# Do I need to wear gloves when cleaning something with steel wool **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992 "2010-06-13T06:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/1 "2010-06-13T06:01:13Z")
I came into possesion of a gun that’s a few years old and hasn’t been stored well. It has some rust on the bluing that the gunsmith says I can clean off with steel wool and oil. Will the steel wool get ‘splinters’ (of metal) in my hands if I don’t wear protective gloves? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/2 "2010-06-13T06:10:19Z")
I’ve never had a problem with it, and have used it without gloves many times. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/3 "2010-06-13T06:46:39Z")
I find it irritates my (apparently more delicate and sensitive than **OpalCat’s** ) skin if I use it (usually in the form of S.O.S. pads), but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten actual splinters from it. I’ve had some fairly painful abrasion, though. So I wear gloves now (some of those $3 re-usable dishwashing gloves from the grocery store, not surgical ones). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/4 "2010-06-13T07:10:41Z")
It will tear up your fingernails, if they’re soft like mine are. That’s the main reason I don’t use steel wool very often. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/5 "2010-06-13T07:28:02Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > It will tear up your fingernails, if they’re soft like mine are. That’s the main reason I don’t use steel wool very often. I do have soft fingernails but I am unconcerned about wrecking them. I’m more interested about restoring the gun… and dealing with particles of steel in my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/6 "2010-06-13T07:31:46Z")
I don’t think that I’ve ever actually gotten splinters from using steel wool, but I do generally use gloves when I use steel wool for more than a couple of swipes across the bottom of a pot. I’d advise you to get and use some of those thin cheap stretchy gloves, and you can always use them for when you use solvents and such. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/7 "2010-06-13T07:42:49Z")
Alternatively, put a few sheets of paper towel between your hand and the steel wool, which I’ve done when I’m lazy. I hate to resort to the “Google count” method of knowledge deduction, but the sixth hit for “steel wool splinters” at the moment is this thread – so it’s apparently not a well-known phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/8 "2010-06-13T13:42:39Z")
I’m currently removing rust from my kitchen stoves drip pans with steel wool. No gloves needed. I got mine at the paint section of Home Depot. I’m also using a small copper wire brush with my drill. I definitely wear eye protection. Bristles from the wire brush can easily break off and go flying. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/9 "2010-06-13T15:02:07Z")
Ok, thanks all. I had not used SW before so I did not know if I needed to worry. So it looks like gun cleaning day today! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-to-wear-gloves-when-cleaning-something-with-steel-wool/542992/10 "2010-06-13T15:17:42Z")
I would think that you’ll be using something very fine, like 00 or even 000 steel wool, which shouldn’t cause you any problems. I’ve used it in woodworking without issue.