Thanks, SW. I wasn't actually asking HOW to clean them (easy enough to hand wash or throw in the laundry),

I was asking IF they need to be washed each time after handling [diseased, potentially diseased, virus, bacteria, spores, mildew, whatever kills] plants in the yard.

Or is spreading of diseases limited to garden tools that touch cut surfaces?

I do wash gloves after handling powdery mildew plants since that seems very spreadable to then use those same gloves on other plants. But wouldn't the same apply if I was cleaning a blighted plant and then use those same gloves to do other stuff - wouldn't that spread the blight spores to the other plants? Been gardening for over 40 years and never thought of it until now.

Should I be washing gloves after each use, like I do with tools? Am I the only one who doesn't regularly wash garden gloves?

Thanks.

Oops! ;) sorry.

I personally do wash the gloves with everything else because bacteria are adhesive by nature and gloves are not exempt. Anything with a surface can hold bacteria. I suppose the same goes for spores.

Viruses can only be transmitted by living vectors, but that includes bacteria and fungi, so realistically your gloves can host all three.

Thanks. It just never occurred to me, except in the powdery mildew case (which I didn't logically extend to other diseases). Everything online is about sterilizing tools and no mention about washing your gloves.

SW is correct about the gloves; I'll add we can spread everything to other plants on our clothes and bare hands, too. Let's not forget how easy it is to transfer spider mites, aphids, whitefly, scale, and other arthropods from plant to plant, too.

So I have a similar question. I am aware you can spread deseases And fungal spores through clothing gloves ect but here’s my question. If I’m working in the garden and cutting off an infected plant how do I prevent the spores ect from spreading? I currently don’t own enough pairs to change my gloves after touching each plant. I do have like three or four pairs. I am aware I can wash them but again this takes time. Im

looking for a solution that I can use while actively working. I wear nylon gloves and then the tops are stretchy so I do put hand sanitizer on them but the stretchy material isn’t the best for spreading hand sanitizer.

would a spray down of lysol work? I’ve used alcohol pads And rubbed the palms and as much surface area of the gloves but is that even doing anything? or do I have to buy lots more pairs of gloves And just change them.