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Gloves, Aprons, and Protective Clothing

Skin is a common route for pesticide exposure, so what you wear on your hands and body matters. This guide covers the principles and sends you to the label for the specifics.

Why does skin protection get so much attention?

Pesticides can pass through skin, and hands, forearms and the lower body are in frequent contact with products during mixing, loading and cleanup. A small splash that seems harmless can become a real exposure if it sits on clothing against the skin.

Skin protection is also something you control. It depends on choosing the right items, wearing them correctly and keeping them clean.

Children, aging adults and anyone with skin conditions may be more sensitive to exposure, and families sometimes share laundry facilities. Taking small steps with clothing at work protects people who never touch the product.

How do I know which gloves to use?

Glove material matters, and the label states what is required for the product. A glove that works well for one product may not suit another. Do not choose gloves from memory, from what a neighbor uses or from what is cheapest.

If the label names a type, buy that type. If you cannot tell what the label means, ask your extension office or the dealer's technical contact before you handle the product.

Gloves should be put on before opening the container and kept on until the equipment is rinsed and the product is closed. Taking them off midway to answer a phone or adjust a hose spreads residue to phones, steering wheels and door handles.

• Check the label for the glove requirement each time.
• Inspect gloves before use for holes, thinning or sticky surfaces.
• Do not wear leather or cloth gloves unless the label allows it.

What about aprons and body coverings?

Some tasks, especially pouring concentrate, may call for an apron or other covering over regular clothing. The label will say when. These items protect against splashes at chest and lap level, where spills often land.

Keep the apron clean, hang it away from the product storage, and replace it if it is cracked or no longer sheds liquid.

Different tasks put different parts of the body at risk. Pouring from a container held at chest height is different from kneeling by a nozzle. Think about where a splash would land and ask whether the clothing you chose would stop it.

How should I dress under the protective items?

Labels generally call for long sleeves and long pants as a baseline, with specifics on the label. Make sure sleeves and pant legs are arranged as the label or manufacturer directs, since liquid can run into an open cuff or boot.

Wear clothing that is not worn out, and avoid loose items that could catch on equipment.

Tuck, wrap or cover as the label or manufacturer directs. For example, if the instructions call for sleeves over glove cuffs or the reverse, follow them exactly, because the direction depends on whether liquid is expected to run down or up.

How do I clean and store clothing?

Wash reusable protective items after each use as the manufacturer and label direct. Hang them to dry in a clean area that is away from children and pets. Launder work clothes apart from other laundry.

Heavily contaminated clothing that was soaked with concentrate may need special handling, including disposal. Check the label and ask your state agency instead of guessing.

A separate washing routine also matters at home. Keep work clothing in a dedicated bin or bag, tell family members not to handle it, and run the machine through an empty rinse cycle afterward if the label or your extension educator recommends it.

What if clothing gets soaked?

Stop work, remove contaminated clothing carefully and wash the skin as the label directs. If a person feels unwell, call 911 in an emergency or contact poison specialists for advice, and keep the label nearby.

Do not wait to see if symptoms develop when a large amount has reached the skin.

Seek medical advice if redness, burning, rash or other discomfort develops. Tell the clinician the product name and bring the label so they can contact poison specialists with exact information.

What training is available?

Pesticide safety education is offered through cooperative extension in many states. Ask whether a session on protective equipment is available and bring the products you use so the discussion is specific to them.

Keep a list that matches each product with its protective equipment requirement. Seasonal workers and family helpers often switch between products during a day, and a list near the mixing area helps them put on the right items. Update it whenever you buy a new product or the label changes.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.