How to Choose Disposable Gloves | 6 Factors to Consider

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At PalmFlex, we carry hundreds of disposable gloves to suit every fit and function. However, with all the different styles available, it can be difficult choosing the right one for your specific needs. There&#;s disposable glove thickness, powdered vs powder free gloves, exam grade vs industrial grade gloves, and more. That&#;s why we&#;ve broken down the 6 most important factors to consider in order to make the browsing process as simple as possible.

Material

The number one factor to consider when you&#;re figuring out how to choose disposable gloves is the material, which will determine their feel and function. The three most common materials are latex, nitrile, and vinyl.

Latex: Made of natural rubber, latex gloves are biodegradable, chemical-resistant, and maximize dexterity. They are considered the best all-around for fit and function, however they should not be worn by individuals with latex allergies.

Nitrile: Nitrile gloves offer the longest shelf life and are also puncture and chemical resistant. Most are FDA-approved for medical industries and food service. A synthetic material, nitrile removes the risk of latex allergies.

Vinyl: Vinyl gloves are cost-effective and ideal for short-term use. They are also available in &#;stretch&#; vinyl, which resembles the fit and feel of latex without the risk of allergies.

Still not sure which one is right for you? Learn more about the types of disposable gloves materials and best disposable gloves for sensitive skin.

Disposable Glove Thickness

The next factor to consider when determining how to choose disposable gloves is their mil thickness. This can range from 4 Mil (a.k.a. 4 millimeters thick) all the way up to 15 Mil. The higher the mil, the thicker the gloves, and the more wear and tear they will be able to sustain.

Depending how demanding your application is, and how durable and long-lasting you want your gloves to be, will guide the disposable glove thickness you should select.

Industrial vs. Medical Grade Gloves

Medical gloves, also known as exam gloves, are designed with utmost security in mind to protect medical professionals from hazardous microorganisms. In order to qualify for medical grade, the gloves must meet the inspection standards of the FDA and ASTM. If you&#;re a medical professional, look for &#;exam&#; in the product title to ensure your gloves meet the task at hand.

Workers outside the medical field should look at industrial grade gloves. If the glove does not say &#;exam&#;, it is safe to assume that they are industrial grade.

Powdered vs. Powder Free Gloves

Powdered gloves are designed with a lightly powdered, non-irritating corn starch that makes gloves easier to don. If your job requires gloves that you can quickly slide on or off, you may want to opt for powdered gloves.

Powder free gloves are generally more popular for jobs where this isn&#;t a high priority, because the gloves don&#;t leave any residue on hands or clothes. Powder free is mess free!

Color 

Consider how much you want your gloves to visually contrast with external materials. Do you want to increase or decrease their visibility? For example, mechanics often prefer black disposable gloves to lower the visibility of grease. Conversely, cleanroom workers prefer white disposable gloves to make contamination more visible on the glove. Some workers, like those in food service, prefer the gloves themselves to be brightly colored and highly visible.

You may also want to color code your disposable gloves to avoid any cross-contamination from different areas of a lab or simply to improve organization.

Size

The last factor to determine how to choose disposable gloves is size. Picking the right size is essential for any PPE, but perhaps none more so than disposable gloves. Too small, and not only will they cause discomfort, but they also run the risk of tearing. Too big, and they not only decrease performance, but they also run the risk of increasing exposure to contaminants.

The right disposable gloves should feel snug yet comfortable and dexterous. Sizes range from Extra Small up to XXL, so we recommend visiting our glove sizing page to help you find the size that&#;s right for you.

Order Disposable Gloves At PalmFlex Today

Whether it is industrial vs. medical grade gloves, or powdered vs. powder free gloves, it is our mission to offer a comprehensive selection so no professional goes unprotected. We hope we&#;ve made the browsing process clearer with these 6 factors to consider. For further info, you can also check out our disposable glove recommendations by job.

Ready to order? You can shop disposable gloves today or explore our complete disposable PPE collection. We offer free shipping on orders over $80 and discounted prices when you buy in bulk. Reach out to a product expert to learn more about how to choose disposable gloves for your needs.

Many industries rely on disposable gloves, including medicine, cleaning, cultivation, and food prep. These devices provide a barrier between the product or customer and the person doing the job &#; whether a doctor, a tattoo artist, or even a janitor.

Gloves help control infection and cross-contamination, protect against chemicals, oils, and solvents, and maintain hygiene standards. Three primary materials are used to construct disposable gloves &#; latex, nitrile, and vinyl &#; and all three are available as sterile or non-sterile products.

The type of gloves you need depends on what you intend to use them for.

Typically, nitrile gloves are used in the medical industry &#; especially in surgery &#; as they offer the most substantial protection against tears and punctures. They also resist harsh chemicals without the user losing sensitivity in their hands.

Latex is also commonly used in the medical industry (as well as many other sectors); however, not everyone can use gloves made from this material due to latex allergies. Vinyl gloves don&#;t provide the same level of chemical resistance as nitrile or latex. However, they can be used when maintaining a hygienic barrier is essential &#; as in the food industry.

Goto Hongray to know more.

Since the pandemic of , the use of gloves worldwide has become increasingly widespread, and they are now used more often than ever before. But how do gloves get from a state of raw material to being ready to enrobe your hands?

