Tip for saving your nails

Thank goodness I found this thread!!! So many good ideas and great advice. I use (when I can find them, when I can remember, when I have time....)those Atlas rubber palmed gloves and love them...total control with the fingers. (I was told they were developed by Halibut fisherpersons who wrecked their fingers baiting gazillion hooks at a time). I try to remember to put a really greasy cream on before I put on the gloves...and find that Amlactin cream (with lactic acid) really helps for afterwards...helps re-establish the skin barrier against bacteria.

Gotta find some of that wonderful sounding nail hardener....

Thanks.

Guess I should do a follow up on all the good advice... I ordered some Foxgloves and they are WONDERFUL. They fit so closely that I really can transplant seedlings with them. They feel and look good too - when else to I get the chance to wear long evening gloves? If these get holes in them I'm going to immediately order another pair, and another and another.... I've also been using the Boraxo soap in emergencies, and the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula every so often. My hands were disgusting a month or two ago - this weekend I went for a live exam and my hands were (amazingly) quite presentable! I didn't think it was possible :>)
Thanks Ladies!!!!
Natasha

I've trained myself to wear my gloves. It was really hard finding such a small size but these are GREAT! I can even do delicate jobs b/c they're like a second skin but I can still grab handfuls of nettles and cardoon without any problems. I think what made me wear them everytime was touching something full of bugs which I hate!

I'm so proud of myself b/c I wore them down and they have holes. Yay! I'm hard working.... when I want to be.

Natasha,
Thanks so much for posting your feedback. I haven't ordered any Foxgloves yet but plan to. Which one of the two sites did you buy yours from?

http://www.handhelpers.com/sitedirector/site/product.cfm?id=F82E8AF2-7E95-4B3D-25E329D066105F1D
From handhelpers - I wonder if the site is associated with "Handhelpers" on DG? Anyway, they were very helpful, they didn't have the color I wanted and e-mailed back and forth several times on the day I ordered, until I decided which color/ size/ grip-dot combination I wanted.
Natasha

Thanks!

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread. Some great advice on a subject I thought *I* was the only one to be dealing with: dirty lines that just don't seem to come off no matter how much I scrub. I'm goign to try the lemon juice idea.

Some things in this thread ahve totally cracked me up too (and have been a terrific mood lifter in the midst of my migraine...so thanks ladies!).

1) The best way to clean nails after gardening is to shampoo the dogs. Cleans the dirt right out. Makes the dogs kind of grumpy tho. . .

2) I remember the days of going to work and trying to make sure there was no Desitin under my nails.

3) My in-laws swore by udder ointment.

Hey, I've resorted to using "human udder" ointment that I used when I was nursing my kids. That stuff sure does help sore cracked skin...not just for lactating parts either ;-)

I also can't stand gardening in gloves either. When doing a particularly rough job, I always start out withgloves, but then end up taking them off when they get clogged with dirt.

The soap trick sounds interesting, but as someone else said, I can't stand something under my fingers, but I guess having the soap there would be better than ground in dirt. Ill have to try it out.

Thanks for the terrific thread everyone!

-Julie

I save the dishes or house cleaning (pail of water, etc) for after I am done with the gardening so I have clean hands afterward, lol!!

Lady,
You mean you have time for washing dishes or cleaning the house after gardening?

LOL!! I have to, I haven't figured out how to get the neighbors to do it yet.