Sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get involved in, when it comes to working on vehicles, since one problem can easily lead to another. When doing mechanics’ work, though, there’s one thing you know you’ll face: grease and grime! No matter how good you are at mechanical work you can’t prevent your hands – and sometimes face – from becoming covered in motor oil and grease. As unpleasant as that is it’s even more unpleasant when you try to get yourself clean once again. Scrubbing with soap, applying expensive hand cleaners – it’s all part of the process. Even when you’re as clean as you can get you’ll still see grease stains under the fingernails.
If you’re a business person the last thing you want to do is show up at the office with dirty fingernails that refuse to come clean. Even if you’re not a business person most people would still rather not walk around with unclean nails.
There are hand cleaners, sold on the market today, which are adequate for removing grease after working on motors and such. The products can be a tad expensive, though, and you can achieve the same results with things you may already have around your house.
Prevent the hassle of trying to clean up after a mechanic job by simply rubbing your hands with Vaseline before starting. Vaseline is a greasy substance – petroleum jelly – that is used in many different ways. Although it will leave you with a greasy feeling to your hands, you’ll be handling greasy items anyway, so the greasy feeling shouldn’t be too annoying..
Work the Vaseline into the hands, wrists, arms or other parts of your body that might meet up with grease and grime from the car. Be sure to coat between fingers and under fingernails. You don’t have to put on a thick coat, and you can wipe your hands off after applying, but don’t put effort into trying to remove every bit of the petroleum jelly. The Vaseline will remain as a protective coating on your skin and under your nails.
Although you’ll still become covered in grease and grime, while working on the car, clean up will be much easier when you coat your hands with Vaseline. Use very warm water while washing hands your choice of soap. Degreasing products, like Dawn dish detergent, will help you remove every bit of grease.
Working somewhat similar to Vaseline, lotion has basically the same effect on hands when working on mechanics. Work plenty of lotion into the skin and under fingernails. Oily types of lotions work better than those that dry quickly and leave hands feeling dry.
One other product that works like magic for cleaning up after working with grease is baby oil. Pour some into your hand and work it around, paying attention to the fingernails. Not only should you coat under the fingernails but you should work the oil, lotion or Vaseline around the nail itself, as well as the cuticles.
It’s true that working on cars or other mechanical things can be satisfying, and can save you money, but what it saves you in money it gives you in hassle, if you don’t treat your hands right before getting started.
By the way, did you know you can give the same treatment to your tools? Coat them with petroleum jelly – then wipe off – just before starting a job, and your tools will easily come clean when you’re finished.
Don’t give up your beloved mechanical work; give up the grease and grime when it’s all over! Cover your hands in lotion, petroleum jelly or baby oil before starting the job, and you’ll be the cleanest mechanic in town!
Reference:
- Purchase Vaseline here: www.drugstore.com
