Paint on the hands is the smallest problem a painter has. The real damage comes from the thinners, strippers and cleaners used around it, and from scrubbing skin clean at the end of the day. This guide to the best gloves for painters and decorators matches each stage of a job to a glove that suits it.

What painters’ hands are exposed to

• Solvent-based paints, thinners and white spirit. Solvents strip the skin’s natural oils, cause dermatitis and pass through thin gloves quickly.
• Paint strippers and cleaners. Some are caustic and burn skin; others penetrate glove materials fast.
• Epoxy and two-pack coatings. Resins and hardeners can cause skin sensitisation.
• Water-based paints and wet work. Low hazard, but frequent washing and wet hands dry and crack the skin.
• Sanding, scraping and filling. Dust dries skin, and scrapers and blades cut it.

No single glove resists every paint product

Glove materials differ, and manufacturer data is for pure chemicals, not mixtures. Check the product’s safety data sheet (SDS) for the recommended glove, and treat disposable gloves as splash protection only (HSE: choosing the right gloves).

What the research says

Findings from safety regulators and published studies, mostly from Australia, the UK and the US.

• Water-based does not mean harmless. In a study of 60 water-based white wall paints from five European countries, 91.7% contained the preservative MI and 88.3% contained BIT. These isothiazolinones are strong skin sensitisers (Thomsen and others, Contact Dermatitis, Lidén and others).
• In ten years of Danish patch testing, isothiazolinones and epoxy resin were the two most frequent skin sensitisers among painters (Mose and others).
• At a Melbourne occupational skin clinic, solvents were involved in about a fifth of men’s work-related irritant dermatitis cases (Safe Work Australia).
• One mineral turpentine safety data sheet states that nitrile gloves are suitable for intermittent contact (example SDS). Intermittent means splashes, not soaking.
• Old paint in older buildings may contain lead. Lead enters the body when dust is breathed in or swallowed from dirty hands, so gloves and hand washing before eating both matter during prep and stripping (WorkSafe Victoria).
• Uncured epoxy resin and hardener are strong irritants and sensitisers, and resin can pass through ordinary rubber gloves in about 30 seconds (DermNet). Put nitrile gloves on before opening the hardener and change them as soon as resin lands on them.
• Sweat inside waterproof gloves irritates skin on long jobs. Cotton liners, changed when damp, reduce it (ASCC wet work guidance).

Which glove for which painting task

Beflex and ChemTough gloves are SIRIM registered.

Beflex coated work gloves are for dry prep work. They are not liquid-proof.

Some paint strippers pass through nitrile within minutes. Always check the SDS, and change a glove as soon as it is splashed.

Six glove habits for painters

1. Put gloves on before opening thinners, stripper or hardener.
2. Change a glove as soon as it is splashed with solvent. Chemicals can pass through a glove that still looks intact.
3. Never clean hands with thinners or white spirit. Use a proper hand cleaner.
4. Treat disposable gloves as single use.
5. Moisturise after work to replace the skin’s natural oils.
6. Check hands for dry, red or itchy skin and act early.

Getting the size right

A glove that is too tight tears and tires the hand; one that is too loose snags and loses grip. Measure across the palm just below the knuckles. Standard palm widths for nitrile examination gloves (ASTM D6319) are S 80 mm, M 95 mm, L 110 mm and XL 120 mm (each ±10 mm). When buying for a team, ask each person for their size.

Buying for a painting contractor or paint retailer

In Malaysia, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the USECHH Regulations 2000 require employers to assess chemical exposure and provide suitable protective equipment. Bergamot is a Malaysian glove supplier, supplying nitrile and work gloves wholesale by the carton to painting contractors, paint shops and hardware distributors, with private-label packing for importers.

Contact us, email info@bergamot.com.my or WhatsApp +6012 714 4186 for samples, specifications and bulk pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What gloves are best for painting?

For water-based paint, a thin nitrile glove such as SE Black or MaxProtect. For solvent-based paint and brush cleaning, a heavy-duty nitrile glove such as Grip-X.

Do nitrile gloves resist paint thinner?

Nitrile gives splash protection against many common thinners, but not all, and not for long. Check the SDS and change the glove when it is splashed.

Can I use latex gloves for painting?

Latex is acceptable for water-based paint but degrades in solvents, and some people are allergic to it. Nitrile is the safer all-round choice.

Are vinyl gloves good for painting?

Vinyl suits short, light jobs with water-based paint. It tears more easily than nitrile and gives little protection against solvents.

More glove guides by trade

• Gloves for mechanics
• Gloves for panel beaters and spray painters
• Gloves for car detailers
• Gloves for plumbers
• Gloves for concreters and tilers
• Gloves for carpenters and builders
• Gloves for kitchens and food handling
• Gloves for cleaning and pest control

General information only. Follow the safety data sheet and label of the products you use and your local workplace safety regulations.