If you&#;re buying gloves online, the terminology surrounding suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers can quickly become confusing. Working out who&#;s who and what roles they take on in the industry can make buying gloves easier, cheaper, and quicker in the long run.

So, who&#;s who, and what&#;s what?

Glove Suppliers

Glove suppliers provide the materials that glove manufacturers use to make gloves. They are the start of the supply chain, providing the foundational materials needed to produce gloves.

However, they are not directly involved in glove manufacturing. Suppliers are essential in ensuring a steady flow of high-quality materials and are one of the most critical parts of the glove production process.

Glove suppliers are often confused with glove wholesalers, as it&#;s commonly thought the term &#;glove supplier&#; refers to those who supply gloves. However, they only supply the materials used to make gloves &#; a vital part of the glove supply chain.

Understanding the difference between suppliers and wholesalers is essential to understanding each role in turning the materials into the finished product and getting the gloves to your hands.

Glove Manufacturers

Glove manufacturers are the main link in the glove supply chain. Manufacturers will use glove suppliers to obtain large quantities of raw materials to make finished gloves. Manufacturers are the foundry of the industry, transforming bulk amounts of various raw materials into market-ready products.

Glove manufacturers transform raw materials such as latex, nitrile, and vinyl into the disposable gloves you are familiar with.

These businesses are entirely responsible for the glove production process, ensuring that quality, design, and functionality meet the market's demands. Unlike the suppliers that provide the raw materials, manufacturers create the final product.

The manufacturing phase involves various intricate processes depending on what type of glove is being made and what the gloves will be used for. Responsibility for quality control falls on the manufacturer to ensure the final product meets industry standards.

Manufacturers are also responsible for sterilizing gloves, so the environment in which they are made must also be sterile and up to industry standards &#; regardless of what the gloves will later be used for. Ensuring sterility is paramount for industries like the medical sector, where the risk of infection or cross-contamination is exceptionally high.

Glove Distributors

Glove distributors are subsequent in the chain, buying newly-made gloves in bulk from manufacturers to sell them to retailers or consumers at a marked-up price.

Distributors play a pivotal role in the distribution network, acquiring gloves for the best price possible before distributing them to retailers and consumers.

Working in specific geographical areas or with exclusive agreements, distributors typically don&#;t engage in the manufacturing process and instead focus on efficiently delivering the products to the market. Distributors bridge the gap between the manufacturer and the retailer or consumer, ensuring new gloves reach their destinations without delay.

Glove distributors have a much smaller selection than wholesale glove suppliers &#; often specializing in a specific brand or type of glove and thereby often demanding higher prices. If you need a variety of gloves and are using distributors, you might need to work with several different distributors to get all of the products you need.

Wholesale Glove Suppliers

Disposable gloves wholesalers purchase gloves in bulk from different manufacturers before reselling them to retailers or consumers. They often provide a range of products without any exclusivity and offer products from various manufacturers.

These wholesale glove suppliers contribute to the market by sourcing products from various manufacturers and offering a broad spectrum of choices to both retailers and consumers.

Wholesale suppliers are similar to distributors. However, they often offer a much more comprehensive range of products from multiple manufacturers. They provide products for both retailers and consumers, selling in bulk with a diverse range of inventory.

An expansive inventory means a much broader customer base, providing everything from medical-grade gloves to disposable gloves used in catering.

Wholesale disposable glove suppliers are a &#;one-stop shop&#; for all your glove supplies. They offer vinyl, nitrile, and latex gloves &#; both sterile and unsterile &#; in one location, so you can get everything you need at once and in bulk.

Wholesale is often the best way to save money for businesses or individuals who use gloves daily &#; or even more frequently than that. The more gloves you buy, the cheaper the end cost, and most good wholesale suppliers will offer further discounts on shipping costs when it comes to purchasing large quantities in bulk.

Due to the large scale of wholesale supply, these businesses often collaborate with manufacturers from all over the world, giving the consumer a much more comprehensive range of options &#; from eco-friendly materials to innovative designs, as well as specialized gloves for different industries.

More importantly, wholesale suppliers provide a streamlined service for businesses or individuals who need to make repeat or scheduled orders to ensure they always have the gloves they need to maintain business continuity.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between glove suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and wholesale suppliers is essential to making informed decisions when buying gloves for personal or professional needs.

Simply put, suppliers provide raw materials, manufacturers craft the gloves, distributors bridge the gap, and wholesale suppliers offer a diverse final product range. Knowing who&#;s who and what&#;s what provides knowledge that can help you save time and money when buying gloves &#; especially when purchasing multiple types of gloves in bulk.

If you&#;re buying gloves regularly, wholesale suppliers are the best place to pick them up &#; especially if you require various glove types. Wholesale suppliers often offer a better price than distributors and provide a much more extensive range of products.

Whatever you need gloves for, always choose a reputable brand and source. Cheap gloves can be tempting, especially when you&#;re using them daily. However, it&#;s much more important not to cut corners and only choose a product you can rely on when it comes to hygiene and protective barriers.

Gloves sold through reputable wholesale suppliers will have gone through several quality control tests. They will be built to the highest industry standard &#; which is essential for the wearer's safety, especially in the medical industry.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Wholesale pe gloves.