Month: November 2019

Special Color Shoe Covers

As described in some of our other blog posts, Shoe Inn has many types of shoe covers that have a variety of characteristics which allow them to be used for different purposes.  One of the characteristics that isn’t usually discussed is the color of the various types.  Most shoe covers are blue or white or a combination of the two.  However, for years Shoe Inn has offered our thicker 40g fabric with traction shoe covers in colors in addition to the industry standard light blue.  In the past we have offered them in pink, yellow, purple and green.

So, why do we have the same shoe cover in a variety of colors?  Some of our customers simply like having a color option other than blue.  Others need to have particular users wear alternative colors to differentiate them for various reasons (e.g., for access control).  Finally, the original reason we brought pink and purple in years ago was to represent some of the various “awareness months” (e.g., pink for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October).

Starting in 2020, Shoe Inn will again offer special pricing on our alternative color shoe covers for several of the various “awareness months”:

January

  • National Glaucoma Awareness Month (green)

February

  • National Cancer Prevention Month (purple)
  • Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer Awareness Month (green)

March

  • National Endometriosis Awareness Month (yellow)

April

  • Stress Awareness Month (green)

May

  • Cancer Research Month (purple)
  • National Mental Health Month (green)

June

  • National Safety Month (green)

July

  • National Cleft Awareness & Prevention Month (purple)
  • Sarcoma Awareness Week (yellow)

August

  • Gastroparesis Awareness Month (green)

September

  • Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (purple)

October

  • National Liver Cancer Awareness Month (green)

November

  • Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (purple)
  • National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month (purple)

Primer on Types of Disposable Gloves

glovesThere are four primary types of disposable gloves: latex, nitrile, neoprene/chloroprene, and vinyl.  What are the different materials and characteristics of these gloves?  Read on to find out.

 

Latex

Latex is a natural rubber sap that is secreted by rubber trees; when their bark is cut, the rubber sap is used to repair and heal the bark. Over the years, scientists have created formulas to achieve disposable gloves with premium strength, elasticity, tactile sensitivity, and durability. Due to the variety of proteins found in natural rubber, some users may experience skin irritation and allergic reactions, which can also affect other people these gloves come in contact with during use.

150-T The natural rubber latex gloves are made from gives them their stretchability. Gloves made from latex are comfortable and will conform to the shape of your hands. Latex gloves are an excellent choice for your comfort and protection needs.

Nitrile

Nitrile butadiene rubber (nitrile for short) is a synthetic rubber that does not contain latex proteins and is generally resistant to oil, fuel, and other chemicals.

151-TNitrile gloves are more puncture resistant and stronger than natural rubber gloves but are not as strong as neoprene. Nitrile gloves are similar to latex gloves and can be a comparable option for those that have latex allergies. Nitrile gloves provide flexible and tactile wear while generally molding well to hands to provide a tight, second skin fit.

Neoprene/Chloroprene

Neoprene/chloroprene is an organic compound and a type of synthetic rubber that, like nitrile, does not contain latex proteins.  These gloves alleviate the potential for adverse reactions associated with proteins in natural rubber latex.152-T

Chloroprene gloves are best known for their resistance to a variety of acids, chemicals, and other harsh substances.  Because they are made from neoprene, they maintain their flexibility even when working with a wide range of temperatures.

 Vinyl

Vinyl gloves are latex-free gloves that come in both thin and thick sizes.  They do not stretch and are less comfortable than latex, but still provide better tactile sensitivity than neoprene.  Vinyl gloves are ideal for quick usage but are not great for working with hazardous materials.

Other Considerations

Another option with some disposable gloves is to purchase them with or without powder, which can make it easier to slip gloves on but isn’t the best choice for all applications.  For example, powdered gloves should not be used in food preparation.

Though disposable gloves are helpful with many different tasks, they are not suited to all kinds of uses, and the materials they are made from are not always biodegradable. While natural rubber latex does degrade, gloves made from man-made materials like vinyl and nitrile take up space in landfills for a very long time.