4 Best Dishwashing Gloves, Tested by Cleaning Experts
With these top-tested gloves, your hands stay dry and fully protected.
Reviewed by Carolyn FortéHome Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director
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Dishwashing gloves are an item that can easily get overlooked among dishwashing essentials, yet they are quite a handy tool to have in your dishwashing arsenal. Whether scrubbing stubborn grease off pans or rinsing delicate glassware, the right pair of dishwashing gloves can make all the difference. A great pair of dishwashing gloves not only shields your skin from harsh detergents and hot water but also enhances your grip and prevents water from getting all over your hands and arms.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we test just about everything related to washing dishes, from dishwashers to dishwasher detergents, and everything in between including dishwashing gloves. In our latest round of testing, we evaluated 11 pairs of dishwashing gloves to find the best ones based on performance, ease of use and fit, as well as considering the overall value.
Pros
- Cuffs prevent water from running down your arm
- Flexible material for easy hand movement
- Excellent grip
Cons
- May not fit as well on smaller hands
These dishwashing gloves are our best overall pick, standing out for their thoughtful design and functionality. A distinct feature is the ability to roll the ends of the gloves over which create cuffs to catch dripping water. When we tested these at home, the gloves effectively prevented water from running down our arms. When not cuffed, the gloves extend to just below the elbow, and their longer length helps protect your arms from splashes.
We also appreciated that the gloves are made with flexible latex material, allowing you to move your hands freely while scrubbing dishes. The gloves textured surface enhances the grip and dishes did not slip while washing them. They were excellent at protecting our hands from hot water.
In addition, the felt liner feels soft and makes them easy to put on and take off. However, a minor drawback is that the fingers may be slightly long for those with smaller hands, even in a size small.
Pros
- Shorter finger length and slim fit
- Longer length helps protect arms
- Has felt lining
Cons
- Come out of the package very wrinkled
If you have small hands, you know the struggle of buying the smallest size of dishwashing gloves only to find they’re still too big and the fingers are too long. Not only is this Playtex pair an excellent value, but out of the dishwashing gloves we tested, the size small had a shorter finger length and slim fit to accommodate smaller hands and ensure a proper grip while doing dishes.
The gloves' longer length extends just below the elbow, offering ample coverage and protection. They effectively protect hands from hot water and the interior felt liner makes them easy to put on and take off. A minor downside is that they came out of the box very wrinkled, but some of the creases disappear after multiple uses.
Soft Scrub Premium Comfort Latex Free Cleaning Gloves
Pros
- Latex-free
- Interior feels ultra soft
- Excellent grip
Cons
- May be too short if rolling them over to create cuff
Those who want to avoid latex can appreciate these dishwashing gloves from Soft Scrub that are made with vinyl. When putting on these gloves, we immediately noticed the thick felt on the inside, making them feel ultra-soft and comfortable. Plus, it makes it easy to slip the gloves on and off.
With the textured surface on the fingers and palms, the gloves offer excellent grip, providing a firm hold on dishes. They extend up to the mid-forearm and stay in place, and did a good job of protecting our hands from hot water. They fit securely on our hands without too much excess material too.
You can roll these over to create a cuff, but some may find the length is too short and allows for water to run inside.
Juvale Heavy Duty Rubber Cleaning Gloves, 2 Pairs
Pros
- Extra thick
- Available in size extra-large
- Protects hands from hot water
Cons
- Extra thick material makes moving hands more difficult
Out of the dishwashing gloves we tested, these stood out for their sturdy feel, making them an ideal choice for those seeking a heavy-duty pair. The gloves are notably thicker to provide extra protection and durability, so you can scour dirty pans without worrying about ripping the glove.
Unlike other gloves with a felt liner, these feature a knit cotton lining. While not as soft as felt lining, the knit material helps reduce fingers slipping inside and enhances grip and control.
