Clean Hands and Fingernails?

Last year I got another of those darn emails about 'you know you are...'. This one was 'you know you are a gardener when...' and the response that caught my eye was...'you know you are a gardener when... you only get your fingernails really clean when you wash your hair'. I thought it was funny and appropriate as I cannot/willnot garden in gloves. Well, recently, I have re-discovered Boraxo. They used to sell it in griocery stores here, in a shake can. No longer. Turns out that Ace Hardware stores still carry it in 5 pound boxes. I just put some in an old fashioned cheese shaker jar, and keep it by the sink. It really cleans well, and doesn't dry out my hands!

DARIUS--HEE HEE! I CONSTANTLY HAVE DRY SKIN ON MY WEED PULLING FINGERS FROM PULLING WEEDS! I LOVE IT! DIRT'S GOOD FOR YA! GOD MADE DIRT! CHEW IT UP AND LET IT WORK!
SUSAN

My fingernails still do not come clean when i wash my hair, keep putting gloves on and then take them off again. So for work i have to wear nail polish so nbody can see what my nails are really like.

Around here, the grocery stores still carry Boraxo, known in our house as working boy or working girl soap, depending on which grandchild wants to use it. Nothing better at a good price.

To clean the nails use one of the plastic hand scrub brushes that doctors use at hospitals. I have used those for years and they are much easier under the nails than the typical nail brushes. They don't make my nails sore underneath the nail like the others always do..

I try to scrape my nails over a bar of soap before I start working in the garden. It does work....when I remember! Most of the time I use the clippers and cut them so short they look as if I bite them! Easier to clip than try to get them white!

OH BOY, you guys are really going to think I'm nuts but I pay to get my nails done every 2 weeks! I try to wear gloves but they always seem to be in my garden bucket instead of on my hands. The girl that does my nails is a gardener so we have alot to talk about and she is very understanding about the dirt that I have under my nails. Usually I am pulling weeds or planting something on the way to the car to my nail appointment. I have tried the soap thing since reading it on someones post, it does work pretty good. Now that the weather is warmer, I DO wear darker colored nailpolish just to hide some of the dirt and so when I forget to put the gloves on it takes longer for the dirt to show up! Guess I am pretty crazy but, it makes for good conversation in the nailsalon. (besides they love all the plants and magazines I bring them.) sue

I too compat the dirt under the nails, always forget to wear gloves, haven't tried the soap thing....I have tried soaking my nails in denture cleaning tablets, seems to work, but I dont have the patience to sit still for five minutes or so..... I wear dark polish so no one can see the dirt though, and I keep a nail brush in the sower, and spend an extra couple of minutes scrubing under the nails. Would be interested in the nail brush mentioned above posted by Elena, the ones doctors use . where does one buy them?

I have no nails-nail bitter!!! I was thinking of acrilics(sp)again-for what to dig in the dirt...nah! i cant wear gloves either, unless there are thorns involved. Thats what I hate about martha stewart-no dirty nails...come on with those gardens.

Find someone who works in a hosp. or try places that sell medical supplies. I got mine sev. years ago and they are still good. I ordered mine from Lee Valley. Try Lee Valley at leevalley.com or phone1-800-871-8158 You are interested in item number CA201 which is two brushes for $1 or item number CA203 which is a dozen surgical brushes for $5. They also recommend them as vegetable scrubbers. Hope this helps you. I heartily recommend them.

This message was edited Friday, Apr 20th 12:21 PM

This message was edited Friday, Apr 20th 12:23 PM

Thanks Elena for giving me the information

Not-Martha,

That's the _only_ thing you hate about Mathah?

Good grief, we're talking about a woman who's made a career out of making millions of women feel inadequate.

Brook... ROFL!!!

My husband made a nail brush by heating up a toothbrush handle and bending it in on itself so that the toothbrush became a nail brush.

Persoannly I wear my dirt with pride and I do not wear gloves unless I have to work with thorny weeds or a caustic plant (such as zucchinis).

I just washed my hair and I will say for the first time in a while my nails seem to be clean, give me an hour and I am sure they will be dirty again.

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Good morning. I always scrape my nails with a hard soap bar before I garden and they scrub up so easy

I have one of those hose nozzles that does the soaker, mist, jet, shower, etc thing....put it on the jet and spray those hands and under the nails...works amazingly fast too.

Lantana
I do that too. I wondered if anyone was going to mention that!!
Calalily