Disposable gloves can be immensely useful across industries and for a variety of tasks, preventing cross-contamination, protecting the skin from direct contact with viruses and bacteria, and more. However, the expendable nature of these gloves creates enormous amounts of waste, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic when PPE (personal protective equipment) usage is at an all-time high. Not only is this waste an environmental hazard -- it’s also a drain on any business’s bottom line. Simply put, the more gloves you can hold onto, the better, as long as said gloves remain useful and, more importantly, safe for use. Indeed, vinyl gloves can be used more than once as long as they are properly cleaned. As you create and execute your office reopening strategy, it pays to know a thing or two about reusable gloves.

Let’s go over the right way to clean and use reusable vinyl gloves to keep your business sanitary and help you save money.

How to Properly Use Vinyl Gloves

How to Properly Clean Reusable Vinyl Gloves

In order to clean reusable vinyl gloves, you’ll need freshwater, soap/mild detergent, a clean bucket, an apron, and thick gloves. Your bucket should be filled with fresh soap and water. Then, the reusable vinyl gloves should be removed according to CDC guidelines and placed in the filled bucket. Wash your hands with soap and water, dry them, then put on your clean thick gloves (rubber is best). From there, rub the vinyl gloves gently and thoroughly, so any and all debris is removed, and let them soak overnight. Take off the thick rubber gloves and wash your hands once more before cleaning and disinfecting said rubber gloves. Put your rubber gloves back on and take the vinyl gloves out of the bucket, rinsing them with clean water. If you notice any holes or tears in the gloves, you must discard them. Otherwise, let the vinyl gloves air dry in a sanitary area. Once they’ve fully dried, they’re ready to be used once more.

How Reusable Gloves Save Your Business Money

The cost-saving element of reusing gloves is somewhat straightforward. While disposable gloves may be cheaper to purchase initially, your business can burn through its supply fairly quickly, especially if you operate a large facility that requires frequent cleaning and disinfection. Reusable gloves may not be well-suited for certain cleaning tasks (i.e. those that involve medical supplies or chemicals), but you’ll get much more use out of them overall. In other words, as long as your cleaning staff knows how to properly clean and use these gloves, you won’t need to restock on them as frequently compared to disposable gloves, saving you money in the long run. In this way, reusable vinyl gloves should be considered essential COVID-19 supplies, along with other PPE, EPA-registered disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and more.

Which Tasks Should Reusable Gloves Be Used For?

As mentioned above, more intensive and quick cleaning/disinfection tasks are better suited for disposable gloves to ensure everyone’s ongoing safety and prevent contamination. For low-risk activities such as office cleaning and/or prolonged cleaning tasks like washing dishes, however, reusable vinyl gloves are completely viable. Having an appropriate supply of both disposable and reusable gloves will ensure that your facility can perform all the cleaning and disinfection tasks required for a safe and sanitary reopening.

Why let your vinyl gloves go to waste if you can squeeze more use out of them? At The Budd Group, we help our clients save time and money by optimizing their processes and providing necessary services (i.e. disinfection services), resources, and supplies. To learn more about our services and values, give us a call today at 800-221-8158!