My husband works construction, his hands get rough and dirty. Nothing really works to clean them. Any Ideas?

Question

His hands get so dirty looking and we tried so many products from stores, catalogs, online etc... even after they are washed and scrubbed - they look dirty. He's embarrassed to eat at a restaurant or have dinner at a friends. What can he do to get them clean looking?

Answer 1

the only thing i have found to clean dirty cracked hands is the stiffest hand brush you can find and lots of soap...36 years construction...

Answer 2

I think it's a matter of appearances/perception. To have a clean home requires organization and house cleaning. It's possible they are really well organized and that they don't mess it up much in the first place through certain habits, but they'll still have to contend with dust and dishwashing etc. If others have a good routine and everyone in their household is onboard with a certain way to organize in terms of how things are used, placed and who cleans what when, then it seems like they do no housework because it's not being done when you're around. P.S. If there is any one person in a household who does not do housework, chances are they will create a constant stream of mess behind them because they don't understand/appreciate the effects of their habits. It's best if everyone rotates cleaning chores so that everyone appreciates the concept of clean carpet, clean entryway, clean dishes and countertops etc. Otherwise it's very hard to keep a place clean. (IE, my place with my zero housework room-mate)

Answer 3

He can start with Goop, the cleaner with lots of solvent content. Then he can clean out his nails as well as he can and hit the shower, running his fingers along his hair and this will "floss" out remaining dirt in the nails. Finally, he can use a sugar scrub to exfoliate some of the roughness and smooth them out a little. It also moisturizes, which will help his cuticles. Hit him with some cuticle oil before he does his shave in the morning, that should help keep his cuticles and nails in better condition. It will also help him not snag the cuticle on things at the site. He can also use an exfoliator with moisturizers on his hands during the day (sugar rubs are good at this), since it will take some time to get that calloused outer layer under control. Remember that he will need to just keep his hands in better shape overall in order for them to look good in public - there is no quick fix that can fix weeks of neglect and abuse. He can also try wearing gloves on the job site - a good leather pair fit well as long as he keeps them from getting soaked in water - sweating in them is fine. They will take the abuse instead of his hands. It takes getting used to them, but it is better than being embarassed and better for his hands as well.

Answer 4

Have him soak them in a solution of 1 cup epsom salts or sea salt (you can get the sea salt in the baking isle) and very hot water for about 10 minutes. Then have him scrub them in the bowl with a bar of lava soap and then get extra scrubbing action with a nail brush. That is what my hardworking friend has to do so he looks clean. He can also use a product called M30 that you can get at the Dollar Store. He just rubs it into this hands and then washes them. As they are likely stained, I would definitely do the soaking first whatever he decides. The soaking will soften the hands to enable him to get that deep down dirt and grime that regular washing won't get.

Answer 5

I've found that brake fluid and WD40 works well. Then you can use lever 2000 or lava after that. I do a lot of woodworking and get sap stains. Sometime I use a cleaner normally used by lineman but that is hard to get but really works great.

Answer 6

Ok...tell the the big guy to use a pumice and moisturizing soap in the shower. The orange stuff at Home Depot is ok. Tell him to go two towns over and get a manicure(for you honey) He won't regret it. Tell him to try weight lifting gloves when doing hard labor. I'm a big, tough, blue collar man but I too like to look refined every once in a while. So most importantly...go two towns over but thats the answer.hehe good luck

Answer 7

* There are a variety of products that will assist.
Homemade: granular laundry soap with bleach & corn meal in a container with large holes to sprinkle out (50%/50% mix). This rough mixture helps on harsh surface stains.
* Gojo assists in removing greasy/oily stains.
* Dish liquid & brush assists in greasy/oily stains.
* bleach/water assists on some stains.
*** Stiff fingernail brush and Lava soap for getting into skin creases & under nails.
*** extra dry hands. In pharmacy section, get Rose Glycerin. Put full strength on hands & allow to 'soak' for 5 minutes; paper towel excess; wash hands lightly & dab off water. Rose Glycerin is the softening ingredient in hand lotions. Higher % = better for dry hands; rest of lotion is color, perfume & type of texture. Softening hands will make future 'healed' hands clean with cleansing products.

Answer 8

worked construction for years gloves are for that type of work take him to get his hand clean at a nail shop my son in-law goes when he comes home every two weeks

Answer 9

Go-Jo hand cleaner. It will get his haands completely clean and they will smell nice too! My husband get his at Pep Boys, but any auto store should carry it. Comes in a nice big pump container.

Answer 10

My guess is his hands are tough and chapped like my father-In-Law's used to be. He is a very hard working farmer. He uses "Utter Balm" every night and it keeps his hands soft enough to where his hands aren't chapped all the time and much easier to keep clean!