I don’t own a dishwasher. I didn’t grow up with one. (“Why should we? We’ve got two,” my parents would say, pointing at my sister and me.) All this to say: I have hand-washed a lot of dishes in my life.
I have strong opinions about the best dish racks, so you’d think I’d have feelings about dishwashing gloves. The truth is, despite wearing them every time I sudsed up, I never thought much about them. But that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. I had a hunch that quality would be sneakily varied across dish glove brands, so in the name of science and manicures, I tested a dozen of them. I was right: There were some duds, a lot of middle-of-the-roaders, and two outstanding pairs.
The Best Dishwashing Gloves, at a Glance
Many of the gloves I tested were lined with cotton, which made my hands feel sweaty. The Playtex Fresh Comfort Gloves broke the mold with a moisture-wicking foam lining that was smooth and cooling. They were inexpensive and deeply textured for optimal grip. Dishwashing glove perfection!
I tested three pairs of long-sleeved dishwashing gloves, and these took the cake. They were incredibly grippy, never allowed water in, and slid on and off smoothly. They’re pricier than my top pick, but I couldn’t puncture these if I tried (and I did try).
The Tests
- Splash and Suds Test: To assess the gloves’ performance and design, I filled a dish tub with hot, soapy water and added a variety of dishes, including a dinner plate, a soup bowl, a drinking glass, and some flatware. Wearing a pair of gloves, I washed and rinsed each piece before setting it on a drying rack.
- Wine Glass Test: To test the gloves’ grip, I washed and rinsed stemmed wine glasses, noting if any felt perilously slippery in my gloved hands.
- Puncture Test: To see if the gloves would puncture or tear, I removed the gloves and held one taut before poking it with the tip of a steak knife. Then, I set the glove on a cutting board and ran the knife over the material.
- General Use Test (Winners Only): Once I had narrowed the field, I used each pair of gloves for all my dishwashing duties—at least three times a day—to evaluate their durability, comfort, and overall usability.
What We Learned
All of the Dishwashing Gloves Were Very Durable
Each pair of gloves made it through my puncture test unscathed. Short of running your gloves through a paper shredder (please don’t do that), it’d be hard to destroy any of the pairs I tested. So with the “durability” factor covered, we can now get down to the nitty-gritty of what makes a pair of dishwashing gloves great.
Cotton-Lined Gloves Were Comfortable… at First
Cotton is breathable. Therefore, cotton-lined dishwashing gloves must be ideal for comfy, cool dishwashing sessions, right? Not so fast. In my tests, I found that the cotton-lined gloves like the Alimat PluS and Mr. Clean Bliss Gloves felt amazing when I slipped them on. But after a few minutes, my hands got sweaty and sticky. The cotton idea is great in theory, but because it’s surrounded by rubber, it gets swampy inside the gloves quickly. (If you’ve ever exercised in a cotton T-shirt in hot weather, you know the feeling I’m talking about.) The Playtex Fresh Comfort Gloves were a revelation after rounds of hot hands because they’re lined with moisture-wicking foam. They’re just as comfortable, but much cooler when worn for extended periods.
Cuffs Weren’t Always Helpful
Some of the gloves I tested had cuffs that are meant to act as an additional barrier against splashes and drips. But they didn’t successfully keep out water, and in most cases, were too short. The Casabella Waterblock Premium Dishwashing Gloves got around that issue with an extra-long sleeve; they were designed to be kept upright or turned down. Unfortunately, the material flopped annoyingly around when cuffed, and I typically kept them unrolled when wearing. Material mattered, too: The cotton cuffs of the Grove Collaborative Cleaning Gloves were constantly waterlogged.
Textured Palms and Fingers Were Crucial
Every pair of gloves I tested was textured to some degree. But lightly raised patterns didn’t do much to keep slippery glassware in hand. My favorite gloves, like the Mamison, were deeply grooved. That meant I could hold, turn, and rinse the sudsiest wine glasses without fear of breakage by way of an oopsie. Most gloves had textured finger pads and tips, and once I used those I couldn’t go back to the non-textured ones.
Don’t Overthink It: They’re Just Dishwashing Gloves
As I learned, there are quantifiable factors that make a high-quality pair of gloves. But some I tested were trying way too hard. The Hold Everything Kitchen Gloves were inexplicably pricey, and the material was so thick that I could barely move my fingers. They’re machine-washable, but most cooks simply replace old dishwashing gloves with a new pair. Every brand I tested used complicated-sounding designs like “embossed palms” and “advanced flocking technology.” But it’s not worth paying more for fancy features when all our winners are members of the just-the-basics club.
