Glove 101
Cleaning Instructions
Laundering gloves can help in saving costs. Gloves made from high-quality materials can be washed to increase their wear life without impeding performance.
Glove 101
Glove Laundering
Laundering gloves can help in saving costs. Gloves made from high-quality materials can be washed to increase their wear life without impeding performance.
Ideally leather gloves should be dry cleaned.
If you plan to wash your leather gloves at home, you will want to use a leather conditioning soap that will replenish the oils back into gloves.
Wash in hot water (170°F/75°C)
Tumble dry high heat (155°F/70°C)
No bleach
When washing gloves made with para-aramid or meta-aramid materials, avoid using bleach at all costs. Using bleach will damage the gloves almost immediately. Long exposure to UV light also weakens the materials and shortens the gloves’ lifespan. Therefore, they should not be kept under direct sunlight for too long when drying.
Wash in warm water (105°F/40°C)
Tumble dry on low heat
Safe to bleach
Nylon and polyester are thermoplastic materials, which means they can melt when exposed to heat. When laundering gloves made of these materials, ensure that you do not use high or sanitation heat.
Wash in cold water (85°F/30°C)
Tumble dry on low or no heat
HPPE is a thermoplastic material, which means it can melt when exposed to heat. With cotton there is the risk of shrinkage. For this reason, while you can use regular detergents and bleach for HPPE and cotton gloves, avoid using high or sanitation heat.
To learn how to clean and disinfect reusable chemical gloves, click here
Palm coatings are generally tough enough to handle any type of washing cycle. It’s the glove shell material they’re coated on that requires special consideration.
For coated gloves, follow the cleaning instruction of the glove shell material they’re coated on.
Rinse in hot water and mild detergent
Reverse to dry inner liner
You can use a mild detergent and hot water to wash the outside and inside of chemical gloves. Hang them in a clean space to dry.
Wash in cold water (85°F / 30°C)
Tumble dry low heat
Safe to bleach
Do not wash acrylic in hot water. While the material does not shrink, it will stretch out if hot water is used.
For safety gloves with mixed materials, give preference and accommodate for the following:
- Do not use high heat for thermoplastic materials like HPPE, nylon, and polyester
- Do not use bleach or high heat for gloves with hypodermic puncture protection
- Dry clean gloves with leather
Wash in warm water (105°F / 40°C)
Tumble dry
Safe to bleach
Wool is a natural material that is inherently heat resistant and can be washed in warm temperatures, but when drying, only use cooler temperatures or low heat to prevent shrinkage.
To learn how to clean and disinfect reusable chemical gloves, click here