Buy exam gloves. Cheap.

Here is a link that might be useful: 100 Gloves for $5.99

I like the thicker yellow gloves because then I can use very hot water. I tried the exam gloves but they conduct heat too easily and are too hard to re-use. I stock up at the dollar store or at Big Lots. They are maybe a little thinner than the brand ones, but not so you'd notice.

How about switching to non-toxic (green) cleaning products? You can then forget about using gloves.

You'll still get dry skin from washing dishes. If a soap or detergent is capable of getting grease off your dishes, it will suck all the moisture out of your hands, "green" or not green.

Carolpolki, Just plain hot water will ruin your hands too. Gloves also protect against bacteria entering skin through micro cuts and abrasions that you can get while cleaning or gardening. I don't care how "green" my toilet bowl cleaner is.........I'm still wearing gloves.

Because my hands sweat if I wear the gloves a long time I sometimes wear cotton gloves underneath. This helps insulate them from the hot water too.

Oh I like the cotton gloves idea ... I wonder if it would work to do the hand lotion thing in the winter while I clean?! Then I'd have a clean house and soft hands!

Dilly_dally, you're right about the bacteria entering cuts in your hands; however, with my cleaning products I never get those abrasions because there are no strong chemicals in them - yet - they clean as well as those that do have the chemicals, and you don't need to use scalding hot water either. Don't know about you, but I sure don't like to wear gloves when I'm working.

Yes, the lotion-cotton gloves-rubber gloves combination will soothe your hands while you clean. Actually, lotion alone under gloves works in a pinch, but it does accumulate a bit on the inside of the gloves. I have never been good about wearing gloves for anything, including painting and repairing furniture finishes and gardening. It has taken a toll on my hands. By the time I'm too old to clean, I will probably glow in the dark from all the chemicals I've absorbed through my skin...so I have turned over a new leaf.
I use Gardener's Nail and Cuticle Care by Earth Therapeutics (from the natural food store) - and, no, I have no commercial connection with them - under gloves, and it is wonderful. To be more frugal, I alternate with plain old Vaseline.