Caring at Home
Powder-free nitrile in the right size is the answer for almost every family carer. Why material and fit matter more than price, and how to size yours.
OMS Clinical Team
Product Specialists
For almost every family carer the answer is powder-free nitrile, in a size that fits your hand properly. It is latex-free, so neither of you can have an allergic reaction to it, and it resists tearing far better than vinyl.
| Material | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrile | Almost all home care | Slightly dearer than vinyl, worth it |
| Vinyl | Very short, low-risk tasks | Tears easily, weaker barrier |
| Latex | Fine dexterity work | Allergy risk for either of you |
Latex allergy is the reason most care settings have moved away from it. It can develop over time with repeated exposure, so a person who has used latex gloves for years without trouble can still become sensitised. At home, where you may be the only person doing this every day, that risk is not worth taking.
Size matters more than people expect. Measure across your palm at the knuckles, excluding the thumb, and match it to the table below.
| Palm width | Size |
|---|---|
| Under 70mm | XS |
| 70 to 80mm | S |
| 80 to 95mm | M |
| 95 to 110mm | L |
| Over 110mm | XL |
Powdered gloves were once common and are now avoided. The powder can irritate skin, carries latex proteins into the air where latex gloves are used, and leaves residue on whatever you touch. Every glove worth buying today is powder-free.
A slightly better glove used once beats a cheaper glove used twice, and it is kinder to the skin of the person you care for.
Changing gloves properly between tasks means six to ten pairs on an ordinary day of personal care. A box of 100 covers roughly a fortnight. Buying at that scale is not overbuying, it is what stops you rationing gloves at the point when you should be changing them.
Our home care essentials selection stocks powder-free nitrile gloves from XS to XL, and our guide to changing gloves covers when to use a fresh pair.
Caring at Home
