Protect your hands with disposable and nitrile gloves from Repco
Stay safe and clean with quality nitrile and latex gloves
Be up to your elbows in it but keep your hands clean with our range of disposable nitrile gloves from Repco. Stocking best selling disposable gloves from Mechanix Wear, The Glove Company, or Rocket means Repco have leading brand disposable rubber gloves for any application around the house or in the workshop.
Oil changes or most projects on your vehicle will see your hands covered in dirt, grease, or oil by the end of it. Keep your hands not only clean but free from chemicals and other toxic elements with the barrier protection provided by our range of quality nitrile disposable gloves at your nearest Repco store.
Each glove type has specific strengths and limitations. Material composition, chemical resistance, puncture strength, comfort, and allergy considerations all play a role in determining which glove is appropriate for a particular job in the garage or professional workshop.
What is the difference between nitrile and latex gloves?
Latex gloves are manufactured from natural rubber latex. They are known for their elasticity, close fit, and high tactile sensitivity. This makes them suitable for precision tasks such as wiring repairs, sensor replacement, small fastener handling, and detailed inspections where feel and control are important. Their flexibility reduces hand fatigue during extended use in light duty conditions.
Nitrile gloves, by contrast, are made from a synthetic nitrile butadiene rubber compound. While slightly less elastic than latex, nitrile provides stronger resistance to punctures, tears, oils, fuels, brake fluid, and many workshop chemicals. This makes nitrile gloves particularly well suited to automotive servicing, engine repairs, transmission work, and parts cleaning where exposure to contaminants is common.
An additional consideration is allergy safety. Latex contains natural proteins that can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Nitrile gloves do not contain these proteins, making them a safer alternative in shared workspaces or for users with known sensitivities.
When should you not use nitrile gloves?
Although nitrile gloves offer broad chemical resistance, they are not suitable for every situation. Prolonged exposure to strong solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, or certain aromatic hydrocarbons can cause the material to swell, weaken, or degrade. In these cases, specialised chemical resistant gloves designed for those substances should be selected instead.
Nitrile gloves are also not designed for high temperature applications. They should not be used to handle hot exhaust components, engine parts immediately after operation, or heated metal surfaces. For heat related tasks, insulated or heat rated gloves are required.
In tasks requiring exceptional flexibility and extended fine motor control, some users may prefer latex due to its softer feel. Selecting the appropriate glove depends on balancing chemical exposure, dexterity requirements, and duration of use.
What is special about nitrile gloves?
Nitrile gloves are valued in automotive settings for their combination of durability and chemical resistance. They offer strong puncture protection compared to many other disposable options, which is useful when working around sharp edges, hose clamps, or fasteners. Their resistance to petroleum based products means they maintain integrity when exposed to engine oil, grease, coolant, and transmission fluid.
Because nitrile is synthetic, it does not rely on natural rubber proteins. This reduces the likelihood of allergic reactions and makes nitrile suitable for a wider range of workshop personnel. Many nitrile gloves also feature textured fingertips to improve grip when handling tools or oily components.
For routine servicing, brake work, suspension repairs, and general mechanical tasks, nitrile gloves provide reliable day to day protection without significantly reducing dexterity.
Can I use vinyl disposable gloves in the garage?
Vinyl disposable gloves are made from polyvinyl chloride and are generally more economical than nitrile or latex. They can be suitable for light duty tasks such as keeping hands clean while checking fluid levels, changing air filters, or performing interior detailing.
However, vinyl gloves offer limited resistance to punctures, oils, fuels, and solvents. They are more prone to tearing under stress and may not maintain a secure fit during demanding tasks. For mechanical repairs involving chemicals, sharp components, or sustained handling of contaminated parts, vinyl gloves are not the preferred choice.
In most automotive applications where durability and chemical resistance are priorities, nitrile gloves provide a more dependable solution. Vinyl remains an option for brief, low risk activities where basic cleanliness rather than full protection is the primary goal.
Always at hand, disposable latex and nitrile gloves come in handy for every project in the workshop
Whether it be latex gloves or nitrile disposable gloves, we stock these from single pairs up to bulk packs of 100 for all your messy jobs. Keep your hands both clean and protected with our quality range of disposable gloves and stock up today. Used in both commercial and healthcare industries, it is now commonplace to see nitrile disposable gloves used in the automotive industry by mechanics who rely on these for the safety and protection offered.
As well as being used for all your grease and oil changes, nitrile disposable gloves are also exceptionally handy when it comes to car care and vehicle detailing. While the products may not be as toxic, the direct contact on your skin from polishing pads or cleaners can cause irritation on sensitive skin or induce dryness. They are also vital when handling high strength glues and sealants as these can be very reactive to skin as well as difficult to remove.
Repco stock all your personal protective gear to keep you safe
Once again catering for all your protective gear, our range of mechanics gloves, safety glasses, and Hi Vis workwear enable you to stay safe on site and in the workplace. Shop, order, and pay online and select our click and collect function at your nearest Repco store, we can even provide delivery services to get it to you fast.
