Safety Works C5319S Chemical Nitrile Glove Flocked, Small Review (2026)

What this glove is built from

This is a Small size flocked nitrile chemical glove sold under the Safety Works brand, part of a nitrile glove line built to 15 mil thickness with a 13 inch length and a flock lined interior, specifications that match the manufacturer's published data for this glove series. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber chosen for chemical gloves because it resists a wide range of substances, including strong alkalis like the sodium hydroxide, or lye, that soap makers mix into water to make cold process soap. The flocked cotton lining inside the glove absorbs sweat and makes the glove easier to pull on and off compared with an unlined rubber glove.

Why sizing matters for lye handling

A properly fitted glove, rather than a loose one-size-fits-all option, gives a soap maker better grip and finer control when pouring lye solution, stick blending hot soap batter, or handling hot molds, since a glove that is too large can bunch at the fingertips and reduce dexterity during precise pours. This Small size is intended for soap makers with smaller hands who find standard or one-size chemical gloves too loose, and having a correctly sized glove reduces the chance of a glove slipping partway off during a task that involves caustic lye solution. A snug, correctly sized glove also tends to stay more comfortable through a longer soap making session than an oversized one.

Length and coverage

At 13 inches long, this glove extends well past the wrist and partway up the forearm, which gives more coverage against splashes than a short wrist-length glove does, an important feature when mixing lye water, which can splash or produce fumes as it dissolves and heats up. The straight cuff design makes the glove simple to pull on and off between steps of a soap making session, such as switching from mixing lye to handling fragrance oils or other ingredients. The diamond embossed grip pattern on the palm also helps a maker hold onto a stick blender or a slick soap mold without the glove slipping during a pour.

Buying the right size for your hands

Because this listing is sized specifically Small, it will fit too tightly for soap makers with medium, large, or extra-large hands, and the same Safety Works nitrile glove line is sold in other sizes for those makers. A household or shared studio with multiple soap makers of different hand sizes will likely need to order more than one size from the line rather than relying on a single Small pair for everyone, since a glove that is too tight can be as uncomfortable and limiting for grip as one that is too loose. Checking a hand measurement against the brand's size chart before ordering is a simple way to avoid buying the wrong size twice.

Bottom line

This Small flocked nitrile glove suits a soap maker with smaller hands who wants a properly fitted, chemical-resistant glove for mixing lye and handling hot soap batter, with 15 mil thickness and 13 inch coverage that lines up with the manufacturer's specifications for this glove series. Makers with larger hands should order the Medium, Large, or X-Large version from the same line instead of forcing a Small glove to fit, since a too-tight glove can tear at the seams under stress during a pour and offers less protection once torn.

Frequently asked questions