Category: Disposable Gloves

New Disposable Glove will change the way you think about disposable gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru

It is difficult for me to get excited about a humble disposable glove, but I need to share a new model that inspired me to make a post about this glove model. It is so versatile and unique in many ways that it makes them superior to any disposable glove that we currently carry or one that I have tested in years at GO GLOVES®.

The manufacturer, PIP, brands it as: Ambi-Dex Grippaz® Engage Superior Ambidextrous Nitrile Glove with Textured Fish Scale Grip – 7 mil

PIP Product Code: 67-307

We refer to is as product code: D-307

Sizing: Small to XXXL

They did a great job on the product name, but I need to characterize and define the many features and benefits with this Ambi-Dex Grippaz® model. I truly don’t want to bore you but I need to address the various features and benefits individually since they deserve to be addressed individually.

  • It has a patented, what they refer to as a “fish scale” design on the inside and outside of the glove which provides extra traction with oily or wet parts. This unique feature is much better than your typical “textured” disposable glove and this feature is not only on both sides of the glove but also on the inside which adds to the grip.
  • They refer to the texture as “fish scale” but I believe a better term would be “Traction Grip Non-Slip Design”.
  • It has a “rotated” thumb grip for secure precision grip of small parts. What they actually mean by this claim is, in fact, another unique attribute. The textured “fish-scale” feature is on the inside (lateral) of the thumb which mean it is located where it counts. I was initially puzzled when I read the claim since these are manufactured on a porcelain mold. I’m well aware of how these gloves are made since I manufactured disposable gloves back in 1989. PIP’s engineers deserve some kudos on this simple but unique manufacturing feature.
  • 100% nitrile provides resistance to many chemicals used in industrial applications. This claim is particularly important for most of you who do not know about the various polymers or rubber used in disposable gloves. First and foremost is that these are latex-free which are prone to allergic reactions and all latex models immediately deteriorate in the presence of any oil or petroleum substance. Today, Nitrile is the premier material of choice in most disposable, waterproof, and chemical resistant gloves.
  • Made with a specially formulated organic compound that gives excellent performance with all food types including “fatty” foods. This is a particularly important element for gloves used in food preparation and processing.
  • Amplified dexterity for enhanced comfort, mobility, and less hand fatigue.
  • Increased puncture resistance outlasts conventional disposables which helps reduce glove waste and glove costs.
  • 7 Mil thickness – This thickness equates to a higher strength glove which is less likely to rip when putting them on. Typical high-use disposable gloves are normally around 4 to 5 Mil but again these are a higher-quality glove. I should point out that most people do not feel the difference in gloves ranging between 4 to 7 Mil but a little bit more means a lot more in this case.
  • Better fit than traditional household gloves. This seems like a trivial fact but you will notice this feature the moment you put on a pair.
  • Form-fitting beaded cuff can be worn over a glove liner.
  • Touch Screen Friendly. A funny note on this is that I often see people automatically remove their disposable gloves when answering or texting on their cell phones and many people do not realize that most disposable gloves are also touch screen friendly. I bet most of you never realized this. <smile>
  • Powder-Free to reduce allergic reactions. On this issue as I have mentioned in previous posts, the trend today is moving to powder-free gloves in general and even the FDA has banned the use of powdered gloves in 2016 for use in the healthcare industry. Plus, powdered gloves are more expensive.
  • Complies with FDA food handling requirements 21 CFR 177.2600.
  • AQL Testing: 1.5 < This test standard is the “Acceptable Quality Limit” based on the testing of large production runs which tests for any and all glove defects. An AQL test of 1.5 is equal to that with medical exam gloves, so these gloves have a great threshold which means you are buying a very high-quality glove.
  • These gloves are ideal for both men and women and the come in sizes from Small to XXXL for men with exceptionally large hands. On sizing, I brought home a pair for my wife to test since she wears gloves daily when washing the dishes and doing household chores. Being particular about the gloves she wears, she has since ditched the gloves she has used for years and has switched to these due to the fit, the dexterity, the thinness, and the nice grip feature without having to use a thicker and bulkier textured waterproof glove.
  • The new Orange Color is another plus since it provides for enhanced eye-to-hand visual sharpness and acuity.

