Scrubbing Up
Now that Mr Chiots and I are in our busy season for our business (if you don’t know what we do check out 2nd Mile Productions). Since we’re going to weddings most weekends I have to look professional and presentable, that means no dirty gardening fingers.
So, on Friday evenings I take some time to scrub up my hands to get all that dirt out from under my fingernails. I don’t have one of those nail brushes, I just use an old toothbrush and a bar of all-natural non-toxic gardener’s soap I got at the farmer’s market. I also use some baking soda to get rid of the dry patches on my hands from so much hand-washing during the week and I finish with some good non-toxic lotion (and occasionally a few drops of olive oil).
Do you have any trip & tricks for cleaning up your hands from all those gardening chores?
Filed under About Me, Miscellaneous | Comments (10)
It sounds silly, but I just keep my nails trimmed down as short as possible – otherwise the dirt would be impossible to get at. But I also find rubbing my hands with olive oil helps a lot with easing out the dirt from small cracks in the hands, and then smoothing the hands after the work.
.-= Mangochild´s last blog ..Preserving Peas =-.
to Mangochild's comment
No tips from me. I don’t have to keep my hands presentable for anything.
to kristin's comment
Sometimes when I know I’m going to be doing a lot of hand digging; turning my small beds, digging for potatoes, or mixing up new batches of potting soil I scrape my fingers across a bar of soap to “prefill” underneath the nails with a bit of soap. That way dirt can’t get so deeply imbedded and cleanup is much easier. Most often I forget, or I don’t _plan_ to get so dirty before finding myself up to my elbows but when I do remember it makes it much easier to clean. Mostly though, I just go around with dirt embedded somewhere. But I rarely have to look so presentable.
to Seren Dippity's comment
That’s a great idea!
to Susy's comment
I have been really trying to keep gloves on at all times in the garden. This is mainly due to my poor dirt camera that may go on strike if I keep shooting with dirty hands. If I do forgo the gloves I do find having a long soak in the bath gets my hands sparking clean. A glass of wine and a nice book is always a good addition as well :-)
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Mister Early Is Missing! =-.
to Dan's comment
I hear you on that! My camera can get quite dirty as well. I have a great pair of gloves, but my fingernails are super strong and no matter how short I trim them they cut through the ends of my gloves rather quickly. So they only keep my hands clean, but I still get dirt under my fingernails.
to Susy's comment
My hands have been cleaner lately because I found a good pair of gardening gloves out of necessity. I developed blisters on the tips of my fingers (long story). Otherwise, without the gloves, fingernail dirt is a way of life in the summer that usually results in hiding my hands in inopportune moments that might otherwise prove embarrassing.
.-= islandgardener´s last blog ..Anticipation…It’s Making Me Wait! =-.
to islandgardener's comment
I’ve tried wearing gloves but I just don’t like gardening in them. So mostly, despite scrubbing, I have grubby fingernails.
However, haven’t tried the toothbrush trick so will do that (my nail brush doesn’t seem man enough for the job).
I’ve heard of running your nails over a bar of soap too but never seem to remember to do that!
.-= Deb´s last blog ..My Library No #1: Homemade Happiness =-.
to Deb's comment
A stiff-bristled toothbrush works better than one of the softer ones. They work wonderfully for me.
to Susy's comment
the husband mowed my garden with the lawn mower b/c it was so embarrassing… the weeds were overtaking everything else. i guess i was being too optimistic trying to have a garden & work full time along with being 6 months pregnant! anyway, my hands aren’t dirty from gardening anymore (until the baby gets here anyway!) but being a dog groomer i get lots of nasty things under my fingernails (NASTY!) and i just keep them short and soak at the end of the day… needless to say my high maintenance acrylic nail days are GONE! :)
to deedee's comment