The Criteria: What to Look for in a Pair of Dishwashing Gloves
The best dishwashing gloves were either unlined or lined with moisture-wicking foam. Extra-long sleeves worked well for big jobs. Textured patterns on the palms and fingers were essential for creating a confident grip. Finally, don’t shell out too much cash: They’re just dishwashing gloves, after all.
Our Favorite Dishwashing Gloves
What we liked: The name is accurate: These gloves were quite comfortable. The foam lining was cushy without being too thick, and it kept my hands less sticky and sweaty than the cotton-lined gloves. The textured pattern was very grippy, and I liked that it continued over the top of each finger for extra insurance. Although I didn’t officially heat-test the gloves, this pair kept my hands protected, even with my apartment building’s exuberant water heater.
What we didn’t like: Frankly, not much. They arrived wrinkled, but it’s not like you’re wearing them for a night on the town (are you?).
Key Specs
- Material: Latex exterior, foam lining
- Weight: 2.7 ounces
- Length for size M: 11.5 inches
- Sizes available: Small, medium, large
What we liked: Go ahead, try and get your arms wet in these gloves—it’s nearly impossible. At 14 inches from the sleeve to the tip of the middle finger, the Mamison gloves were the longest I tested. The sleeves blouse then pucker at the top, acting as an extra barrier to water. They were also the most deeply textured gloves I tested (a feature that I, an accident-prone butterfingers, appreciated). They’re unlined, but the material is thin so they don’t feel constricting or hot. They’re brightly colored and add a bit of cheer to my boringly white kitchen.
What we didn’t like: It would be hard to wear these over a big sweater.
Key Specs
- Material: Unlined latex
- Weight: 3.6 ounces
- Length for size M: 14 inches
- Sizes available: Medium, large
Also Recommended
- Mr. Clean Latex Gloves: I liked that this pair came in a two-pack, but the fingers were loose, which caused me to lose my grip on wet, slippery dishes. And I just couldn’t get on the cotton liner train.
- Mr. Clean Latex Free Bliss Premium Gloves: This pair of cotton-lined gloves was fine. I preferred unlined or foam-lined gloves that kept my hands cool, but these were comfy for shorter periods.
- Wahoo Latex Free Dishwashing Gloves: I’m pretty sure these were modeled after Mr. Clean’s gloves—the Wahoo is even bordered with the same row of flowers around the top of the sleeve. The Mr. Clean gloves were slightly more comfortable.
- Alimat 3-Pack Latex Free Dishwashing Gloves: The Wahoo and Alimat gloves were so similar, I wondered if they were made by the same manufacturer.
- Casabella Waterblock Premium Dishwashing Gloves: A close contender with the Mamison gloves, these featured a flared sleeve (instead of a tapered one). It was a clever idea in theory, and while it kept my arms dry it did invite water to ricochet off the flare at times.
- If You Care Household Gloves: I wanted to snark on the passive-aggressive name of these pricey, Fair Trade gloves, but darn it if they weren’t great. They did everything I asked them to and even came in an earthy, virtue-signaling green. If you don’t mind spending a little more (and if you care), these are a good option.
Not Recommended
- Playtex Living Reusable Rubber Cleaning Gloves: These were just like the Mamisan gloves but with overly blousy sleeves.
- Grove Collaborative Cleaning Gloves: I liked the hanging loops, but at 11.5 inches, these were among the shortest of the bunch. The cotton cuffs were always wet.
- Hold Everything Kitchen Gloves: These gloves were expensive, enormous, and had the texture of sandpaper. Save them for your woodworking shop.
- JoyEco Cleaning Gloves: If you click the link to check these out, be aware the pair I was sent looked nothing like that. My pair was transparent, flimsy, and barely textured. They were less resistant to very hot water than most others I tested.
FAQs
What are dishwashing gloves made of?
Most of the gloves I tested were made from latex, although some were blended with vinyl or nitrile (all forms of rubber). Those with latex allergies should look for gloves like the Mr. Clean Bliss Gloves, which are made from nitrile butadiene rubber. Gloves may be unlined or lined. The liners I tested were either cotton or foam.
Are dishwashing gloves reusable?
Yes! Unlike disposable latex gloves, dishwashing gloves are made to be reused.
How do you dry dishwashing gloves?
Provided no water has snuck inside the gloves, their exterior should dry quickly. Drape them over a faucet or dish-drying rack, and they’ll be ready to go for your next dishwashing session. If the insides get wet, place them upright over a long utensil (like a spatula or narrow wooden spoon) so air can circulate and dry them out.
Why We’re the Experts
- Rochelle Bilow is a commerce editor for Serious Eats.
- She has been writing about food professionally for over a decade, and testing kitchen equipment for over two years. Previously, she was a contributing freelance writer at Serious Eats.
- Rochelle has saved every pair of dishwashing gloves she tested, and cycles through them every few days “for fun.”