In conclusion, I am happy to introduce you to these unique disposable gloves and please feel free to email me if any of you have any questions about these or any other glove issues. I also hope some of you found this post helpful and useful.

Link: D-307 Ambi-Dex Grippaz Nitrile Glove

Link: Disposable Gloves

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Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru

GO GLOVES®

Glove Liners solve many problems with outer and Disposable Gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru

Glove Liners solve many problems with outer and Disposable Gloves

Due to the new increase in Disposable Gloves demand and usage created by the need for additional protection from the Covid-19 virus crisis, problems associated with the increase in many Disposable Gloves raises new troubles for users. Problems like allergic reactions, excess seating, rashes, eczema, hand odor, etc.   

I have recently written about our GO All-Day Protective Glove Liners, now made for us by the Wells Lamont Industrial Glove Company, but I felt compelled to highlight some of the products features and benefits here on my Blog. This way it becomes an important and permanent archive on the internet to help users with difficulties associated with disposable gloves and other types of outer gloves.

I am going to highlight the Features and Benefits in these Glove Liners for easier reading and reference along with some notations.

GO All-Day Protective Glove Liners

First and foremost, the ultra-thin design will change the way you “feel” about disposable and outer gloves. 

Secondly, the most often overlooked benefit with these liners is that the smooth finish makes it easier to slip on and remove all types of outer gloves. If you use disposable gloves on a routine basis, you know what I am talking about and this single benefit alone can be a huge reason to use these liners. 

Product Features

Creates a barrier to latex, rubber and other types of plastic and polymer gloves. 

Minimizes allergic reactions and rashes.

Reduces perspiration, sweating and clamminess.

Unequaled Comfort

The ergonomic and stretch-knit design help reduce hand strain, providing natural sensitivity, flexibility, dexterity and less bulk for the wearer throughout the day unlike other glove liners.

Eliminates the need for powder and powdered gloves which have been banned by the FDA for medical use.

Smooth finish facilitates easy slip on and removal of outer gloves.

Special cuffs hold the liners in place while removing outer gloves.

Keeps inside of over gloves clean, eliminating odors.

Unique Material

Washable and reusable

100% continuous soft nylon filament fiber (feels like cotton) makes this liner thin and comfortable.

Ideal for people having issues with disposable gloves.

Full length for maximum protection.

Suitable for Critical Environment

Clean Room Compatible – Category Type II

Dust and lint free

Economical

Ambidextrous

Wear all day.

Fully Launderable, reducing cost of replacement and waste. (Withstands up to 30 washings)

Sterilizable

MADE IN THE USA

Available in sizes from Small to XL

Packaged in 20 Pair Packs and available in Case quantities of 10 packs.

NOTE: We also offer these same gloves in a Finger-less – Half Finger Model.

Link: All-Day Half-Finger Glove Liner

Although, I was the original developer of these unique liners back in 1989, I also want to thank Pat Connor, the CE (Critical Environment) Glove Guru at Wells Lamont, for his insight and assistance. I also want to thank David Arambula, our right-hand guy at Wells Lamont, for his assistance. Earlier this week, we had a very productive Zoom Meeting to get me up to date on new issues with user demand, packaging, and production so that I could complete this posting. Thanks, guys!

Thank you for subscribing,

Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru

Suggestions to Save Money on Disposable Gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru

These are some suggestions to save money on Disposable Gloves because of the high-prices created by the Covid-19 virus crisis.

Thousands of companies and millions of workers have had to not only search for new sources of disposable gloves due to shortages but have had to spend limitless time to search for better prices. This was caused by the new unexpected demand for disposable gloves to help prevent and contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus droplets. This virus is also known as: Coronavirus Disease 2019.

First, a little background on disposable gloves and why the shortage and prices of these gloves have become problematic.

