Clean hands?

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

It would be good to know what others use to clean their hands after a workshop session.

I used to use "Lava" which came in a red push top dispenser. It was a blue gritty cream and worked really well to get out engrained dirt. When my last pump dispenser became nearly empty I put the final dregs into a small container and still use it when I get really dirty hands. Sadly that has nearly gone now. The web shows Lava soap bars and the cream but they only seem to be in America. Amazon tantalisingly show pictures of the Lava cream containers but they are not in stock and don't know if or when they might be.

Now when I am about to do something dirty I use "Somersets Hand Guard". It is a liquid barrier "cream". The small bottles seem to last for ages and it is very good when you wash it off with a bit of detergent. The only problem I have found is that if you get your hands wet while working it tends to come off (which I suppose is what it is supposed to do!).

If anyone knows a UK supplier for Lava hand cleaner, or even the soap, I would be very grateful if you would let me know please or, perhaps, there are other hand cleaners out there that work as well or maybe even better? Bob

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I use Swarfega…..

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Orange Swarfega for me, smells better than the green and the pumice gets the dirt of better

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I use” boraxo “when my hands are really grimy..swarfega orange when not so much

I bought a box whilst in America but it does seem to be available over here in spite of borax being a banned substance nowadays.

Its a bit like the “lava” but in powder form ….you wet your hands and rub in a small amount which creates a slurry then wash off your hands are sparkly clean and really smooth

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

I used to use the Halfords version with beads. Now I use cheap washing up liquid which works almost as well for a lot less cost.

Regards

Richard

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Hand cleaners.co.uk do boraxo in 2 sizes but the smallest is 15kg maybe if enough are interested you could do a group buy 2 kg will last ages

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Yes, the gritty yellow Swarfega that smells a lot nicer than the green stuff of old and seems to work better.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Fairy liquid works well for me.

Mike

[norman valentineParticipant @normanvalentine78682]

Washing up liquid mixed with some detergent powder for really dirty hands. I am sure that it is bad for the skin but I don't seem to suffer any ill effects.

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

I discovered Manista at my local autospares shop a few years back and have used it ever since. A 3 litre tub is about £13 from Amazon and lasts ages. Its a gritty lemon smelling goop that doesn't strip the oils from your skin like the old swarfega used to do.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I find there's a big difference in my skin when I clean with Swarfega versus washing up liquid…..

Swarfega doesnt remove the naturally occuring oils unlike wul…..

But then, thats my skin, other wul users may have skin more tolerant to its use..

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Lava soap! That takes me back MANY years, to the old gritty grey bar of soap.

Mostly I use green Swarfega, (coming to the end of a large tub) or Orange Swarfega from a pump bottle.

I find that washing up liquid degreases my skin too much.

Howard

[colin branniganParticipant @colinbrannigan54160]

Barrier cream before and Fairy after.

Colin

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The hands that do dishes are as soft as your face with mild green Fairy liquid.

Mike

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

+1 for Manista, but have used washing up liquid and sugar when nothing else available. WUL does degrease a bit too much and, as I'm discovering, dermatitis is a cumulative thing. I now wear the orange nitrile Tiger gloves whenever possible which save a lot on the cleaning process.

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Always use washing up liquid and a scrubbing brush have done for the last 58 years, can't work on machines with these disposable glove thingys and never had any skin issues, makes a good shampoo for my hair

Mick

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Certainly following this thread, I'm on my last bar of Lava soap.
I've never found anything as good, particularly with paint.

I bought a few bars years ago at a steam rally, but now save it for special occasions

Orange Swarfega for day to day use, with Deb Aromatherapy foaming handwash to clean up otherwise.

Bill

 

Edited By peak4 on 25/05/2018 22:44:22

[Gordon AParticipant @gordona]

Washing-up liquid and sugar if I have no Swarfega Orange available, but I was told some years ago that sugar and butter work quite well. Not to be used on a sandwich later though !

Gordon.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Orange Swarfega for me. I was relieved to find that the gritty bits are derived from maze husks, not polymer micro beads.

Rod

[Nick HulmeParticipant @nickhulme30114]

I use Lava Soap, I bought a lifetime's supply of ex-RS Components stock from a clearance warehouse about 10 years ago, at this rate I should hit 120 years old or so, even though I keep giving away some of the small size bars

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

I use original green Swarfega. I did discover a decade ago that I'm allergic to D-limonene, the substance used in the citrus based cleaners.

As discovered by my late father in law and verified by me:- Making a batch of pastry in the kitchen is a remarkably good way of cleaning out dirty fingernails.

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

I use baby wipes cheap and do the job.

Frank

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

Thanks for all the replies – I might give Manista a try as there is supposedly a stockist near me. Alternatively if Nick H wouldn't mind living only until he is 115 I wouldn't mind putting in a bid for one of his gritty gold bars! Bob

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Eating cheddar cheese is a great way of cleaning oily / grubby hands. Washing your hair thoroughly is an effective way of cleaning your nails.

I prefer the Swarfega Citrus Power with citrus oil and woodchips to the classic green gel which leaves more of a residue and needs a secondary clean with soap. For normal workshop hand cleaning I mix some liquid soap with the Swarfega. Gives the best (most gentle) balance between effectiveness and harshness for my typical situation.

For resins and paints that refuse to come off with the likes of Swarfega, there is Deb Kresto Specialist Ultra. Worth keeping a tube handy, as they are only a fiver.

Murray

Edited By Muzzer on 26/05/2018 00:28:16

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