Can we reuse disposable nitrile gloves?

Though life is a roller coaster ride for all of us, we crossed all the obstacles with great determination and courage. But we haven’t expected a situation like the COVID-19 outbreak. A pandemic outbreak is one of the worst situations we have ever faced globally. Suddenly, shut the world down under complete lockdown and advised everyone to stay home. But we learned hygiene, which is the core understanding of the pandemic. It resembled the great saying that Cleanliness is next to godliness.

People who go with bare hands started to wear gloves. Gloves paved the path for contactless support. Disposable gloves have become a significant concept not only for pandemics even today. But do you know how to reuse gloves? Or have you ever reused disposable gloves? Else do you know which type of nitrile gloves can be reused?

During the pandemic, the gloves manufacturers earned a massive profit over the previous years. According to WHO reports, 1 million tonnes of disposable gloves are used and collected as debris in a single month of the year 2020. While reading this blog, the covid may prevail or go off but leaves with a massive amount of gloves debris. So, we are in urge to reduce this waste typically. Reusing nitrile gloves may reduce 50% tonnes of debris and lowers the manufacturing of 2 gloves for each. Well, To know more, keep on reading.

Nitrile gloves 

In 1964, the manufacturing company Ansell established the first disposable latex gloves. Eventually, gloves made of latex became an allergy and caused severe skin infections in most people globally. Hence, gloves made of non-latex such as neoprene, nitrile, and vinyl are manufactured to avoid the misconception. 

Nitrile gloves are synthetic nitrile rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene that doesn’t contain latex. Due to their polymerization, nitrile gloves are highly resistant to chemicals, oils, and fuels.

Can you reuse disposable nitrile gloves?

No. You cannot reuse disposable nitrile gloves under any circumstances. Disposable nitrile gloves are a type of PPE-Personal protective equipment which is unsuitable for decontamination, washing, or reusing. If you try to clean or reuse disposable nitrile gloves, the solvent used to clean the gloves may disturb the structure and quality of the gloves and result in enriching the spread of bacteria and viruses to the patient or users.

Is it safe to reuse disposable nitrile gloves?

Most people have concern is safe to reuse disposable nitrile gloves? Well, No. It is not safe to reuse disposable nitrile gloves. Reusing disposable nitrile gloves causes severe allergy and is prone to viral and bacterial infections. Hence, you’re advised to discard the disposable nitrile gloves after every use.

How can you limit the use of disposable nitrile gloves?

The name disposable nitrile gloves tell you they must dispose of after every use. Meanwhile, you can limit the usage of disposable nitrile gloves by following the below steps.

Step1: Before buying a disposable glover, know your size.

Step2: Know when to employ disposable and reusable nitrile gloves.

Step3: Store the disposable gloves in a safe environment to avoid contamination.

Why can’t you reuse disposable nitrile gloves?

Most people usually wear disposable nitrile gloves to prevent spreading infections to people working in restaurants, hospitals, and industries. According to the World Health Organization, you shouldn’t wear gloves outside. It is because they give a false sense of security. At the same time, you can’t reuse disposable nitrile gloves as it is meant for single-time use.

Washing gloves can abruptly disrupt the integrity of the gloves and is not recommended. For reuse, as per the CDC, it is advisable that disposable nitrile gloves must be discarded after each cleaning and should not be used for any other purposes. Also, clean your hands after removing the gloves immediately.

What type of nitrile gloves can be reused?

People usually think that disposable nitrile and powdered and non-powdered gloves are only available in the market. But there is one more category called reusable nitrile gloves, which are a typical pair of gloves that are available and sold in pairs. The name reusable nitrile gloves itself will inform you can reuse these gloves. Reusable nitrile gloves are comparatively thicker than disposable gloves. The reusable nitrile gloves withstand high temperatures, solvents, soap solutions, and frequently used cleaning agents. Though reusable nitrile gloves are expensive, you can reuse them multiple times, either sanitizing or cleaning them.

