tried those PVA gloves? Supposedly good for solvents, but I’ve never seen them in stores around here.
I get the appeal of disposables for nasty solvents, but honestly, I’ve started leaning more toward reusable gloves even for tougher jobs. The waste from all those nitriles adds up fast, and I’ve found some of the thicker PVC-coated gloves hold up better than expected—especially if you rinse them right away like you mentioned. They’re not perfect, but I’d rather toss one pair every few months than a box every week. Haven’t tried PVA yet either... they seem pretty specialized and hard to track down.
That’s a solid move, honestly. I used to go through boxes of nitrile gloves every month, especially when we were stripping old tar or dealing with some of the nastier adhesives. It always bugged me seeing that pile of blue gloves in the trash at the end of a job. Switching to reusable PVC-coated ones felt weird at first—like, are these really going to hold up? But after a few months, I realized they actually do, as long as you don’t let stuff sit on them too long.
I get why disposables are popular—sometimes you just want to rip them off and not think about it. But for most roofing work, unless you’re elbow-deep in something truly gnarly, those thicker reusables make more sense. Plus, they’re way less sweaty than nitrile if you’re working outside all day.
Haven’t tried PVA either. I looked into them once after someone mentioned they’re good for certain solvents, but tracking down the right size was a pain and they seemed overkill for what I’m usually doing. Maybe if I was working in a chemical plant or something...
Anyway, props for making the switch. It’s not perfect—sometimes you still get leaks or tears—but it feels better than tossing out handfuls of gloves every week. And rinsing them right away is key; otherwise, they get gross fast.
If you ever find a reusable glove that doesn’t smell like death after a month, let me know... that’s my only real gripe so far.