Hand Washing Versus Wearing Gloves

Handwashing Dishes Without Gloves

• Some people find wearing gloves cumbersome and prefer direct, tactile contact with plates, glassware and everything they're washing. However, washing dishes without gloves is as unsafe as riding a bike without a helmet. In addition to that, by not wearing gloves your hands will age more quickly. If you're not used to wearing gloves, it's really not hard to make the transition. Look for gloves that fit a bit snugly so you maintain a sense of direct contact with the items you're washing.

Wearing Gloves

• Washing dishes with gloves is a better choice for safety and skincare benefits. In certain occupations, washing with gloves is mandatory, such as within the food service and health care industries. "In addition to hand washing, gloves play an important role in reducing the risks of transmission of microorganisms," states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Microorganisms are invisible to the naked eye. You may be unaware that you have a virus or infection, and if you don't wear gloves, you can spread infections to members in your household. If you suffer from any dermatological condition such as eczema or psoriasis, you must wear gloves whenever you wash dishes by hand. Otherwise, the exposure to the water will aggravate and prolong the skin disorder.

Similarities

• Whether you wear gloves or not, hand washing dishes provides better cleaning than washing dishes in a dishwasher. Glass items come out clean and sparkling, without that film residue that builds up after repeatedly washing glasses in a dishwasher. Hand washing dishes also allows you to target and tackle hard-to-remove food from plates and cookware, individually. Washing dishes in the sink, with or without gloves, is also the best way to clean precious specialty dinnerware, such as fine china and delicate stemware that are not dishwasher safe.

Differences

• When you hand wash dishes while wearing gloves, you can use much hotter water to help loosen matter, and you can add bleach and disinfectants to clean plates, bowls and silverware. You can also run dinnerware and cookware under a steady stream of hot water for a longer time. However, when you wash dishes with bare hands, you have to reduce the water temperature. This can result in spots left on dishes, remaining residue and extra time spent rewashing, keeping you in the kitchen on "dish duty" longer than necessary.