At first glance, I thought this would be a pretty simple and straightforward question to answer. Boy, was I wrong! Apparently, the internet has a wide sampling of information on rubber gloves, but most of it is of the fetish variety and after clicking on a few seemingly innocent looking websites I needed to wash my eyeballs! I decided it was probably simpler and safer to call a manufacturer and ask about using rubber gloves for those things they actually list on the box!

According to the nice folks at Playtex Products Inc. the main ingredients in their living gloves is natural latex (rubber) and neoprene. Because of the latex, which does break down over time, the average lifespan of a pair of household gloves, used daily for routine household uses and kept clean and dry when not in use, is about 2-3 months. While there isn't much you can do to make them last longer you can shorten their lifespan by not storing them properly or doing obvious things like poking them with knives. You'll know you're reaching your glove's golden age when they become sticky, swollen, or discolored. When they start feeling tacky, they need to be replaced but you can get a few more useful chores out of them. Put on the sticky gloves and wipe your hands across the couch or other surface that's got pet hair stuck on it, or take Rover outside for a vigorous rubdown! The loose hair will stick to the glove. Then just toss them, hair and all! The gloves, I mean, not the dog.

If you use gloves often, keep a spare pair handy in case you accidentally poke a hole in one while wrist deep in hot dishwater! Also, be on the lookout for the development of latex allergy and contact dermatitis from wearing the gloves. Contact dermatitis is not an allergy, but an irritation from the friction or moisture in the gloves. A true latex allergy can range from red, sore, itchy skin where the gloves touched, to severe, full blown, systemic allergy symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, difficulty breathing or hives. Some people can even have a reaction from the powder used to line latex gloves if it gets in the air! Fortunately, for people sensitive to latex, there are gloves on the market that are latex free.

Of course, if your question wasn't about the more common household uses. I'll leave you to search the internet for yourself. The information is out there (oh gosh, is it out there!) and easy to find. I haven't had such a rude awakening on the 'net since I tried to help a friend find some extra large sized cloth diapers for her potty training toddler!