The Benefit Of Keeping Gardening Gloves In A Mason Jar When Not In Use

Your hands might just be the most important tool you have when it comes to gardening, and keeping them protected with a sturdy pair of garden gloves is priority number one. To help ensure your gloves are ready to go when you need them, store them in a Mason jar with a lid. That way, you'll keep your gloves safe from the elements and bugs.

Gloves, as any gardener knows, are essential tools. They keep your hands protected from thorns and from the drying effects of soil on your cuticles. And they can offer an extra layer of padding for already tired hands. In fact, if you want to add even more padding to some of your garden tool handles, try a pool noodle hack when working in the garden and your hands will thank you. But gardening gloves don't just provide padding for your hands — they also offer protection from potentially bad bacteria that can live in the soil, such as listeria, salmonella, and other dangerous microbes. 

The gloves can also protect your hands from biting insects like bees and ants. However, if you happen to be working near flowers that attract ants, you might find a few of them stowed away in your cuff. The best way to ensure that they don't surprise you with a nasty bite the next time you pull out your gloves is to keep them in a sealed container, like a glass jar that you probably already have on hand. For proper glove storage, all you need is a wide mouth Mason jar with a screw-on lid.

Since gloves might be the most vital and overlooked part of your arsenal of landscaping and groundskeeping tools, keep them protected from the elements by using a jar. If you leave your gardening gloves on your patio, exposed to temperature fluctuations, wind, and rain, they might deteriorate faster than they would have otherwise. Using a Mason jar can help keep your gloves looking and feeling newer longer.

To store your gloves properly, first, make sure they're clean and dry. Never put wet gloves away in a storage jar because they could grow mold or other kinds of bacteria that might make them smell bad. To store your garden gloves, simply roll them up –- together as a pair –- and tuck them into your jar. Screw on the lid, place them in a safe place, and they'll be perfectly ready for the next time you need them in the garden. It's a good idea to clean your gloves periodically, too, but make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions. Leather, rubber, or cotton gloves may need different kinds of care. 

Of course, all garden gloves wear out eventually. Keep an eye on your gloves, and if they develop a lot of wear and tear (or even holes) it's best to replace them with a new set. And given all the exposure to bacteria both in the soil and elsewhere, picking some with antimicrobial properties is a smart idea.