Vinyl Glove Guide
Everything You Need To Know About Disposable Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves come from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) monomers, which are inexpensive to create. This makes vinyl disposable gloves a cost-effective alternative to latex and a popular choice for applications involving frequent glove changes like food service. Check out the information below to see how vinyl gloves measure up against nitrile and latex, so you can choose the best disposable glove to protect your employees and avoid cross-contamination.
What are the advantages of using disposable vinyl gloves?
Vinyl gloves are a popular choice for applications where potential allergens (like latex) must be avoided. Allergic reactions to vinyl gloves are extremely rare, and those who do experience a reaction are experiencing contact urticaria, which is caused by a lack of ventilation inside the glove.
Disposable vinyl gloves offer a variety of protective features when handling non-hazardous materials, which is why they can be an ideal option for the food and beverage industry. They are also common in many commercial applications that require routine glove-changing.
Besides being highly affordable, they are great for short-term low-risk tasks and perfect to use as a protective barrier against detergents, dyes, and low-risk bodily fluids. They also tend to have anti-static properties, which can be very useful when working with electronics.
What is the difference between vinyl, latex and nitrile gloves?
- Nitrile and vinyl gloves both have features that make them better suited for specific tasks. Nitrile is more resistant to chemicals, temperature extremes, and oils and fats, while vinyl gloves are resistant to water, oils, and fats, but aren’t as durable.
- Disposable latex gloves have greater resistance to tears and punctures, and are more waterproof because the number of microholes is more controllable. That can make them safer for high-risk jobs involving biological material.
- Disposable vinyl gloves are completely devoid of natural proteins, which makes them perfect for people allergic to latex proteins. Latex hand coverings are also biodegradable while vinyl are not, and must be disposed of carefully as the PVC may create dioxin in the environment.
Why are vinyl gloves different colors?
Disposable vinyl gloves are available in various colors to protect against cross-contamination in the workplace. Select a different shade for each application or stage of work to ensure that materials, contaminants, or hazards are not transferred from one work area to another. This practice comes especially in handy in food preparation.
Do vinyl gloves expire?
Nothing lasts forever, not even disposable gloves. Even the most durable glove material eventually breaks down over time. For this reason, vinyl gloves expire just like any other type of disposable glove.
Nitrile, polyvinyl chloride (vinyl), neoprene, and polyurethane gloves have a shelf life of 5 years. In practice, properly stored gloves have been known to last 10 years in storage. Non-sterile disposable gloves are not required by the FDA to have expiration date labeling, however some manufacturers will put a date.
Are vinyl gloves reusable?
While non-commercial household activities like light cleaning or crafting may permit reuse, vinyl disposable gloves should never be reused when handling bodily fluids, food products, or similar substances in any commercial or professional environment.