Guest Author - Dale Yelich

There are many basic fundamentals when it comes to maintenance, from having the right tools, to research on a particular issue, to using the correct products when repairing or fixing a problem. Now all of that is fine and well, but there may be nothing as important as a good pair of gloves.

How many times did you have to stick your hand in a place that a hand was not meant to be stuck into? In nearly any type of maintenance job, that is almost a given. Not because anyone really wants to thrust their hands into anything gooey, or sticky, or oily or where there are sharp objects ready and waiting to do damage. The problem is that a hand is just such a useful thing to use in virtually every situation, it needs to go where the problems are. So what can anyone do to protect their hands in cases such as these? Find a pair of gloves!

Yes, gloves have been around about as long as clothing has been, and quite possibly, gloves were the first items ever put on a human body. Those hunters and gatherers from prehistoric days knew a good thing when they discovered it. Any wrapping on their hands made them able to work harder, work longer, keep the skin on their hands from being scratched or cut, and that meant much less of a chance for infection to set in. And remember, in those bygone times, if your hands didn’t work well, you didn’t eat!

The same exact reasons that our ancestors used gloves is equally true today. Any maintenance job from painting, to mowing and weed whipping the lawn, to light plumbing and electrical work, and even for that heavy duty cleaning like garages and attics, a glove is the perfect addition for your hands. But there are so many kinds out there, what type is the right type?

Generally, a cloth brown or white Jersey glove will be satisfactory for most any job. They are inexpensive, they will keep scratches and blisters at bay, and if they rip or tear, you can just throw them away.

For a better grip or for a heavy duty situation, a leather palm or full leather work glove is a better solution. These kinds of gloves are much more resistant to punctures, shield a persons hands better because they are thicker, and for situations when I am putting my hands next to metal, concrete, or steel, I wouldn’t use anything but a leather glove.

I firmly believe that everyone should have a pair of gloves in their car, in their garage, and in the house, with a pair both upstairs and downstairs. Leather gloves for the car and the garage, cloth gloves for the home, and of course for those formal occasions out of the house, a pair of gloves can be the perfect finishing touch for any ensemble.

All of this wonderful practicality, incredible versatility, with the ability to cover and protect, yet at times to be so very elegant, is all about the essence of the glove!