Which Disposable Gloves Are Best for Coronavirus Protection?

We compare popular disposable glove options and explain how to use them correctly.

Do Gloves Protect Against Viruses?

There is no global consensus on whether gloves reduce the risk of infection. Health ministries often recommend wearing gloves in public spaces, while organizations like the WHO and the US CDC consider this precaution unnecessary.

However, studies confirm that disposable medical gloves can protect the skin from bacteria and viruses. It’s important to note this protection applies only to the skin itself: if you touch your eyes or nose with gloved hands, viruses can still reach your mucous membranes just as easily as with bare hands.

Regardless, if your area mandates glove use in public, you’ll need to purchase some. Below, we review the main types of disposable gloves, highlighting which provide virus protection, comfort, and tactile sensitivity.

Which Disposable Gloves Should You Buy?

Latex Gloves

Made from natural rubber latex, these gloves are strong, elastic, fit snugly, and offer excellent tactile sensitivity.

Undamaged latex gloves can block viruses as small as 0.025 microns (the coronavirus particle is about 0.1 microns). However, they are sensitive to harsh chemicals and should not be treated with alcohol-based solutions.

Latex gloves may cause allergic reactions in some people due to natural rubber proteins. Symptoms include itching, rash, warmth, hives, or eczema, which can appear immediately or after prolonged use. If you experience these, switch to alternative disposable gloves.

Latex gloves typically cost around $0.70 per pair. Sets of 50–100 gloves are widely available online.

Recommended Products

• ARCHDALE Latex Gloves, 100 pcs, $21.50
• Powdered Latex Gloves, 100 pcs, $14.60

Nitrile Gloves

These gloves are made from synthetic nitrile rubber, ideal for those allergic to natural latex. They offer equal virus protection as latex gloves.

Nitrile gloves are more durable and resistant to chemicals, making them suitable for disinfection with alcohol and cleaning with harsh agents.

If you wear gloves frequently or work in public spaces, nitrile gloves are a top choice due to their strength, chemical resistance, and comfort. Prices are similar to latex gloves, around $0.55–$0.70 per pair for packs of 50–100.

Recommended Products

• MediOK Nitrile Gloves, 100 pcs, $19.50
• Black Nitrile Gloves, 100 pcs, $17.40

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves are made from polyvinyl chloride plastic. They fit snugly and provide good tactile sensitivity, making them comfortable for work.

They resist acids and alcohols but provide less virus protection compared to latex and nitrile gloves. Studies show vinyl gloves allow microbes through in 63% of cases, versus 7% for latex gloves.

Vinyl gloves are commonly used in industries like cosmetology, cleaning, and manufacturing, where protection from chemicals is needed but virus protection is less critical.

They are more affordable, costing around $0.30–$0.45 per pair in packs of 100.

Recommended Products

• Vinyl Gloves, 100 pcs, $19.00
• Black Vinyl Gloves, 100 pcs, $17.00

Polyethylene Gloves

These gloves offer minimal tactile sensitivity and feel like wearing thin plastic bags on your hands. They are uncomfortable for extended use because they don’t allow air circulation, causing sweating.

There is no clear data on virus protection, but since they block air, it’s assumed viruses cannot penetrate them.

Their main advantage is low cost—about $0.03–$0.05 per pair in packs of 100–500. If you only need gloves for quick errands like grocery shopping, these are an economical option for long-term use.

Recommended Products

• Polyethylene Gloves, 100 pcs, $3.20
• TEXTOP Polyethylene Gloves, 100 pcs, $3.20
• Polyethylene Gloves, 500 pcs, $19.80

How Long Can You Wear Disposable Gloves?

Disposable gloves should be worn for no longer than 2 hours. After that, discard them instead of trying to disinfect. This is especially important for latex gloves, which can become more permeable after contact with alcohol-based solutions.

Repeated use of synthetic gloves risks compromising their integrity, negating their protective benefits.

How to Properly Put On and Remove Gloves

Wearing gloves does not replace handwashing, as microbes on glove surfaces can transfer to your skin when removing them.

Always sanitize your hands immediately after removing gloves, whether you’re returning home or changing gloves after 2 hours. Proper removal technique reduces virus transfer risk:

• Pinch the glove at the wrist without touching bare skin.
• Peel the glove off inside out, holding it in your gloved hand.
• Slide bare fingers under the remaining glove at the wrist and peel it off inside out over the first glove.
• Dispose of the gloves bundle in a trash bin.
• Wash your hands thoroughly.

Remember, gloves are not a substitute for other safety measures. Continue disinfecting your phone and items touched in public. Gloves serve as a reminder not to touch your face or eat with contaminated hands, effectively reducing infection risk when used correctly.

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