Cleaning Your Hands

As we’ve all heard, cleaning your hands will help keep you from getting sick, but there are other reasons for cleaning your hands – to remove odors, paint, grease, etc. – and soap won’t always do the trick.Kool-aid and food coloring can stain your hands (and upper lip), but dabbing some Colgate Toothpaste on your hands and adding a little water, will help remove that coloring.

Ever cut an onion and then you couldn’t get your hands to stop smelling like that onion?  Try these simple little ideas:

• Pour baking soda into the palm of your hand and then rub the baking soda all over your hands (as if you were washing them with soap).  Once they are covered, rinse under warm water.
• Pour some vinegar (cider or white will work) on your hands and rub them together.  Then rinse them with water.
• Get your hands wet and then put a little salt on your hands and rub the salt into your hand.  Concentrate on your nails and fingertips and in between your fingers.  Rinse.
• Lemon Juice (ReaLemon) can be poured on your hands, rub them together and then rinse.  This will help remove fish, onion, and garlic odors.

Ever try to remove paint or grease from your hands?  The chemicals you usually use could knock down a horse, but these tips won’t hurt you or the environment…

• Shortening (like Crisco) can be used to remove paint or grease from your hands.  Just scoop a little bit out and rub it all over your hands.  It will dissolve the paint or grease and unlike those harsh chemicals, it will also moisturize your hands at the same time.
• Massaging a few drops of baby oil into your hands and rub them together, then wash your hands with soap and water.
• Miracle Whip can also be used to remove paint, etc from your hands.  Just put a little on your hand and then rinse with warm water.
• Cooking Spray (Pam) can be sprayed on your hands and rubbed your hands together, then wash with soap and water.

No harsh chemicals and most of these will even moisturize you hands while cleaning them.