I should first explain that I developed a few types of gloves to help combat problems due to wearing gloves because of the glove problems created in the late 1980’s by the HIV AIDS virus issue. At that time, people including millions of healthcare workers had to wear gloves that they never had to wear before this blood-borne pathogen became a problem. That’s when problems associated with wearing gloves arose. It was because of this HIV Virus also known as: Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

The first glove I developed due to my medical device background was a high-performance polyurethane glove that was totally bio-compatible, hypoallergenic, and exceptionally thin (1.2 mil) for a glove at this time.

The next glove that I developed was a special protective nylon glove liner which created a barrier to latex (proteins), rubber and plastic gloves. The glove liners, still popular to this day, serve to help many glove users who have problems with wearing gloves for long periods. You can view them at this link for those who need some relief when using disposable gloves. I will cover the liners in a new post.

Why Disposable Glove prices have dramatically increased.

The answer is simple. Unmet demand from the glove factories in Asia due to the factory shut downs caused by the virus coupled with the lack of raw materials for the same reason. This has led to prices increases over 1,000 percent.

Disposable Glove Options to consider

Nitrile vs. Latex:

Nitrile gloves have become the most common disposable gloves principally used in healthcare settings due to the problems with latex allergens. Nitrile gloves are also more effective against common chemicals unlike latex and they are much stronger than latex rubber gloves. However, nitrile gloves have been more unpredictable in regards to availability and pricing recently due to raw material issues.

Vinyl (PVC) Gloves

Vinyl Gloves are very popular but not used in healthcare settings due to the stringent FDA requirements. However, they are generally considered safe for most all applications since they are form fitting like Nitrile and Latex gloves.

PE (Polyethylene) Gloves

PE Gloves which are commonly used in food service are also known as cafeteria gloves. They are not form fitting like Nitrile or Latex Gloves but they are very thin and some versions even come with an embossed surface for better gripping.

Costs:

To give everyone a general idea about costs, see these examples by Case (Best) pricing:

Nitrile: ~ $0.51/Pair

Latex: ~$0.31/Pair

Vinyl: ~ $0.21/Pair

PE Gloves: Less than $0.01/Pair

Conclusion:

Most users rarely think about looking for alternate choices in a Disposable Glove and I hope this brief gives you some help and insight on some options. Therefore, depending on your application and use, you can easily switch to an alternate model while keeping safety in mind and reduce your costs while accessing more purchasing options.

Link: Disposable Gloves

Thank you for subscribing,

Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru

How to safely remove “used” disposable gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru

The subject title of this post my seem to be very elementary at first but the Covid-19 virus pandemic has created a tremendous amount of confusion when buying and using PPE safety products like masks and gloves.

Actually, the title is far from elementary. It’s a major public safety issue for those not trained or used to wearing disposable gloves like food handlers or healthcare personnel. I’m not saying you should not wear gloves but to incorrectly use disposable gloves will make them a useless safety procedure and even cause more harm and spread this devastating invisible virus.

We are selling a lot disposable gloves and masks to our customers around the world looking for defensive measures against the Covid virus which is great. I am also seeing a lot of people out and about and shopping while wearing gloves which is also great. But, sadly, I am also seeing that most people aren’t wearing or discarding their gloves properly which negates the whole purpose of wearing the disposable gloves.

For example, most untrained people don’t take off their gloves quick enough, thus further contaminating themselves and others around them including the items they touch. Additionally, you should never reuse disposable gloves. I’m sure you’ve seen food handlers frequently dispose and change gloves between functions or healthcare workers frequently dispose and change gloves from chore to patient. This is to avoid any cross contamination of any type. The same thing applies to you to avoid the Covid virus bug.

So, the point I am making here is to dispose of the gloves as soon as you are done shopping at the grocery store or other venue. Disposable gloves are very inexpensive and take up very little space in your purse or pockets so I suggest carrying a couple pair on your various trips.

