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How to Repair Rubber Gloves in Five Quick Steps

Fact checked by Andrew Carnegie

how to repair rubber gloves

Rubber kitchen gloves protect our hands from cuts, chemicals, hot water, and contamination. They are so necessary that almost every household has at least a pair. The downside is that they are easily punctured and become unusable.

Fortunately, you can repair torn rubber in five easy steps. So, don’t rush to discard deteriorated gloves! With our guide on how to repair rubber gloves, you can save money, skip a trip to the supermarket, and reduce the amount of trash in the landfill.

Step-By-Step Guide to Fix Rubber Gloves

repair-torn-rubber

You won’t need much other than what you already have at home. Gather the following to repair your rubber gloves:

  • Rubber repair compound or super glue
  • Scissors
  • Alcohol and cotton balls
  • Baking soda and soap (optional)

If the holes are big, sealant alone won’t fix them. You will need a rubber string or a rubber piece from an old glove to patch the area.

Steps to Repairing Punctured Kitchen Gloves

Step 1. Wash the gloves (optional)

glove-fingertip-repair

Since you will use glue to seal the punctures, prepare a nice, clean surface. You can skip this step if your gloves are not grimy. But if you are working with rubber work gloves, proceed to wash them as follows.

  • Sprinkle baking soda on oily spots and leave them for about five minutes for the powder to absorb the oil
  • Shake off the powder or remove it with a cloth
  • Add a few drops of dish soap and rub the gloves under running water
  • Rinse off the soap suds
  • Hang the pair to dry naturally
  • Repeat the steps to the interior of the gloves
  • Note: Remember to be gentle. You don’t want to extend the holes on your torn gloves.

Step 2. Prepare the damaged areas

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Place your gloves under a bright light to inspect all tears and holes. Then, soak a cotton ball in alcohol and wipe the surfaces around the holes.

This step will remove any remaining dirt or soap residue and help the glue adhere tightly. Give a few minutes for the alcohol to evaporate.

Step 3. Repair the holes

super-glue-fix-all-adhesive

For holes under half an inch, you only need a rubber repair compound or super glue fix-all adhesive. Follow this procedure:

  • Apply the rubber repair compound to the area around the hole
  • Spread it into a thin, even layer to cover the damage
  • Let the adhesive fully cure for around 24 hours

For bigger holes, grab a rubber string or an old glove and follow these steps:

  • Cut a piece of rubber that is big enough to cover the hole
  • Apply adhesive to the area surrounding the damaged site
  • Wait thirty seconds for the glue to dry
  • Place the rubber on top of the hole to patch it
  • Wait until the glue cure fully

You can use the same procedure for glove fingertip repair.

Step 4. Turn the glove inside out and repeat

Now, turn the glove inside out and repeat the steps for the deteriorated areas. You should wipe them with alcohol before applying adhesive. Since kitchen gloves contact water daily, you need this step to help reinforce the patch.

Step 5. Test the glove

When the adhesive is completely dry, put the glove on and stretch your fingers to check if the holes are entirely covered.

In addition, blow air inside the glove and twist the wrist to trap the air inside. Then, fill a sink with water, place the gloves in it, and check for water bubbles. Bubbles only appear when there is a hole in the glove.

FAQs

rubber-kitchen-gloves

How to repair PVC with fiberglass?

Is there a leak in your kitchen pipe? You don’t need to call the plumber for such an easy task. Fiberglass PVC pipe repair will take you less than five minutes. Grab some fiberglass resin tape and follow this procedure:

  • Identify the leak and clean the area around it with a damp rag
  • While the site is still wet, wrap the tape around it
  • Wait 10 – 15 minutes for the resin to harden

Fiberglass resin is water-activated, which means moisture will harden and secure it against the pipe. In fifteen minutes, the leak will stop.

Why do rubber gloves go sticky?

Since rubber kitchen gloves contact hot water and chemicals daily, they can break down. That’s when rubber gloves get sticky relatively fast, especially latex ones.

You can try to remove the stickiness with anti-grease dish soap. Put on the gloves, add the soap, and rub your hands together to wash. Make sure to scrub thoroughly to remove all the grease. Then, rinse with warm water.

If washing with anti-grease soap doesn’t make the gloves less sticky, you should discard them. Using them will put rubber residue on your skin and household items.

How do you keep holes out of dishwashing gloves?

To make rubber gloves last longer, ensure you store them away from sunlight, heat, and pointy objects. 

Heat will melt the gloves and turn them into sticky messes. Sharp objects like knives, shears, and forks, can penetrate the rubber and render it useless. You should be attentive when wearing gloves, too. Don’t pick up pointy objects carelessly.

How long can a single pair of gloves be worn?

You should never wear single-use gloves for more than four hours. When you exceed the regulated time, switch to a new pair of gloves.

Prolonged use of disposable gloves results in excessive sweat, which creates an environment for bacteria to grow. Plus, the gloves will become slippery and more likely to tear or split.

How to make DIY dishwashing gloves from plastic bags?

You can easily make protective gloves at home from plastic bags. To begin, place one hand on the bag and trace its outline. Then, cut slightly larger than the outline to ensure the glove fits. Finally, put your clothing iron on a low setting and heat the edges.

The heat will melt the two layers of plastic and seal them together. You can use these gloves to wash dishes, pick up trash, and shower your pet. However, they might feel hot and stuffy when you wear them extensively.

Conclusion

Don’t throw away a pair of kitchen gloves when they are fixable. When you repair damaged rubber gloves, you save the environmental cost of producing new ones.

Now that you know how to repair rubber gloves, when will you proceed to fix yours? Are there any tips you want to share? Let us know in the comment section.

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