Guide for Maintaining Different Work Glove Types

Gloves

Work gloves are a common household item necessary for work chores, but more than that, they are an important accessory for blue-collar jobs involving hands-on work. Whether you love to engage in DIY projects at home or work as a plumber, you cannot survive without work gloves. These gloves are tough and useful for a variety of physical jobs, so keeping them in prim and proper condition can prevent you from the hassle of buying new ones, as top-quality gloves do not even come cheap. However, if you buy from a wholesale glove supplier, you can work around the pricing problem and get them at a bulk discount.

Work Gloves Washing Techniques 

Work gloves are not all the same, and several fabrics within work gloves are suited for different work tasks. Maintaining each type of work glove requires different cleaning techniques and care. This blog will be all about maintaining various types of work gloves.

Cotton Canvas Gloves 

Work gloves for gardening are usually constructed from canvas with cotton fabric wrists that stick tightly to the arms. The material is slightly stretchable, protecting the hands from cuts and abrasions from plant thorns, rough tree bark, etc. Cotton gloves are tough and long-lasting, provided you follow the maintenance guidelines by keeping them clean. 

Cleaning cotton canvas gloves to keep them in good condition means washing them after use. Washing cotton gloves frequently will not damage them because this fabric has a high water tolerance.  Working in the garden often involves spraying chemicals and insecticides, which can damage the cotton fabric if the chemical stays on the glove's surface and is not washed. The correct method for washing cotton gloves is dusting the dirt between the fingers. After that, the gloves are thrown into the washing machine. The setting on the washing machine should be cold. Use a standard laundry detergent abundantly because cotton does not react with the detergent. Once washed, hang them to dry rather than put them in the dryer. Using the dryer will shrink the gloves since cotton shrinks if rapidly dried. 

Spandex Gloves

When it comes to stretchable fabric, spandex has no match. This synthetic, thin fabric fits snugly. This fabric is great for intricate fingerwork that requires dealing with small parts, like auto repairs. The spandex gloves can easily fit any hand shape since they are super stretchable. 

Cleaning spandex gloves is more difficult than cotton. Unlike cotton gloves, you cannot machine wash them, and hand washing is recommended. Washing by hand would ensure that the spandex gloves retain their shape and size. Spandex should not be washed with large amounts of strong detergent. A small amount of mild detergent is enough. Scrub the spandex gloves thoroughly. Scrubbing with hands is enough, and no rough brush should be used on the gloves for scrubbing as this would lead to color fading. Finally, wring the gloves and pin them up to dry. Putting them in the dryer will shrink them, so refrain from it. Moreover, do not lay them on a flat surface as the gloves would become flat permanently, and this would make them ill-fitting.

Knit Gloves

These glove types are really popular and suitable for winter. Knot gloves also have the greatest variety of designs and colors. The gloves are made from stretchable fabric but are nowhere near as stretchable as spandex. Knit gloves usually have a wrist cuff that fastens around the wrist for a tight fit. Such gloves are ideal for hand protection. 

Maintaining knit gloves requires careful washing, but this fabric requires less care than spandex. Like spandex, they should be handwashed. A standard washing involves filling a bucket with lukewarm water and pouring shampoo. Do not use laundry detergent as it is too strong for knit fabric and may damage it. Add a few drops of conditioner if you want the gloves to remain soft after washing. During handwashing, get as much soap soaked in the fabric as possible. Rinse and rub the gloves until the soap suds are completely washed off.  Press the gloves on a flat surface to drain the water rather than twisting them. Twisting the fabric will damage the fibers and make them twisted. The drying should be done by leaving them flat under the sun. Do not hang the gloves on the clothesline. 

Leather Gloves

Leather gloves are some of the most common gloves, and both household users and industrial workers use them. They are mainly used for heavy-duty jobs requiring a strong grip and contact with rough surfaces. Construction workers also use them. Leather gloves are constructed from animal hides, and the color range is limited to brown and black shades. Leather gloves have the longest usage life of all glove types, but their drawback is that they are not stretchable and cannot fit all hand types. As far as protection is concerned, they provide superior protection for palms, fingers, and wrists. 

Cleaning leather gloves starts from removing dust and dirt particles that stick to the surface. This can be done by dusting the glove with a toothbrush or bristle brush. Leather gloves should be washed with saddle soap. Rub some saddle soap and then rinse it while completely covering the fingers. Make use of a wet cloth to remove the soap. You do not need to submerge the leather gloves into the water as this would damage the leather. However, to wash them well, you should repeat the process to remove the dirt completely. Once the washing is complete, the drying begins. Leather gloves should be dried on a flat surface away from the sun, and the drying should occur at a mild temperature. Stretch the gloves by hand at intervals during the drying procedure.

Conclusion

Keeping your work gloves clean can significantly extend their lifespan and provide you with a reliable pair for years. Regular cleaning reduces the risk of gradual damage, ensuring the glove material remains strong and durable, leading to less frequent replacements. Additionally, maintaining cleanliness preserves the quality and longevity of any design on the back of promotional gloves. By following the appropriate cleaning instructions for your specific glove material, you can enjoy clean, functional gloves for as long as necessary.