Part of my job is to clean restrooms. A friend recently told me that thin latex gloves that the company gives us may not be effective at keeping out germs. She said that low quality gloves may contain holes that are large enough to let germs through, but not really noticeable to the wearer. Should I buy my own reusable gloves or use the thin ones from the company?
2007-12-08 06:28:43 · 10 answers · asked by brenda s 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
That is a good question and without knowing what gloves you use, it would be hard to be fairly sure. What probably will be best is if you make sure that you don't have any open sores or much chapping on your hands. Skin is our first line of defense. So long as yours is in good condition, it will be a good barrier to germs. If you do have any type of wound, clean it well, use antibiotic ointment, and bandage it well. Plan to thoroughly clean and dress it after you are home and washed up. For chapped hands, use good lotion and leave it on over night. If badly chapped, try Eucerin as that's one of the better over-the-counter remedies out there.
When done at work, I'd use a good antibacterial soap and wash really, really well. When you get home, I assume you wash your clothing, keep your shoes near the door instead of walking in Lord only knows what, and take a good shower and shampoo your hair. If you do all that, you're not going to have more germs on you than anyone else, I'd say.
Do things to protect your immune system: don't smoke, get sufficient sleep (around 7-8 hours), drink around 8 glasses of water a day, get some Vitamin C--either as a pill or some orange juice or some kind of citrus daily. We do NOT manufacture our own Vitamin C, we must ingest it. Try to always NOT touch around your eyes, nose, or mouth with a dirty hand (and that goes for ALL of us as that's one way we share germs).
You will be exposed to SOME germs, but frankly, I suspect a little work for the immune system is a good thing. I'm concerned about all the antibacterial everything out there--we must be breeding more resistant strains with so much overusage by everyone. You've got a good reason, as do medical people, for wanting to get especially clean.
In some situations you might also want to double glove. Just remember that hands weren't meant to be in latex 8 hours a day--so that's hard on them as well.
2007-12-08 06:39:45 · answer #1 · answered by heyteach 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Germs are larger biological constructs than certain viruses. Thin latex gloves are like condoms, they normally are keeping bacteria away, but tests have been done showing that HIV may creep through thin latex membranes. I would recommend the premium and thicker gloves for your job.
2007-12-08 06:35:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be on the safe side? I recommend u buy ur own from a pharmacy . Those latex gloves are like doctor recommended. be safe then sorry. Hope this helps a little. Take care!
2007-12-08 06:33:16 · answer #3 · answered by 2p@c4lyf3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy your own disposible gloves from a medical supply store. IMO the best ones will be purple. You also might want to get masks so you do not breathe germs.
2007-12-08 06:32:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter what, just wash your hands after you're done cleaning. Even if bacteria can get through the gloves, a good scrubbing or some hand sanitizer should keep you from catching anything.
2007-12-08 06:33:22 · answer #5 · answered by Jasmine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Disposable one are best, just wash your hands after taking them off and that way if you did get any germs you will get rid of them. Reuusable gloves may be thicker and you may feel better protected, but they harbor bacteria and really need to be steralized after using anyway-so it seems easier to me to just use disposable ones and wash your hands. It really all just depends on what you prefer to do.
2007-12-08 06:39:42 · answer #6 · answered by Rainy Day Lady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think reusable gloves because they are thicker and prevent germs from getting on your skin, thus giving you a disease.
2007-12-08 06:33:44 · answer #7 · answered by wesley w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you feel safer buying your own gloves then by all means go for it. However if your current gloves are like the ones that emergancy workers,(fire,police ambulance ) wears then you can be assured that they are good gloves.
2007-12-08 06:32:32 · answer #8 · answered by Dr. SPHIL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're worried, use two gloves. In hospitals, some situations call for "double-gloving" where the risk goes down to nil.
2007-12-08 06:32:01 · answer #9 · answered by LucaPacioli1492 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try talcum powder. It's pretty harmless, and it's what the powdered gloves usually use. Your hands are absorbing the scent, so removing that may be hard, but if you use a flavorless gelatin, soaking your hands in that for a few minutes, it should remove the scent.
2016-05-22 04:46:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