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Dirty Hands…

May 19th, 2015

Even though I try to keep my hands nice & tidy during gardening season it’s difficult. I’ve been out weeding the back potager and the results are dirty hand and fingernails.
dirty fingernails
I scrub them up every night, but they never get 100% clean. Last year I purchased these Gardener’s Nail Brush that I really like. It works fairly well at getting all the dirt out from under my fingernails. I use one of my fingernails and one on my feet.
gardeners nail brush 2
It’s OK with me if they’re not super clean, most people know that I garden. They’ll be clean again once the snow starts to fly.

Do you have any tips for keeping you hands/fingernails clean during the gardening season? 

9 Comments to “Dirty Hands…”
  1. PennyAshevilleNC on May 19, 2015 at 8:15 am

    I’m glad I’m not alone…I try to remember gloves, but sometimes they aren’t handy when I am in the garden. I am thankful for my nailbrush!

    Reply to PennyAshevilleNC's comment

  2. Lemongrass on May 19, 2015 at 9:21 am

    My friend has a t-shirt that says, “I have gardeners’ fingernails”.
    I just make sure that my nails are cut short, brush them when the day is over. Then ever so often I spend two hours on the beach. The sand and salt water do and a wonderful job on hands and feet.

    Reply to Lemongrass's comment

    • bonnie knox on May 19, 2015 at 12:17 pm

      I really like this idea!! ~smile~

      Reply to bonnie knox's comment

  3. Misti on May 19, 2015 at 10:12 am

    I keep thinking that I want to paint my nails but then I think “I’m going to be in the garden this week”…and so I don’t. I try gloves but lately I need non-glove hands for getting weeds better.

    Oh well, dirt is good!

    Reply to Misti's comment

  4. Nebraska Dave on May 19, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Susy, I found gloves that are sold almost every where in stores. These gloves are almost like a second skin. The palms and fingers on the palm side of the gloves are coated with a gritty flexible rubber coating for good grip and the back side of the gloves are a stretchy knit that hugs the hand and holds the glove tight. I’ve found that there’s not much that I have to remove the glove to accomplish. The down side is they are not very durable and don’t last long but they are cheap. I buy them for about five bucks for three pairs. One pair will last me a week or so. I still use the heavy leather gloves for digging, hoeing, and other major tasks. My nails tear easily so I keep them clipped short. This is the season for gloves and just like tools “the right glove for the right job”, don’t you think?

    Have a great dirt under the fingernails day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  5. Kyle on May 19, 2015 at 10:40 am

    I keep mine much, much shorter, with almost no white showing. But, I’m a massage practitioner and don’t have a choice!

    Reply to Kyle's comment

  6. carol on May 19, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I’m a nurse so my nails need to be really CLEAN. I use rubber gloves inside my garden gloves and never have a problem with dirty nails.

    Reply to carol's comment

  7. Monica on May 19, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    If you dig your nails into a bar of soap before you start gardening, the soap keeps the dirt out, as well as being easy to wash out. It also helps if your hands are well moisturized.

    Reply to Monica's comment

    • PennyAshevilleNC on May 20, 2015 at 8:05 am

      Monica- that’s a great idea! I am going to try it today, thank you :)

      Reply to PennyAshevilleNC's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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