Dirty hands

ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

After working on my bike, my hands are all black and oily. 2 days later and they're still dirty. I'm sitting in work just now with these grey hands and black finger nails. Everyone probably thinks I'm a manky b*******. I can't get rid of it! Basically what I want to know is; what do you all use to clean your hands after working on your bike?
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McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

Washing up liquid and sugar. It works wonders.

Alternativly, buy some latex disposable gloves and save getting your hands oily in the first place. You can pick up a box of 100 for about a fiver.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Swarfega is your friend. They sell it in Homebase type places and will take all oil/grease etc off your hands. Smile

Or buy some disposable latex gloves for when working on it. Or work for a company which make them Wink

Annabella · Like a person, only smaller Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Swarfega is the way

(is that how you spell it?)

Otherwise, get some similar degreasing soap, takes all the oils out of your hands so they're really dry, but normally gets all the gunk off.

Best way is to dampen your hands a little, then use the soap and rub in in lots. Use a scrubbing brush all around your nails and cuticles and rinse slowly. Repeat again if necessary.
.
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ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

Thanks again everyone! I'll try those out. Smile

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dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

Try some whipping up some C3H5N3O9 really shifts that grime! Wink

Irdawood the 2nd · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 11 Aug 2003 Karma :

dainesefreak · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Karma :

Give it a go, but don't come knocking on my door if it doesn't work! Wink

Diehard · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Karma :

Before you apply anything to ya hands sprey them with WD40! And then whipe them clean with a old rag, brings it all off instantly! Then when it is all dry use, regular soap for that fresh look! Very Happy

Trust me it really works.
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mr jamez · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Karma :

ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

One thing before I go trying some of these (serious Wink

) suggestions is my skin is quite sensitive, especially on my hands. Embarassed

So I don't want to risk exposing my hands to something that's going to cause serious problems. Any further advice on that would be appreciated.
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Adam_P · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Karma :

When my Dad used to build his own Hod Rod cars years ago he always used washing powder to wash his hands when he'd finished, worked a treat, its the little grains see Wink

Unfortunately, in the modern era of washing tablets, its a bit harder to use this method! Rolling Eyes

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Diehard · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 Jan 2004 Karma :

Well I get sore hand very easily in the cold but the WD methord never really causes any probs for me. As I said as soon as you have finished the work, use the WD40, wait 5 mins after dry, then wash with some moisturising soap. This just takes all of the WD reserdue off, but you MUST wait until the WD is dry, or you'll have an oily mess!
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Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Just wear gloves. Thumbs Up

Apparently rubbing washing up liquid on your hands *before* you go and get grubby is good, but washing up liquid gives me a terrible rash so I won't be trying that.

Korn · Admin Joined: 01 Feb 2002 Karma :

I have a bottle of evil looking mixture at home; part volcanic ash, part scouring cream, part alcohol, part sugar and probably part sulphuric acid it feels like. It looks/smells/tastes* awful but it gets the job done, every now and then I just top it up with washing up liquid, jif, sugar and whatever I can find under the kitchen sink to throw in there.

* don't ask Embarassed

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v4forlife · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Karma :

this works well, very well
just use ordinary washing up liquid, and one of those tablet bags for the washer, the ones like little nets, it scrubs it all straight off

will
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ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

ZaphodBeeble · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I use barrier cream. You soak it into your hands before you start work and it stops the oil and stuff getting into your skin. When it comes time to wash your hands I'd use washing powder. You can use the tablet blocks too as they break up into bits quite easily. The only problem I can see for people with sensitive skin is that it is quite abrasive.

The WD40 idea sounds ok as I can't see that putting WD40 on your hands after you work is any different or any worse than getting your hands oily in the first place. Smile

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Git · Brolly Dolly Joined: 17 Dec 2003 Karma :

Barrier cream gets my vote, apply a huge dollop before you start and rub in well and leave to dry for a few moments, force plenty under finger nails and removing the grime will be so much easier, barrier cream,fast orange and a nail brush is all that i use and my hands are still pretty minty after 15yrs working with dirty smelly diesel trucks all day.

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Also try to put on some cream before hand, like oil of olay or moisturerising cream! That always works for me!
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Milo · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Feb 2002 Karma :

Mr C · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

I used to be an RAF Propulsion Technician (yes, jet engines) and we were taught to always use a barrier cream - every day.

Gloves work but only in some situations and not for long and latex dissolves in petrol and paraffin anyway

What's worse is that modern oils, fuels and lubricants contain chemicals which can be carcinogenic, and washing them off with anything not designed to be used on your skin - like washing powder, wd40 etc. is probably ok for once or twice but do it regularly and you are asking for industrial dermatitis or worse, skin cancer.

Swarfega is probably the most effective cleanser but by it's nature it is a degreasant and therefore dries your skin. So you need to use a moisturiser afterwards as well.

Barrier cream, swarfega, moisturiser - trust me

Take three bottles into the shower - oh yes if you want to avoid problems later in life
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ZaphodBeeble · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I agree Mr C, that's definitely the best way to go. I must admit though, I have used washing powder for years and don't seem to have any trouble. I might be lucky or just have a good resistance to filth hehe...
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Mr C · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

yup, I do it too occasionally

I used to work with a guy who had industrial dermatitis

It was awful

buy some Swarfega if you are doing this regularly - it's cheaper than washing powder anyway and Halfords sell it
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Scooby · Scrappy Doo Joined: 26 Mar 2002 Karma :

You should try being a bike mechanic. My hands are permanantly black. At the mo they are covered in chain lube which won't shift because I have been pissing about with the back end of a VFR750 all day changing the rear shock and fitting a new chain and sprockets and fitting a new rear tyre. Depending on what I'm doing in between work depends on how I clean my hands. If I am staying in I normally just go in the bath and get the majority of the crap off with a scrubbing brush and leave the rest of the crap that doesn't seem to come off on. If I'm going out the best thing I have found is washing powder, it really does do the job pretty well.

All this crap about using latex gloves just doesn't work. They rip really easily and get anything remotely liquid on them and you can't grip anything. Normally I use barrier cream on my hands before I start work but some days you forget and just crack on with something and only remember you didn't put any on when you're trying to wash the crap off at the end of the day.

Basically, if you don't wanna get your hands dirty, bring your bike to someone like me who doesn't mind it Very Happy

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