I know! I know! A weird topic…. but this may well turn into a bit of a rant. Don’t you find though that often it is the silliest, tiniest things that can be the most irritating?
It has taken a few years but I’ve finally (I think and hope) found garden gloves that last! I’ve had my Showa pair for nearly 3 years now. Outdoor gloves for Alfie are a challenge – we’re still working on that.
When working around the house, I don’t use rubber gloves all the time, but you just need to wear rubber gloves for certain jobs, especially if you have sensitive skin.
And to be honest, I am sick and tired of buying gloves that only last a few days, or more correctly a few minutes usage.
As my sister said recently they should sell them individually! And she’s right.
It is always the right-hand one that goes on me. So currently in my press I have FIVE left-hand gloves.
And only ONE LEAKING right-hand one!!!!!
So here’s my analysis of three different brands that I’ve bought over the past few months.
I’ve bought the expensive ones – Marigold Extra Tough Outdoor – €4.49 – only used them indoors and yes, they lasted a bit longer than other brands but ultimately the same problem occurs.
I’ve bought the medium priced ones – Killeen Super Strong – €1.69 – thought I’d support an Irish company – they didn’t last any time.
I’ve bought the cheap ones – around .50c in Aldi – thinking at least I could replace them regularly at that price! They lasted about 3 or 4 uses! So I’d need to buy a pair a week, thus adding to my selection of left-hand gloves.
The same thing happens in each of them, after a very short time, they wear thin either at the thumb and forefinger junction, or the tip of the finger and leak.
And always, always the right-hand one.
Is there anything worse than a leaking rubber glove? I HATE the feeling and the smell.
So rubber glove manufacturers, is there anything that can be done about this?
Can we go and buy a stack of right-hand gloves or left-hand ones? Should we start a ‘swap’ club for rubber glove wearers – I could pair up with a left-handed person?
Has anyone else had this trivial but annoying problem?
Has anyone found a glove that lasts?
A Year In Redwood 
I find with blue coloured gloves, if you use them in very hot water, the blue melts a bit and gets on crockery, presses, etc., in fact anything you touch!
Colette,
I’ve not tried blue ones… but seriously they wear out so quickly it’s driving me mad! My last right-hand one went last night!!!!
M
Delighted to read of your trivial but irritating issue which befalls our house frequently. Your sister is so right! When oh when will there be single gloves for purchase. Maybe we should write to the manufacturers or better still march on the streets? After all our skin is important to us! Like you I have had many lefties under the kitchen sink but no longer as I’ve now dumped them all. I detest doing so as they’ll end up in landfill and take a hundred million years to break down. Why don’t you let the manufacturers of rubber gloves know about this. Let’s get a petition signed. After all it is an environmental concern. In our house now I refuse point blank to wear them opting for surgical gloves instead which I turn inside out after using and reuse for dusting or other later on. Occasionally I use Derma Guard Skin Protector which is an effective barrier to water-induced reactions Have you tried Bizzybees yet? Heard they’re great I’ve yet to try ’em https://www.facebook.com/Bizzybeeuk Let me know when you’ll be marching!!
Ena,
You are right! We should march!
No I haven’t tried Bizzybees must go check them out.
Margaret
Dee had sourced some gardening gloves that last well and I keep meaning to order myself a pair. Regarding indoor or outdoors jobs that I do need gloves for, I just grab a handful of the disposable gloves from the milking parlour every so often – can be used on either hand and depending on the job, can last 2 or 3 wears.
Lorna,
maybe that is the route I should go – just get the disposable ones – 2 or 3 wears is better than some of the rubber ones!!! I’m serious.
Margaret
You’re very good keeping the left one, I usually throw both after one goes on me, never thought of keeping them… I will now!
And now you know to turn the ‘left one’ inside out and then you have a pair!!!! 🙂
Haha! I could swap you some of my good righties for some of your lefties. Maybe we could set up a column in the newspaper personal ads..”Desperately Seeking Rubber Glove for Lonely Single of a Pair”.
Love the idea of ‘desperately seeking’! And, of course, someone has come up with such an obvious and brilliant solution! Turn your right or left hand glove inside out – and hey presto! you have a glove that will fit the other hand. 🙂
[…] that rant which someone described as a ‘first world’ problem….. all about those rubber […]
Marigold definitely do seem to be the best. Tried Kileen a few times, they just don’t last and refuse to shop in Lidl or Aldi…
The small size fits me best but usually buy a medium and can get quite a few weeks out of a pair, maybe the extra space in the glove helps them not rip too quickly. Only use them in the house though, like to get my hands into the dirt and it’s good bacteria as much as possible!!
Hi Linda,
Yes, I’ve resorted to just buying the extra tough ones from Marigold and they seem to last the best.
Margaret
Delighted to read the comments. My local shop has changed to Killeen . Useless. So I’m searching for Marigold. I have a few left hand ones. Funnily I think it’s only in the last year that the right hand one perishes faster than the left hand
And the funniest part of all was before this blog post, I’d never thought of turning the left hand ones inside out……. doh!
So happy to see I am not the only one with loads of left hand gloves, I have tried turning them inside out but my hands get hot and sweaty, but good tip tho’
Thank you Ros, I know it’s not quite the same when they’re turned inside out… but a little talcum powder helps 🙂
Happy New Year!
Margaret