How many times can you reuse disposable nitrile gloves?

During the pandemic outbreak, there was a shortage in manufacturing disposable nitrile gloves. However, you can’t reuse disposable nitrile gloves because disposable nitrile gloves are discarded after every use. These gloves are meant for single-time use, and you can’t reuse them. Reusing disposable gloves may cause various health issues. Wearing gloves must protect you from diseases and should not promote your conditions.

How often should you change your nitrile gloves?

Most gloves nowadays are FDA-approved. Though FDA approved if you’re using disposable nitrile gloves, changing them every 4-5 hours is suggested. But if you’re performing a task constantly, you can discard or change it after completing the task in a day. Whereas if you’re using reusable nitrile gloves, you can change them after 3-4 days because they are reusable. So, you can wash, clean, and dry them before using them for the next cycle. Hence, they don’t allow pathogens to spread and contaminate. But ensure while continuously you’re using the gloves, it is recommended to wash your hands every 1 hour to stay away from infections.

Types of Nitrile gloves

Nitrile gloves always come under two categories they are

• Medical-Grade nitrile gloves
• Industrial-Grade nitrile gloves 

Medical-Grade nitrile gloves

If you’re working with direct and indirect pathogens, you’re suggested to use medical nitrile gloves. Because these gloves are designed and tested for medical fields such as hospitals, emergency wards, and testing laboratories, they are FDA approved and designed with specific features to ensure they resist bacteria, viruses, fungus, and even microorganisms.

Industrial-Grade nitrile gloves

These gloves are specifically designed for industrial applications such as handling harmful chemicals, the automotive industry, and tattoo stores. These gloves are highly resistant to chemicals and are used for various purposes.

7 Steps to clean reusable nitrile gloves

Before reusing the nitrile gloves, it is more important to clean them. You can follow the below steps, which will help you to reuse your gloves.

Step1: Take a bowl of warm water. Don’t use hot or boiling water to avoid holes and punctures.

Step2: Add some soap solution or certified solvents to the bowl.

Step3: Drop the gloves into the water bowl and set them aside for 10 minutes.

Step4: After 10 minutes, start squeezing the gloves until the dirt is removed.

Step5: Rinse the gloves to obliterate the soap solution.

Step6: Fill the gloves with water and check for any holes or punctures. If so, then they are not suitable for reuse.

Step7: Dry the gloves under the sunlight. If you are in a closed space, dry them using the dryer.

Are nitrile gloves medically graded?

Yes, there are medical-grade nitrile gloves. They are the first non-surgical gloves employed in all kinds of health centers. Sometimes they are also referred to as Exam graded gloves.

How to store nitrile gloves?

Though the nitrile gloves withstand high temperatures, it doesn’t mean you can store them anyway. To extend their life span, keep the nitrile gloves in a cool, dark, and dry environment. As nitrile gloves are made of synthetic polymers, over a period, they will deteriorate due to the presence of sunlight, heat, and moisture. Nitrile gloves have high durability. Hence they should handle with care when employing reactive chemicals and tarnishing metals and silvers. They quickly react to them with nitrile gloves. If properly stored, you can have the stock for almost 1.5-2 years.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nitrile Gloves

There are various advantages to using nitrile gloves few of them are

• More durable than latex
• Resistant towards puncture and high sensitivity
• It fits precisely to the size
• Acts as a barrier in challenging situations
• Protects from various microorganisms and harsh chemicals
• Longevity and comfortable
• Resistant toward fuel, oils, and gases.
• Avail in both non-powdered and powdered form,

Some disadvantages are high cost, need more care to store, and need to be appropriately maintained.

Conclusion

Together globally, we have overcome all the situations. Hence, to continue this hygiene and Cleanliness, gloves are necessary. More than wearing, it is essential to wash your hands frequently. Limit the usage of disposable nitrile gloves and opt for reusable nitrile gloves to contribute to the zero-waste environment. Hence, keep green, go green. Stay connected for more.