I like to use lotion, a good amount before and after a shower. The action of washing my hair along with the lotion seems to work. Some stuff like stinky pond hands just takes some time to clean up and dissipate though.

Pam

I do wear gloves, Patty, but still get dirty nails, cuticles and hands. I second what Pam said about washing your hair, however, I also keep an old toothbrush by my tub (I soak instead of showering) and scrub with this. My toenails and feet suffer the same malady .........LOL> Toothbrush works on them as well.

I TRY to remember to scrape my nails on a soap bar, so the soap is under my fingernails, before putting my gloves on. Today I left thick lotion under my nails before putting on my gloves.
I also use a nail brush, but sometimes the grit really irritates the nail bed-ouch. taterbug

My hands can't go without gloves anymore. I use a nail brush. I get dirty nails with gloves too.

Your supposed to clean your hands after gardening?

Since I never remember to put lotion on my hands BEFORE gardening, I've found that Lava soap can work wonders for getting the dirt off my hands. For getting it out from underneath my nails, I agree that the best solution is washing hair. It works much better than any nail brush or fingernail file I've tried.

First, I always use Ivarest foam cleaner because I never know when I may have touched a poison ivy root or stem. (I learned this the "hard way"). It has some cleaning action also.

Then I use a bar of soap that is encased in a net-like cover. It came in a gardener's kit. It lathers abundantly and cleans well if a fingernail brush is used with it. The net keeps it from being slippery in ones hands.

It is almost used up. I do not know where I got it. Does anyone know where it may be purchased?

There are some gardening chores that I just cannot do in gloves.

I've tried this. It works great. I used the tropical shea butter scent instead of the pomegranate one.

At first I used way too much soap. Then I poured it all in a big bowl and added lots more sugar, until it was as stiff as icing. Firm enough to scoop but not quite pour.

Use a 'fancy' sugar spoon or butter knife to scoop it out of your container and on to your damp hands. Scrub and rinse. It will really clean your hands but leave them pretty soft and not dried out like lava soap does.

Of course lotion applied afterwards helps too.
In the past I've uses similar concoctions made with Epsom salts or backing soda but they tend to really dry out the skin.

hmm a face scrub using baby wash and sugar??? I'll try that too. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: sugar scrub

I just tried some of this from Mel, and it really, really works............made my hands feel so good even though one is swollen from a yellow jacket sting.

I've been thinking...( you know that never stops don't you? )

From other sites I've read about mixing up sugar scrubs, they all tell you to keep it in the fridge. I think the sugar must spoils. Its gotta be just like our hummingbird syrup.

My suggestion is to make it up in small amounts and keep it stored in the fridge. Take it out when you head outside so its sitting next to the sink when you come back inside. :)

That makes sense................thanks for NOT making me think .......... not a good day for it..........LOL>

i have to clean teeth when i am not in the garden so i have to work hard to get my hands back in shape after the weekend in the garden

My aunt shared this tip with me years ago. Works great! Just a little dish soap then sprinkle sugar into your hands and voila, clean hands!

I wear gloves out of habit and keep several pair laying around front yard and back so that I can always find at least one pair. If anyone wants to work on that habit I just saw that Lowe's had the nitril dipped gloves at the great price of 5 pair for $5.00. They were in a special standing free box away from the regular display of gloves.

I wear gloves nearly all the time while working on gardening stuff, but even then.. hands get really really nasty and plain old soap and water doesn't get them really clean.

That sugar scrub and an old toothbrush followed by a shower and hair wash does the trick!

I really like those coated gloves best of all. I won't buy any other kind anymore.

Testing testing (long story :-)