I hear you on the glove struggle. I’ve tried rinsing and hanging mine too, but sometimes they still end up smelling funky after a while—maybe it’s just our humid summers? Curious if anyone’s found a way to keep reusable gloves from getting that weird odor, or is it just inevitable? Also, do you find the nitrile-dipped ones get stiff if you leave them in the sun too long?
That glove smell drives me nuts too. I’ve tried everything—rinsing, flipping them inside out, even putting them in the freezer for a bit (someone online said it kills bacteria). Didn’t really work long-term. I think humidity is a big part of it, especially if you don’t get them bone dry before storing. I started sprinkling a little baking soda inside after use and leaving them open to air out in the laundry room. That’s helped cut down on the funk, but it’s not perfect.
About the nitrile-dipped gloves—yeah, they definitely get stiff if I leave them in direct sun. The coating seems to dry out and crack faster too. Now I just hang them in the shade or indoors near a vent. Not ideal, but better than tossing stiff gloves after a week. Honestly, I’m starting to think some odor is just part of using reusable gloves in summer unless you wash and dry them every single time... which isn’t always realistic.
I hear you on the glove funk—summer roofing just makes it worse. I’ve tried a bunch of stuff too, but honestly, nothing keeps reusable gloves totally fresh after a long, sweaty day. What’s worked best for me is turning them inside out and hanging them right over a box fan overnight. Not perfect, but better than baking soda alone. I’ve also started rotating two pairs, so one can dry out while I use the other. Disposable nitrile gloves are way less hassle for smell, but they tear so fast on shingles and tools, I end up going through a ton. Reusables last longer, but yeah, you kinda have to accept a bit of stink unless you’re washing them every single night... which, let’s be real, doesn’t always happen after a 10-hour shift.
I hear you on the glove funk—summer roofing just makes it worse. I’ve tried a bunch of stuff too, but honestly, nothing keeps reusable gloves totally fresh after a long, sweaty day.
Rotating pairs is a solid move. I’ve tried the fan trick too—definitely helps, but like you said, after a long day, washing gloves every night just isn’t realistic. I get what you mean about disposables tearing up fast on shingles. Reusables might stink, but at least they last.
- I get the appeal of reusables for cost, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with the thicker disposables (like nitrile) for short jobs. They’re not perfect, but at least I’m not dealing with that lingering sweat smell day after day.
- For bigger projects, I’ll admit, reusables do last longer, but I’ve noticed they start to break down after a few washes anyway—especially if you’re scrubbing off tar or shingle grit.
- One thing I started doing is lining my gloves with those cheap cotton inserts. They soak up a lot of the sweat and are way easier to toss in the wash than the gloves themselves. Not a total fix, but it helps.
- I’m in a pretty humid area, so maybe that’s why disposables don’t feel as bad to me. If I’m just patching a spot or doing quick repairs, I’d rather go through a couple pairs than deal with the funk.
- Just my two cents... sometimes the “lasts longer” argument for reusables doesn’t hold up if you factor in the hassle and the smell. But yeah, for heavy-duty stuff, I still keep a couple pairs around.