Comments on: Scrubbing Up

By: Susy

Susy — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:50:41 +0000

A stiff-bristled toothbrush works better than one of the softer ones. They work wonderfully for me.

By: Susy

Susy — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:48:31 +0000

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.

By: deedee

deedee — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:28:01 +0000

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! :)

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:33:32 +0000

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

By: islandgardener

islandgardener — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:47:19 +0000

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!

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:48:56 +0000

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!

By: Susy

Susy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:27:21 +0000

That’s a great idea!

By: Seren Dippity

Seren Dippity — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:10:16 +0000

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.

By: kristin

kristin — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:13:23 +0000

No tips from me. I don’t have to keep my hands presentable for anything.

By: Mangochild

Mangochild — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:27:04 +0000

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