Although I’m choosy about my kitchen tools because I don’t want my space to be full of things I don’t use that often, if I see a product or gadget that has the potential to make life easier (or more fun), I’m intrigued. After all, I spend so much time in the kitchen feeding and cleaning up after my family of seven! So whether it’s a bird feeder that makes my view from the sink more enjoyable, or a heavy-duty garbage disposal that drastically reduces the amount of garbage in my trash, anything that makes the kitchen more pleasant or efficient is a win for me.
So when I saw these silicone dishwashing gloves on Instagram, I couldn’t get them out of my mind. They have a bunch of silicone bristles for scrubbing, and the idea of using gloves that simultaneously protect my hands and help me wash the dishes was enticing. I ordered a pair and couldn’t wait to try them.
When the scrubby silicone gloves came — touted as “magic dishwashing gloves” — I found myself in the unusual position of actually being excited to have some dirty dishes in the sink. I squirted some dish soap onto the gloves and got to work.
What Happened When I Tried the “Magic” Silicone Dishwashing Gloves
The first thing I noticed was that the dish soap wasn’t getting sudsy and foamy the way it would if I were using my favorite traditional sponge (the O-Cedar Scrunge). I began washing dishes anyway — and right away, the pan I was washing slipped from my hands. Luckily, it didn’t knock into any of the dishes that were in the sink and nothing broke! I realized I’d need to go more slowly and carefully so I didn’t keep dropping dishes.
This was especially apparent as I began loading the dishwasher. Because I was holding the dishes and moving them over into the dishwasher, there was more time and space for me to drop them. I didn’t actually drop any, but I had to concentrate to keep my grip, and honestly, it was stressful.
Another thing I noticed was that food bits from the dishes easily got stuck in the bristles and they didn’t come out even when I slapped my hands against the side of the sink. The gloves are dishwasher-safe, and I’m sure the food would come off in a dishwasher cycle, but I don’t like the thought of food sitting in the gloves for any length of time. Naturally, I used my favorite sponge in my gloved hands.
The Brilliant Use I Discovered for the “Magic” Gloves
The gloves can also be used for cleaning surfaces like oven doors, stovetops, or sinks, but I didn’t even try using them for this because I prefer stiffer bristles or scouring pads for these tasks (non-scratch, of course). I need more pressure to get the gunk off of these surfaces and the silicone bristles were much too pliable. But finally, a discovery.
I really wanted to like and be able to use these gloves, though, so I went back to the product description on Amazon and found out that people like using these gloves to give their animals baths. We just so happen to have two huge Rhodesian Ridgebacks who get weekly baths. I put them to the test, and it turns out that these gloves are perfect for scrubbing their dog shampoo into their coats and making them super-fresh!
So while these dishwashing scrub gloves weren’t a total win for me in the kitchen, I’m glad I found a good way to put them to use. For under $10? I’ll take it!
Buy: ALPENKOK Purple Silicone Dishwashing Gloves, $9.88