Protective gloves in commercial cleaning: types, materials & DGUV Regel 112-195.
From disposable gloves and cotton-flocked reusable gloves to acid-resistant chemical protective gloves with fold-back cuffs: learn which protective gloves are mandatory in the cleaning trade, how nitrile, latex, neoprene, and PVC differ, and how handling them correctly under TRGS 401 protects the skin.
Protective gloves as mandatory PPE: safety with CE marking.
Hands are the most important tool in the building-cleaning trade (Gebäudereiniger-Handwerk) — and the most exposed to risk. Daily exposure to water, surfactants, acids, alkalis, and mechanical hazards calls for a full set of personal protective equipment (PPE, Persönliche Schutzausrüstung). Under DGUV Regel 112-195 (formerly BGR 195), a rule issued by Germany’s statutory accident insurers (Berufsgenossenschaften), every protective glove used in commercial work must carry the official CE mark.
The three PPE categories in the trade
Depending on how hazardous a cleaning task is, EU PPE law divides protective gloves into three risk categories:
Category I (minimal risks): Simple household gloves for light wiping and surface care tasks without hazardous substances (e.g., dusting with a barely damp cloth).
Category II (intermediate risks): Gloves that protect against mechanical hazards as defined in DIN EN 388 (abrasion, cuts, tearing, and punctures when sorting waste or handling broken glass in the kitchenette).
Category III (complex risks): Protection against irreversible health damage from hazardous chemicals as defined in DIN EN ISO 374 (e.g., deep-cleaning agents, acid-based descalers, coating strippers). Marked with the four-digit number of the notified body that tested the glove.
The employer’s duty under § 3 ArbSchG
Under the German Occupational Safety and Health Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz, § 3 ArbSchG) and the requirements of BG BAU (the statutory accident insurance institution for the construction and cleaning trades), a cleaning company is legally required to provide its employees with the necessary PPE free of charge, in the right sizes and quantities. This also includes regular training for cleaners on correct handling, safe removal, and how often to change gloves.
Responsibility, Hamburg-style: Reputable professional cleaning companies equip their teams with certified brand-name products. Cheap off-brand gloves with untested chemical resistance don’t just put employees’ health at risk — they also break the rules set by the statutory accident insurers.
The key glove types in everyday cleaning.
In professional commercial cleaning, gloves fall into three basic types, depending on how much wear they face and which chemicals are involved, plus specialty gloves for mechanical protection:
Disposable gloves
Disposable gloves were traditionally made of latex or vinyl; today, quality-focused companies mostly use nitrile. They are very thin (about 0.08 to 0.12 mm) and offer excellent fingertip sensitivity for precision work.
Uses: Wipe disinfection, changing trash bags, cleaning keyboards and screens, quick visual checks.
Limits: Extremely susceptible to mechanical stress (tears, punctures) and chemical contact.
Rule: For single use only. Dispose of them properly right after use and never reuse them.
Standard protective gloves
Classic reusable protective gloves (also known as household gloves) are the backbone of daily janitorial cleaning in offices and administrative buildings. They come in a range of thicknesses.
Cotton flock lining: The pure-cotton flocking inside makes the gloves much more comfortable to wear and absorbs sweat.
Uses: Wet cleaning of surfaces, restrooms, kitchenettes, and floors with all-purpose or neutral cleaners.
Advantages: Reusable, washable, and more resistant to abrasion than disposable gloves.
Acid-resistant gloves
Acid- and alkali-resistant protective gloves withstand heavy chemical and mechanical stress. They are usually made of thick neoprene, special nitrile, or PVC.
Long cuffs: Extra-long cuffs (35 to 40 cm) protect the forearms from splashes.
Folding back the cuff: Before work begins, the top edge of each cuff is folded back so acid or alkali running down the glove can’t get inside it or onto the arms.
Uses: Deep cleaning, descaling with sulfamic or phosphoric acid, removing cement haze.
Emptying large trash cans, sorting glass for recycling, or cleaning the kitchenette all carry a risk of cuts from broken glass, the edges of cans, or sharp staples and paper clips. This is where cut-resistant gloves rated to DIN EN 388 come in: made of HPPE fabric with a nonslip nitrile or PU coating, they combine mechanical protection with a secure grip.
