If you ask me what’s one of the most essential items a mum should have on hand at all times, my answer may be a bit unusual.

But after having three babies close to one another, this item has saved me many times. They’ve been there for me when the poonamis struck, they’ve helped me in the never-ending battle against germs and have stepped up to combat messy mayhem.

So, what is this miraculous must-have item? Gloves!

Gloves are one of those extremely versatile household products that always seem to be the silent achiever. Well, I’m here to shine a spotlight on them and show you why they’re so handy (excuse the hilarious pun).

Here are five ways that rubber gloves can save your sanity as a mum

1) No More Noxious Nappies

I keep a box of disposable gloves near the change table. So just before I start the change process, I pop on a pair of gloves. I love that I have an instant protection from germs and the inevitable poo splodges that always seems to smear on my hands. Yuch! Then once you’ve finished the change, simply place the used nappy into one of the gloves and tie it off. This an easy and instant way to securely contain any smells, leaks and squelches until you get to a bin.

2) Portable Nappy Changing Pack

This is a brilliant hack that has saved me so many times. I’m out and about with bub and desperately need to do a nappy change but shock! horror! I’ve run out of nappies! I always keep this emergency pack in the car. Simply take a tissue box sized plastic wipes tub, attach a smaller pack of wipes to the lid with a rubber band. Then inside the box, place a few nappies and some disposable rubber gloves and a tube of nappy cream. And there you have it – a cheap, hygienic on-the-go nappy pack.

3) DIY Glove Ice Packs*

Disposable gloves make the perfect ice pack (I bet you didn’t know that!). You can fill them with water and freeze them solid. They actually are the perfect size to pop in your undies just after birth. Ah, relief! They even had these in the freezer in my maternity ward!

You could also try filling the gloves with a mix of rubbing alcohol and water (about one part alcohol to three parts water). This will ensure that the ice block doesn’t freeze solid. This is perfect to soothe burns or place on tired hands and sore feet.

4) Super Strength Lid Opener

Isn’t it the most frustrating thing when you need to open something and you just can’t. Your hands get sweaty and slippery and the task goes from tricky to absolutely impossible. But here comes the rubber gloves to save the day. Keep a pair of gloves in your nappy bag and hand bag and pop them on if you need to open tight lids on bottles or slippery nappy cream pots. The glove grip will give you superwoman strength.

5) Entertain the Kids with Glove Puppets

Disposable gloves make perfect on-the-go puppets. Simply blow some air into a glove, tie it off at the end, add some creative texta markings for a face or even some googly eyes and you’ve got a cheap, easy-peasy puppet. I get my kids to decorate the glove to make whatever kind of creature they want. I love seeing what they come up with. Our favourites are a rooster, elephant and bunny.

We love that you can also buy specially made kid’s gloves in a variety of fun colours. We use these gloves when our kids do art and craft, help with gardening and more. They’re also the perfect size for cute glove puppets.

6) Save Your Skin

I remember taking my first born to see the doctor and him being shocked at the state of my hands. My skin was red, raw and blotchy and really taking a hit from constant hand washing and sterilising bottles every few hours. For my next two babies, I kept a pair of rubber gloves by the sink and popped them on every time I washed the bottles. This literally saved my skin.

Which Gloves to Pick

Not all gloves are made equal. It’s best to choose a well-known brand that is focused on quality. I always choose Ansell gloves. Ansell has an excellent reputation within the healthcare and industrial workplace so I reckon, if they’re trusted here, then they’re the best quality I can get for my domestic needs.

You can buy a wide variety of Ansell gloves (household, disposable and gardening gloves) online on the Vileda website or from your local supermarket and hardware store.

This article was commissioned by the team at Ansell. The Mouths of Mums editorial team compiled this article after working with the team at Ansell and realising that they provide top quality gloves.

*Not recommended if you have allergies to latex rubber.