dirty hands

[JO,JO]

hi
got a problem has any body got any tips to get your hands clean,as i work in an office and find i cannot get my hands 100% sparkling,it looks a bit unsightly.is there something out there thats not going to strip my skin off.

[TonyF]

I use Simple squirty soap and a nailbrush, then Nutrogena hand cream stuff - expensive but excellent. I also use Body Shop aloe vera on my forearms because of the scarring caused by my blood condition.

[debjay]

Vasaline under your nails helps to keep the soil out
Debbie

[JO,JO]

thanks for the tips x

[lottie dolly]

mix ordinary sugar with baby oil and a little squirt of wash liquid,the oil not only helps to lift out the dirt but is kind on the skin,the sugar acts as a jentle scourer and removes the dead skin cells,then apply a good hand cream,my husband has a lot of bother with his hands crackink and this helps no end,for an even better skrub use demorara sugar,a softer use soft brow sugar,this is also good on any part of your body,add some spices or lavener oil ,why pay the earth for so called beaty products,give it a try,i have even used olive oil,experiment

[jacob marley]

What i use and highley recommend is Manista Halfords sell it (Mrs Dobby's) mob wilko's used to but not now if i use the famous orange stuff it takes the skin of my hands but Manista do's not majic yellow stuff jacob

[crichmond]

swarfega is what they use when hands are oily.

[Snadger]

It's just a mixture of sugar and washing up liquid for me! You need to give the paws a good going over before adding the water tho!

[skybluepink]

Ah , manys the time i have been in meeting having to hide my hands under the table I reckon prevention is as important as post scrubbing i would recommend applying hand cream and/or vaseline around nails before gardening so the dirt does not get a chance to sick and gloves , gloves GLOVES!

[Flummery]

I sometimes add a teaspoon of salt to my hands when they've been lathered up with a liquid anti-bacterial hand soap. The salt, like the sugar used above, gives you a bit of friction and grittiness. Like a gentle sandpaper effect. I never use gloves and generally speaking my hands don't look too bad!

[lainey lou]

I have to have clean looking hand too for my jobs. I try to wear gloves as much as poss, but when I really can't resist getting my hand in the soil I use ecover heavy duty hand cleaner and lashings of neutogena hand cream.

[busylizzie]

I have two small babies so I have to be able to get my hands clean quickly if they need me so it's got to be gloves here.

Before kiddies I used to put a light coat of vaseline on my hands before going out and it stops the dirt getting in in the first place.

[Demeter]

Office job here too

My hands are rarely perfect for work since I started this gardening lark - I can't stand to garden in gloves. I wash the worst off, then use the pointy end of a nail file to clean out the dirt from under my nails, then wash and scrub. Usually gets enough off to be at least respectable, especially if I do the washing up afterwards . Palmers Cocoa Butter to soften up the dry, rough skin (which is worse as far as I'm concerned than dirt!)

[Pompeylottie]

I have the same problem, I have to keep my nails very short, and I just use plain old hot water and soap, with a nail brush, I have a larger softer nail brush from Ikea so I can scrub all over my hands, and loads of hand cream. Or wear gloves! - I wear nurses gloves sometimes if it's not too hot.

[JO,JO]

apparently my earth is silty,according to the soil chart in the new issue of the magazine just bought it from tescos for 7.99 and got aload of seeds free as well.am happy as silty soil is high in nutrients but quick to go dry.my house was buit in 1853 and there was pig pens in what is my garden now!