Protective glove materials: pros and cons compared.
No single glove material protects equally well against everything. Choose the wrong one, and chemicals can pass through the glove within seconds (permeation), or the material can swell and tear (degradation). Here’s a systematic overview based on trade textbooks and DGUV standards:
| Material | Advantages | Vulnerable to… | Typical use in the trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural latex | Highly elastic, excellent fit, high tear resistance, good grip and feel. | Oils, greases, organic solvents; risk of latex allergy (type I, immediate hypersensitivity). | Light, water-based janitorial cleaning without exposure to grease or solvents. |
| Nitrile (NBR) | High abrasion and puncture resistance; very good resistance to oils, greases, alcohols, and many solvents; latex-free (no allergenic latex proteins). | Peracids (strongly oxidizing acids such as peracetic acid), nitrogen-containing organic compounds, ketones. | Today’s all-purpose standard for disposable and reusable gloves in offices, kitchenettes, and restrooms. |
| Neoprene (CR) | Extremely chemical-resistant: stands up to acids, alkalis, and alcohols; very good ozone resistance and flexibility in the cold. | Heavy mechanical stress (abrasion, sharp objects); aromatic and chlorinated solvents. | Acid-resistant gloves for deep cleaning, cement haze removal, and strongly acidic restroom cleaners. |
| PVC (vinyl) | Good resistance to mineral acids and alkalis (caustic solutions); inexpensive, with a smooth surface. | Solvents (they leach out plasticizers); stiffens in the cold; low mechanical tear strength. | Simple wet work, trash disposal, and alkaline degreasers when mechanical stress is low. |
Natural latex contains water-soluble proteins that are absorbed through sweat and softened skin and can trigger severe contact allergies and asthma. Powdered latex gloves are strictly prohibited in commercial use under TRGS 401 and DGUV Regel 112-195. That’s why modern companies like Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg use high-quality, powder-free nitrile gloves as their standard.
Skin health & wet work: the 3-pillar skin protection plan.
Protective gloves prevent direct contact with dirt and chemicals. But liquid-tight gloves pose their own risks: sweat builds up inside and softens the skin’s outer layer (maceration). As a result, the skin loses its natural barrier function.
What counts as “wet work”?
Under the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 401), a task already counts as wet work (Feuchtarbeit) if cleaners:
More than 2 hours per working day: wear liquid-tight protective gloves or have their hands in water or water-based liquids.
Frequent hand washing: have to wash their hands several times an hour.
Cotton as a countermeasure: Thin liner gloves made of pure cotton should be worn under liquid-tight rubber gloves to absorb sweat and keep the skin dry.
The DGUV 3-pillar model
Every cleaning company must have a binding skin protection plan, made up of three coordinated steps:
1. Protect before work: Apply a water-insoluble barrier cream before starting work and every time you put on gloves (including between the fingers).
2. Cleanse gently: Wash hands with pH-balanced, soap-free syndets instead of harsh abrasive cleansers.
3. Moisturize after work: Apply a rich, restorative cream once the work is done and at the end of the shift to replenish the skin’s lipids.
Care, removal & service life: how to keep gloves safe.
Protective gloves only work if they’re used correctly. Take them off the wrong way, and chemicals or germs clinging to them end up directly on bare skin. Reusable gloves also have to be cleaned by the book:
4 steps to proper glove care
Reusable protective gloves must never be left wet in the cleaning bucket at the end of a shift:
1. Rinse the outside: First, while still wearing the gloves, rinse the outside thoroughly under clean running water to neutralize any chemical residue.
2. Turn inside out: Carefully take off the glove and turn it inside out so the lining faces outward.
3. Rinse the inside: Rinse the cotton-flocked lining with clean water as well to remove sweat residue.
4. Hang up to dry: Hang the glove by its cuff with a clip so air can circulate and mold can’t form.
Contamination-free removal
To take gloves off, use the “glove-in-glove” method: Grip the first glove on the outside of the cuff and pull it forward over your fingers so the contaminated outside turns inward. Hold the removed glove in your still-gloved fist. Then slide the clean fingers of your free hand inside the cuff of the second glove and peel it off, rolling it inside out over the first glove.