To shop safely, I suggest social distancing, do not touch your face (this is one reason you see people wearing a face shield in addition to a face mask), frequently sanitize and wash your hands to avoid any possible contact with the virus.

If you want to wear gloves as an added preventive measure, the guidelines below are recommended in order to safely remove your disposable gloves.

  1. Grip the outside of one glove at the wrist without touching your skin.
  2. Peel the glove away from your hand by pulling it inside out.
  3. Hold the removed glove in your other “gloved” hand.
  4. To peel off the second glove, put your bare fingers inside the glove at the wrist.
  5. Turn the second glove inside out, pulling it away from your hand, while leaving the first glove inside the second.
  6. Discard the gloves away in a trash container immediately.
  7. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer immediately after removing your gloves.

Once you try the above method for the first time, you will laugh and smile at how clever and easy it is and want to show others as well. It’s almost like a magic trick but a very helpful one.

Also, don’t forget to tell them the Glove-Guru taught you how to remove used disposable gloves.

Link to our Disposable Gloves

Thank you for subscribing,

Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru

Should I buy Powder-Free or Powdered Disposable gloves?

Posted on by The Glove Guru

This old question about buying Powdered Gloves vs. Powder-Free Gloves has recently become a new question again by consumers due to the current catastrophic virus pandemic. This new virus has created a new increased demand for protective disposable gloves by new users. Most people think it’s a user issue regarding a friendlier glove but, funny enough, the powder issue is due to a necessity that came about a long time ago originating with the manufacturing. It brings back fond technical memories to me when I got into the glove business over 30 years ago.  

When disposable gloves were first developed, they were either made from solutions of latex or vinyl. Now, picture a long assembly line that moves with artificial porcelain (mandrel molds) hands hanging from a track. As these mandrels move along, they dip into big vat full with a special liquid solution containing powder. Then they move to another vat containing the latex solution. Next, they travel through a heat chamber which essentially evaporates (dries) the liquid from the latex. The gloves are now cured and ready for removal from the mandrels, inspection and packaging.

To remove a cured glove from its mandrel mold, the mandrels were coated with powder solutions prior to the dipping process in order to make it easier to remove the cured glove from the mold. Without the powder solution coating on the mandrels, the cured gloves would stick to the mandrels casing them to be defective when removed. Therefore, the powder practice became an intricate part of the manufacturing process. This was especially the case with latex gloves. It should be noted that powder ended up partially coating the outside of the gloves due to powder dust caused by the gloves  being removed from the mandrels.

What everyone discovered was that the powder process also made the latex gloves easier for users to slip the gloves on or off. This was because a residue of the powder solution remained inside each glove after they were made. This powder residue made the inside of the gloves slick eliminating a lot of glove breakage when putting them on.

In the late eighties many manufactures even used flavored powder coatings which were popular to the dental industry. A few also manufactured some latex models without powders due to allergic issues caused by the powder. The flavored models eventually were discontinued since they created excess saliva from patients which hindered many dental procedures. Powdered models are still popular but to a less degree due to good vinyl and nitrile glove models which are easier to slip on and off. It should be noted that latex had its own disadvantages to about 20% of the population due to allergies from the proteins in the latex. This is a separate issue from  problems caused by the powder as noted below.

Keep in mind that, today, disposable gloves are widely used in many industries outside of healthcare. For example, they are a required protective accessory (PPE) in the restaurant and food service industries as well as most manufacturing industries.

Today, I highly recommend powder-free gloves for many reasons.

First, they are less expensive. Yes, it is only a matter of pennies a glove but it adds up quickly with disposables.

Also, powder-free disposable gloves have been vastly improved technically over the last two decades and better materials and manufacturing processes make the gloves easier to slip-on and off and rarely break.

Additionally, powdered gloves add another element to contamination and allergy issues. Think of ordering a sandwich in a sandwich shop and they wore powdered gloves which added minuscule talc or powder to the bread or slices of meat or greens.

Another aspect is to know that the FDA has banned powdered gloves from the healthcare industry in 2016. The FDA claims the powdered glove models present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury.  

