When you show up to work each day, you need safety you can count on. And while new disposable glove materials are up to 95% stronger and safer than their predecessors, there are some times when you need a reusable glove you can count on time and again.
For workers who need durable protection all day, reusable nitrile gloves are your go-to.
Here’s why nitrile is the best material for reusable gloves, when you should opt for reusable over disposable, and why nitrile is the clear winner anytime you need a strong reusable glove.
What are Nitrile Gloves?
Nitrile is a co-polymer made of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Basically, it’s a form of rubber that undergoes rigorous FDA testing to ensure durability.
Nitrile has been used in disposable gloves since the mid-1990s. At the time, it was marketed primarily to medical professionals, particularly dentists, thanks to the material’s puncture resistance.
Benefits of Nitrile Gloves
This is one of the most durable glove materials on the market. It doesn’t protect against everything (in fact, it shouldn’t be used with strong oxidizing agents, aromatic solvents, benzene, ketones, phenols, methylene chloride, or acetates).
However, it provides excellent resistance against:
- Fuels
- Oils
- Weak caustics
- Weak acids
- Some organic solvents
Nitrile also offers high heat resistance, a feature that many other disposable glove materials lack. In fact, it can withstand temperatures between −40 to 226 °F, which makes it an excellent choice for professions requiring you to frequently touch hot or cold surfaces.
When it comes to puncture resistance, though, nitrile is the star on the scene. In fact, nitrile is three times more puncture resistant than latex, making it the ideal choice for anyone working with sharps or machinery.
In addition, nitrile is a great choice for anyone worried about allergies. It has an extremely low allergic reaction rate, and powder-free nitrile gloves are essentially allergen-free.
Why Opt for Reusable Gloves?
Disposable gloves have plenty of sanitary benefits, but sometimes, what you need is a glove you can count on again and again.
Disposable gloves are useful for single-use settings where users have to change gloves frequently. Medical practices and food service are both excellent examples. In those cases, re-using gloves becomes a serious sanitary concern. Plus, disposable gloves tend to be thinner, which allows greater tactile sensitivity (again, ideal for medical professionals).
However, in some cases, you need more protection than a disposable glove can offer.
While disposable gloves are designed for frequent glove changes, reusable gloves are designed to provide maximum strength and durability. They tend to be thicker than disposable gloves and are designed to stand up to hot water and harsher chemicals. This makes them ideal for tasks where you’ll do the same thing for an extended period of time, such as dish washing or cleaning.
The one significant downside of reusable gloves is that they have to be washed between uses. That said, if you need tough protection that you can count on all day long,
Why Reusable Nitrile Gloves Should Be Your First Choice
For those times when you need durable reusable gloves, nitrile is the one to beat.
You turn to reusable gloves for their strength, and in the strength and durability category, nitrile is the heavyweight champion. It has impressively high tensile strength, which means it has high puncture resistance and holds up well to wear and tear, whether that means handling tools or operating machinery.
Nitrile’s tensile strength is also what makes it the ideal choice over other materials like latex or vinyl. While nitrile’s toughness can at times be frustrating for those who need frequent disposable glove changes, this same quality makes it perfect for workers who need their gloves to hold up all day long.
What Industries Should Consider Reusable Nitrile Gloves?
While just about any industry could make the switch to reusable nitrile gloves, industries that require heavy-duty work are well-suited to them, as well as industries where physical hazards and long-term exposure to hot water or chemicals are concerns.
For example, industrial work does quite well with reusable nitrile gloves. So does dishwashing and general cleaning. Mechanics also like nitrile for its durability.
If you’re concerned about tactile sensitivity, nitrile isn’t the right fit for you. This means most medical professionals (including dentists, who benefit from nitrile’s high puncture resistance but run into sanitary issues with reusable gloves).
The Best Reusable Nitrile Gloves on the Market
Looking for the best reusable nitrile gloves on the market? Our reusable gloves are designed for allergen protection and maximum comfort, and they all meet the rigorous testing standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials. When essential workers across the country need to get the job done, they turn to our gloves for support.
Looking for gloves you can trust? Make sure to check out our supply of reusable nitrile gloves today.