Gloves don’t last forever: Even with the best care, plastics and rubber age from UV light, heat, and chemicals. If gloves become brittle, sticky, cracked, or discolored, replace them immediately. A quick visual and leak check (by inflating or rolling up the glove) before every shift is a good idea.
Protection for staff & offices: 100% permanent employees & color coding.
Why subcontractors fall short on workplace safety
Many service companies farm out their contracts to subcontractors. The result: inadequate protective equipment, no DGUV safety training, worn-out gloves, and the wrong cleaning chemicals. Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg deliberately holds itself to an uncompromising quality standard:
100% our own permanent staff: No temp agency work (Leiharbeit), no subcontracting chains. All of our cleaners are registered for social insurance and covered for workplace accidents through BG BAU.
Fair pay: We pay above the collectively agreed wage — from €16.00 gross per hour. For comparison: in 2026, wage group 1 (Lohngruppe 1) under the collective wage agreement (Lohntarifvertrag) for the commercial cleaning trade is €15.00 gross per hour. Satisfied, dedicated teams work carefully and safely.
Certified brand-name PPE: We provide well-fitting, CE-certified nitrile and chemical-resistant gloves, along with Dr. Schnell eco concentrates that carry the EU Ecolabel.
Germ control in the office: the 4-color system
Workplace safety doesn’t just protect the cleaner — it also keeps germs from spreading through your offices. Our employees change gloves and microfiber cloths strictly according to the HACCP four-color code:
Strict zone separation: Red for toilets and urinals; yellow for sinks and tiles; blue for desks, phones, and IT hardware; green for kitchenettes and coffee bars. Nothing used in the restroom comes into contact with your conference table.
Frequently asked questions about protective gloves
The five key facts about DGUV rules, material properties, and everyday use at a glance.
Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg is committed to safe workplaces and high hygiene standards for Hamburg’s small and mid-sized businesses. We’re a member of the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer Hamburg) and of BG BAU, with 100% permanent teams. More about our team →
Sources: DGUV Regel 112-195 (use of protective gloves) · TRGS 401 (risks from skin contact) · DIN EN ISO 374 · BG BAU. Responsible for content: Ruiz Büroreinigung Hamburg, Carl-Petersen-Straße 92b, 20535 Hamburg.
Which statutory accident insurance rule governs protective gloves?
Protective gloves are primarily governed by DGUV Regel 112-195 (formerly known as BGR 195). It requires employers to carry out a risk assessment, provide CE-marked gloves free of charge, and train their employees. In addition, the Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances (TRGS 401) govern skin protection during wet work.
Why are the cuffs of acid-resistant gloves folded back?
Acid-resistant chemical protective gloves have especially long cuffs (35 to 40 cm). Folding back the top edge creates a drip channel. When cleaners raise their arms during deep cleaning or overhead work, the folded cuff catches any acid or alkali running down, so the corrosive cleaning solution can’t get inside the glove or onto bare forearms.
Why do professional office cleaners now use nitrile instead of latex?
Nitrile is synthetic and free of allergenic latex proteins, which significantly lowers the risk of occupational contact allergies. Nitrile also offers much higher puncture and tear resistance than natural latex or vinyl, and it stands up far better to greasy substances, oils, and many solvents.
How does TRGS 401 define wet work?
A task counts as wet work when employees regularly wear liquid-tight gloves or work with wet hands for more than 2 hours a day. Trapped sweat softens the skin’s outer layer (maceration). To prevent this, TRGS 401 calls for breathable cotton liner gloves, regular breaks from wearing gloves, and a company-wide 3-pillar skin protection plan with protective, cleansing, and moisturizing creams.
What’s the right way to care for reusable protective gloves?
Once the work is done, first rinse the outside of the gloves with clean water while you’re still wearing them. Then take them off carefully, turn them inside out, rinse the cotton-flocked lining with clean water as well, and hang them up by the cuffs to dry. Before using them again, always inspect them for cracks, pinholes, or hardened spots.
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