Gloves

Certain types of gloves can prevent you from leaving fingerprints on objects you touch and can hide hand characteristics such as skin color or tattoos. Gloves that are too thin are useless because they don't prevent you from leaving fingerprints (e.g. surgical gloves). Gloves made of certain materials are dangerous because they transfer fingerprints between objects (e.g. latex or leather gloves).

Always use gloves to handle any tools you bring with you to an action so you don't leave fingerprints on them. Although acetone can be used to remove fingerprints from surfaces, it is easier to avoid leaving fingerprints on something in the first place than to rely on removing them with an acetone-soaked cloth, which can be less effective on some types of surfaces. For example, on some surfaces, such as metal, the reaction between the finger grease and the metal can etch a print into the surface itself that can only be effectively removed with sandpaper.

Gloves can also prevent DNA from being left on objects you touch. The best gloves against DNA are non-permeable, such as a new pair of dishwashing gloves that cover the wrist area. Before putting on the gloves, thumb holes can be made in long sleeves of a shirt to prevent the sleeve from riding up during use and exposing arm hair and skin. Dishwashing gloves are not appropriate in a context such as a demonstration — use a new pair of work gloves that have a thick impermeable coating on the palms and fingers. All gloves transfer DNA traces between objects, so you need to put them on carefully and not touch your skin afterwards — see the related mitigation DNA minimization protocols.

In addition, fingerprints (and DNA) can be left on the inside of gloves, so you should dispose of them properly.

See the fingerprints topic and Handschuhe[1] (in German).

Techniques addressed by this mitigation

NameDescription
Forensics
DNA

You can wear gloves to prevent DNA from being left on objects you touch.

Fingerprints

You can wear certain types of gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints on objects you touch.