(It should be noted that having an added element such as a powder or talc added to the gloves creates issues about the type and source of the powder or talc since most all disposable gloves are made outside of the USA.)  

I also predict that powdered gloves will become more expensive over time and eventually become harder to find. I don’t think powdered gloves will disappear from some markets such as manufacturing since some workers will insist on using them. However, powder gloves no longer offer any distinct advantages over powder-free gloves for the manufacturers or for the users.

In conclusion, powder-free gloves offer you a safer and more economical glove choice over their powdered counterpart.

Link: Disposable Gloves

Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for subscribing,

Joe McGarry

The Glove Guru

FDA bans powdered medical gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru


http://www.gloves-online.com/catalog/disposable-gloves
The FDA has determined that powdered surgeon’s gloves, powdered patient examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating a surgeon’s glove present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury and that the risk cannot be corrected or eliminated by labeling or a change in labeling. 
Consequently, the FDA is banning these devices. 
I noticed that the rule was proposed back in March but it was officially ruled on today and becomes effective on January 18, 2017. 
Links:

How to make rubber gloves

Posted on by The Glove Guru

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9PMs_N33fU


This is a short video which demonstrates how rubber gloves are made.  The process hasn’t changed much over the last 20 years except for the types of solutions. 
It’s part of my glove history and I thought it would be interesting for the average lay person to see. 
You may want to also see our range of disposable gloves used in healthcare, food service, and industry.

Link: Disposable gloves

Gardening Gloves – A guide to protect your hands

Posted on by The Glove Guru

Every gardener knows that a good pair of gloves is an essential gardening tool. However, with the many types of gloves available, it can be overwhelming to make a choice. Here’s a simple
guide by type to help you with your choice.
(see links in titles below)

Leather and Pruning Gloves
Leather gloves are the standard for strength and
durability. You chose from standard driver’s styles to models used for wire fencing. For pruning, purchase a pair of pruning gloves specifically designed for pruning with reinforced arm protection. If you are working in wet conditions look for pigskin gloves since they will dry soft if they get wet. Newer artificial leather gloves are fine and will last longer than natural leather.

Cotton and Jersey Gloves
Cotton and Jersey gloves are the most popular because they are inexpensive but they have
limitations. They are breathable and lightweight and will keep your hands clean and protect you
from blisters. However, they will absorb moisture and not protect you from chemicals or cuts and
abrasions. Also, they are not very durable or long-lasting. 

Disposable Gloves (Latex, Nitrile, Vinyl PVC)
I do not recommend using disposable gloves since they are not durable and do not offer proper
protection against most chemicals and pesticides. Plus, latex gloves will dissolve when exposed to
gasoline or motor oils used in lawnmowers.

Rubber Gloves
Although rubber gloves tend to be hot, they offer great protection against moisture and most
chemicals. If you only need moisture protection – natural rubber is fine. However, I suggest you
look for nitrile or vinyl gloves for use with chemicals and pesticides.

Bamboo Knit Gloves
These are becoming extremely popular since they are earth friendly, last long, fit and feel
great, and inexpensive. They also come with a coated palm for added protection and grip. My
personal biased choice is the GO Greens® Bamboo Gloves from GO Gloves.

Who said the glove business is boring?

Posted on by The Glove Guru

From time to time I do like to add an unusual or fun post and this seemed appropriate before the holidays.
Yes, this is a wedding dress made from rubber gloves. I must admit that this is a first – for me anyway – and the artist is either incredibly creative or just loves gloves like me.
Wedding dresses are renowned to be very pricey but if you knew how expensive disposal rubber gloves are these days, this dress would obviously be over the top for most buyers.
However, if anyone out there needs disposable gloves (or any gloves for that matter) for a new outfit or artistic idea, please let me know. We have many glove types and many glove colors. For example – we have flesh colors for that nude look; purple for a fun look; and even black for those formal events. I’m sure we can make you a deal.
(Click on the images to enlarge them)