Cleaning gloves are worn to protect your hands from things like harsh cleaning chemicals, hot water and harmful bacteria that can be found during household or commercial cleaning. They can be used for tasks like washing dinnerware, scrubbing bathroom tiles with bathroom cleaners or cleaning surfaces with all-purpose cleaners. They can be made from materials like nitrile, latex and vinyl.

You should use rubber gloves when cleaning because they help protect your skin from irritation caused by harsh chemicals and block direct contact with germs and bacteria. Strong cleaners like bleach, oven cleaners and disinfectants can cause dryness, chemical burns or irritation when they touch skin. Rubber gloves can also provide extra grip when handling slippery cleaning tools like mops and brooms during heavy-duty cleaning tasks.

Disposable cleaning gloves are designed for single-use and are meant to be thrown in a garbage can immediately after they’re used. Reusable cleaning gloves are made from thicker materials and are meant to be washed and worn repeatedly for an extended period. Disposable gloves can be made from thin latex, vinyl or nitrile, while reusable gloves can be made from thicker rubber, silicone, neoprene or nitrile. Disposable gloves are best used for quick and messy jobs, while rubber gloves are better suited for longer chores like washing dishes or cleaning bathrooms.

Cleaning gloves should fit snug against your hands but shouldn’t feel tight or restrictive. Having a snug fit allows you to have a good grip on cleaning supplies and cleaning tools like dish soap, sweepers, vacuum cleaners and toilet brushes. It also stops the gloves from slipping off while cleaning. If the gloves are too tight, they can tear easily, and if they’re too loose, it can be hard to grip things and they can potentially fall off your hands.