Line #23 Main/WhiteGloveTest


1	%%
2	%%
3	%%
4	%%
5	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
6	%%
7	%%
8	%%
9	%%
10	%%
11	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/white_glove_test.jpg]]
12
13	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 if it comes back clean, you know a good job was done. TruthInTelevision (the basic motion, with or without the gloves).
14
15	This doesn't require gloves. A cloth will do. Yet old money characters will use their HighClassGloves for this.
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Advertising]]
22	* A commercial for White Cloud toilet paper has a hotel owner (played by a young Creator/SethGreen) showing a young king and queen a suite. The king does the test on a lampshade in the room.
23	* One ''Swiffer'' commercial involved an Army drill sergeant inspecting his barracks, noticing a bit of dirt on his white glove, and barking at his troops to clean up again. They do so with the ''Swiffer'' brand cleaning wipes and a snappy song number, ending with the drill sergeant doing another glove test to his satisfaction.
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27	* In ''Manga/EngagedToTheUnidentified'', Mashiro does this to the windowsill in her room upon first moving in. She's disappointed to find no dust, as her host family is particular about such things.
28	* In ''Anime/FullMetalPanicFumoffu'', Commander Mardukas performs the test on 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 overprotective tendencies.
29	* 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."
30	[[/folder]]
31
32	[[folder:Films - Animated]]
33	* ''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs'': Grumpy does this when the dwarfs arrive home and are surprised to find their cottage clean.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Films - Live Action]]
37	* ''Film/TheAmazingBulk'': General Darwin is introduced doing this in his office.
38	-->'''General Darwin:''' [[MemeticMutation I hate dust!]] I don't want it building up in my house!
39	* ''Film/MaryPoppins'' is at first doubtful when she sees her room, but is placated when she tests a surface with her gloves.
40	--> '''Mary Poppins:''' Well, it's not exactly Buckingham Palace. (Does glove test) Still, it's clean. Yes, I think it will be quite suitable. It just needs a touch, here and there.
41	* ''Film/{{Rags}}'': Arthur uses a glove to check whether or not Charlie properly cleaned the restaurant. To his surprise, the place actually has been cleaned, despite it originally being a "dump", to use his words.
42	* In ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Captain Kirk does this in the engine room inspection. Scotty gives him a knowing smirk when it passes.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Literature]]
46	* Creator/RoaldDahl wrote about a prefect at his BoardingSchoolOfHorrors who would do this after having his [[ButtMonkey fags]] clean his study.
47	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': Nanny Ogg uses this test after her daughters-in-law clean her house.
48	** Mrs Whitlow, the feared housekeeper at the University, also does her inspection rounds while wearing white gloves.
49	* In Carole Nelson Douglas' ''Spider Dance'', Sherlock Holmes is asked to investigate a matter in the home of William Kissam Vanderbilt. Holmes comments on the cleanliness of the house (he's actually chagrined that so much evidence is lost), and it is noted that Mrs. Vanderbilt tests the cleaning staff's efforts this way and fires those who fail.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
53	* In ''Series/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.
54	* In an episode of ''Series/HannahMontana'', Jackson, disguised as a health inspector in an attempt to get his Mamaw to quit as school lunchlady, tries this. It fails spectacularly (He even despairs "They're cleaner then when I put them on!"
55	* ''Series/KeepingUpAppearances'': Hyacinth Bucket ([[InsistentTerminology pronounced "bouquet"]]) does this on occasion. She's [[NeatFreak rarely impressed]].
56	* ''Series/{{MASH}}'': In "[[Recap/MashS11E1HeyLookMeOver Hey, Look Me Over]]", Margaret sweats out the inspection of an HQ nurse, whose favorite test is a white-glove test of the ''top'' of the OR door.
57	* ''Series/{{Monk}}'': Monk goes undercover as Natalie's parents' butler in "[[Recap/MonkS5E12MrMonkIsAtYourService Mr. Monk Is at Your Service]]". His inspection of the other house-servants' work includes a white glove test of the furniture. Finding no dust makes him smile.
58	* '' 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.
59	* In an episode of the short-lived ''Series/PrivateBenjamin1981'' TV series (based on the [[Film/PrivateBenjamin 1981 Goldie Hawn movie]]), [[CynicalMentor Captain Lewis]] conducts an unannounced white glove test on the company barracks [[ForegoneConclusion with a pre-dirtied glove]].
60	* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration,'' "Ensigns of Command." The Sheliak are hailing the ''Enterprise'', but Picard (having finally [[LoopholeAbuse turned the tables]] on the treaty they'd been [[ObstructiveBureaucrat flogging all episode]]) makes them wait by going over to the dedication plaque and performing a gesture signalling this trope. 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. See this in action [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILbLGNDqUxA&t=1m45s here]].
61	* In ''Series/UpstairsDownstairs'', Rose the head house and parlour maid does this to see if the new girl Sarah has done passably or not.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Video Games]]
65	* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'', one of Luigi's comments while inspecting the rooms is to remark that [[ExtremelyDustyHome this house would never pass]] the white glove test.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Western Animation]]
69	* ''WesternAnimation/CowAndChicken'': One episode has the titular duo be sent to military school to learn discipline and [[GoneHorriblyRight when they return they start using what they learned to discipline their parents.]] Cow then uses a white glove to check for dust and makes her mother do 50 push-ups due to there being a single strand of hair underneath the oven.
70	* ''WesternAnimation/PrivateSnafu'': The battleship in "Seaman Tarfu in the Navy" has an automatic deck swabbing machine, which is then followed by an automated whited glove checking the cleanliness of the deck.
71	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'': In "[[Recap/RecessS1E25ParentsNight Parents Night]]", Gus' dad does this on his desk and compliments him on not having a speck of dust.
72	* In the [[WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake "Bitch Pudding"]] short of ''WesternAnimation/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.
73	* ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'': In "[[Recap/TinyToonAdventuresS1E8StuffThatGoesBumpInTheNight Stuff That Goes Bump In The Night]]", Hamton does this after he cleans his bed to ensure there's no dust.
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Other]]
77	* 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?"
78	* Part of the ritual for the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery is the Relief Commander (who does wear white gloves) ostentatiously checking every part the incoming Guard's rifle.
79	[[/folder]]

Context Main / WhiteGloveTest