History Main / WhiteGloveTest

* In ''BlackBooks'', when Manny brings in a professional cleaner to clean the shop, he puts on a pair of white gloves and wipes a finger through the air. The finger of the glove turns black.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration,'' "Ensigns of Command." The Sheliak are hailing the ''Enterprise'', but Picard makes them wait by going over to the dedication plaque and performing the WhiteGloveTest gesture. This confuses Worf but amuses Riker. Remember that the ''Enterprise'' is a contained environment and dust is unlikely to ''ever'' settle on the dedication plaque unless things have gone horribly wrong.

* An UrbanLegend from the army about an officer who liked to do this. Whenever he found dust (and he always did), he would blow it into the face of the poor grunt and ask "Can you still see me?" One day, one of them retaliated by slapping both his hands on the officer's ears and ask back "Can you still hear me?"

* In the [[WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake "Bitch Pudding"]] short of ''RobotChicken'', the titular [[UnfortunateNames Bitch Pudding]] suddenly barges into a Strawberry Shortcake's house, runs a finger across a counter while walking to the fridge to bum a can of soda, and scoffs at the result.

* In the [[WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake "Bitch Pudding"]] short of ''RobotChicken'', the titular [[FailOSuckyname Bitch Pudding]] suddenly barges into a Strawberry Shortcake's house, runs a finger across a counter while walking to the fridge to bum a can of soda, and scoffs at the result.

* In an episode of the short-lived ''Private Benjamin'' TV series (based on the Creator/GoldieHawn movie), [[CynicalMentor Captain Lewis]] conducts an unannounced white glove test on the company barracks [[ForegoneConclusion with a pre-dirtied glove]].

* In the [[WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake "Bitch Pudding"]] short of ''RobotChicken'', the titular [[FailOSuckyname Bitch Pudding]] barges into a Strawberry Shortcake's house, runs a finger across a counter while walking to the fridge, and scoffs at the (not shown, but apparently unsatisfactory) result.

* In ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'', Commander Mardukas subjects a windowsill in Sousuke's classroom while touring the school in preparation for Tessa's visit. Criticizing Sousuke's cleaning at school (and later at home) is just another aspect of his OverprotectiveDad tendencies.

* ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration,'' "Ensigns of Command." The Sheliak are hailing the ''Enterprise'', but Picard makes them wait by going over to the dedication plaque and performing the WhiteGloveTest gesture. This confuses Worf but amuses Riker. Remember that the ''Enterprise'' is a contained environment and dust is unlikely to ''ever'' settle on the dedication plaque unless things have gone horribly wrong.

White gloves being used to test the thoroughness of a cleaning job. If you run your finger across the mantelpiece, shelf, or back of a chair and it comes back clean, you know a good job was done. TruthInTelevision (the basic motion, with or without the gloves).

* In ''LuigisMansion'', one of Luigi's comments while inspecting one of the rooms is to remark that this house would never pass the white glove test.

* On Manga/HayateTheCombatButler's first day, he does this so well (to a window ledge, but same principle) that the maid says (at least in the sub) "Very thorough in the smallest places."

* In ''BlackBooks'', when Manny brings in a professional cleaner to clean the shop, he puts on a pair of white gloves and wipes a finger through the air. The finger of the glove turns black.

* Navy [=SEALs=]: BUDS Class 234, a documentary on basic training for U.S. Navy SEALS. In one episode the instructors perform an inspection of the candidates' rooms, including a white glove test on the room's furnishings to see if they're clean.

* ''MaryPoppins'': "Well, it's not exactly Buckingham Palace. Still, it's clean."
* ''StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'': Admiral Kirk does it in engineering during his inspection of the ''Enterprise''.

* RoaldDahl wrote about a prefect at his BoardingSchoolOfHorrors who would do this after having his [[ButtMonkey fags]] clean his study.

* On HayateTheCombatButler's first day, he does this so well (to a window ledge, but same principle) that the maid says (at least in the sub) "Very thorough in the smallest places."

!!Examples

[[AC:Film - Live Action]]

* In Black Books, when Manny brings in a professional cleaner to clean the shop, he puts on a pair of white gloves and wipes a finger through the air. The finger of the glove turns black.

* [[{{Discworld}} Nanny Ogg.]]

* Navy SEALs: BUDS Class 234, a documentary on basic training for U.S. Navy SEALS. In one episode the instructors perform an inspection of the candidates' rooms, including a white glove test on the room's furnishings to see if they're clean.

* In Luigis Mansion, one of Luigi's comments while inspecting one of the rooms is to remark that this house would never pass the white glove test.

* Hyacinth Bucket ([[InsistentTerminology pronounced]] [[ItIsPronouncedTropay "bouquet"]]) from Keeping Up Appearances does this on occasion. She's [[NeatFreak rarely impressed]].

* Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "bouquet") from Keeping Up Appearances does this on occasion. She's [[NeatFreak rarely impressed]].

* ''Film/MaryPoppins'': "Well, it's not exactly Buckingham Palace. Still, it's clean."