These Juvale gloves are among the few options available in an extra-large size, catering to individuals with larger hands or those who prefer a more spacious fit. They are about mid-arm length and provided solid protection from hot water. One thing to note: The extra thickness makes it harder to maneuver your hands so these aren’t the best for washing delicate or intricate items.
Other dishwashing gloves we tested
- These Mr. Clean Duet Gloves are a great value offering a good fit and hand protection. However, the Playtex Living gloves we recommend had slightly more grip with a longer length at nearly the same price.
- The Full Circle Splash Patrol Gloves and the Grove Co. Gloves dishwashing gloves are nearly identical to each other. We liked the fabric cuffs, which absorb water instead of just catching it, but they don’t protect much of your arm since they are shorter in length.
- The Martha Stewart Latex Gloves with Aloe performed well in our tests, however the other ones we recommend have a better fit and grip at a similar price. We also didn’t notice any difference in the softness of our hands with the “aloe-infused” material.
- These Bamllum Cleaning Gloves dishwashing gloves performed well, but aren't lined, making them hard to put on if your hands are slightly damp. However, they have shorter fingers than most gloves, so they may be worth checking out if you have shorter fingers and the lack of lining isn’t an issue for you.
- The Soft Scrub Neoprene Coated Gloves are thick, making them seem durable. However, we couldn’t get past the fact it had some sort of powder on the outside and inside of the glove which stung a few very small open cuts on our fingers.
- These Spontex Bluettes Gloves are extremely thick and run on the larger side. Though we found the material was so stiff, it was hard to move our hands when wearing them so they're better suited for heavy-duty jobs rather than everyday dishes.
How we test dishwashing gloves
When the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab evaluates dishwashing gloves, we evaluate each pair considering factors when it comes to performance, ease of use and fit.
When testing dishwashing gloves, we evaluate each pair by using them to wash dishes and load the dishwasher. We assess whether the material provides a good grip and observe whether or not the dishes slip out of our hands.
While wearing a glove, we hold our hand under hot water for a minimum of 15 seconds to check if they effectively protect from heat.
For gloves with cuffs, we fully wet the gloved hands and raise our arms vertically to determine if they protect against water running down the gloves onto the arms.
We note if the gloves have an inner lining and try on each pair to assess ease of putting them on and removing them.
To evaluate overall fit, one person tries on the same size glove for each brand, noting factors such as finger length and tightness, or looseness around the hand. We also consider the glove's length on the arm.
What to look for when shopping for the best dishwashing gloves
✔️ Material: Many dishwashing gloves are made with latex. Individuals with latex allergies or aversions should check the material content and opt for gloves made from alternative materials like vinyl or nitrile.
✔️ Folded cuffs: Consider choosing gloves with folded cuffs. These are specifically designed to catch water running down your arm and prevent it from seeping into the opening of the glove, which helps keep your hands and wrists dry while washing dishes.
✔️ Arm length: Dishwashing gloves that extend higher on the arm are particularly useful when washing deep pots or dealing with unexpected splashes. The extra coverage helps protect your arms from water and detergent, reducing the chance of water dripping into the gloves.
✔️ Size: A snug-fitting glove makes it easier to pick up dishes and helps ensure they don’t slip from your hands. It's important to check the glove measurements to confirm the right fit, as sizing can vary between brands. Many brands provide only the palm width measurement for sizing. We found most glove fingers tend to run on the longer side. If you have small hands or shorter fingers, you may have to do additional research or consider our recommendations for smaller hands.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Carolyn Forté has tested dozens of cleaning products like dishwashing gloves in over 40 years of experience researching, testing and writing about cleaning products. As the executive director of the Cleaning Lab, she oversees all testing done by our reviews analysts, including dishwashing gloves. She also produces or oversees all the home care and cleaning tips and advice content appearing in the magazine and on the website.
Jamie Ueda is a contributing writer with almost two decades of experience in consumer products. She has tested and written about many home products, including all of the dishwashing gloves mentioned in this article.
Jamie Ueda is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
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