Reusing Disposable Gloves – Should you do it?
Put simply, no you should not be reusing disposable gloves. The very design of this protective equipment is that they are single-use. Therefore, after use, disposable gloves should be disposed of safely.
How to Properly Dispose of Gloves
After use, it is important to properly dispose of the gloves that have been used. This is especially important if you’re working in a high-risk environment such as a medical or food handling environment.
This is why we, at Easygloves, recommend setting up and having a designated glove disposal bin. This will keep them entirely separate from everything else, preventing any harm or injury. If disposable gloves used for handling medical equipment or waste are left lying around, someone could potentially come into contact with harmful substances.
Through proper disposal, you can keep the use of disposable gloves safe and hygienic.
Why You Shouldn’t be Reusing Disposable Gloves
Often, people will reuse disposable gloves to help save on costs, which we totally understand. The temptation to cut corners where you can is very real, but this is one corner that we do not recommend you cut.
Reusing disposable gloves can have a number of negative effects including:
- Illness from cross contamination
- Dermatitis
- Increased exposure to viruses
These are just some of the reasons to not wear disposable gloves, and why not changing them regularly can cause issues for you and your clients.
It’s just not worth the risks that it poses to your health and safety.
When Should You Change Your Gloves?
As a general rule, you should change your disposable gloves after 4 hours of continuous use. In fact, this is FDA recommended and should be adhered to as a matter of safety.
Of course, if your gloves have gotten dirty, or torn, they should be changed immediately.
Which Gloves Can be Reused?
Not all gloves are single-use, and many workplaces choose to go for reusable gloves for a convenient, cost-effective solution.
Many types of work gloves are reusable, as they are built to last longer due to the nature of the jobs.
How to Buy Gloves Affordably
Using single-use gloves in such a way can rack up costs. However, if you buy in bulk, you are purchasing in a smarter way and you’ll see the savings.
Easygloves is the UK’s number one provider of disposable gloves. We stock and supply quality disposable gloves to all sectors and work environments and we would love for you to be the next to join our thousands of clients.
So browse our selection of disposable gloves today or get in touch with the team for more information.
