Mechanics need a tough hand cleaning soap to remove all the dirt and grime accumulated throughout the day. Learn more about hand cleaning soap for mechanics from M&S Skin Care.

If you are a mechanic or a car enthusiast, there is a good chance that you like to get your hands dirty. It is something that comes with the territory of poking about under the hood of a car. As fun as this can be, getting the oil and grime off your hands at the end of the day can be tough. Many of the soaps that are available and designed to remove this type of dirt can strip your hands of essential oils. You might be wondering what is the best hand cleaner for mechanics? Here is our guide to cleaning your hands without wrecking your skin.

Prepare Your Hands

Depending on the level of dirt and grease, you may need to remove the excess grime before you can consider washing them. First, you can wipe them off with a dry paper towel. If there is still a lot of oil and grease stuck on your hands, you could dust them with some powder such as corn flour or baby powder. Adding powder to the oil helps to bind it together and makes it easier to wipe away. Oil and grease do not work well with water, so it is best to remove as much of the oil as you can before you add any water. If you have been wearing any hand jewelry such as rings, you should remove them before you start cleaning your hands with water.

Soak them in Warm Water

One of the big issues that come with working on a car is that the grim is not just one thing. You end up with a mixture of oil, grease, road dirt, and microparticles of metal on your skin. All of these things can dry your hands and make your skin crack. These cracks can be difficult to remove dirt from. By soaking your hands in warm water for around 5 to 10 minutes, your skin and the dirt will soften. And this makes it easier to remove. If you want, you could add some liquid hand soap or shower gel for some bubbles. When you feel that your hands are soft enough, you can take them out and dry them again with a paper towel. You may find a lot of dirt comes off on the paper towel again.

Use a Specialized Soap

There are many different soaps available that claim to be designed for dirty hands, but many of them contain harsh chemicals that can damage your skin. Using an Extra Strong Mechanic soap that contains natural ingredients can have massive benefits. Not only are the oils in this soap better for your skin, but they are also more efficient at removing the engine oil from your skin. It is also important to use a soap that has natural exfoliators to help buff away the dead skin and remove the dirt. Using soap with a variety of different exfoliants can ensure that all dirt is removed from even the smallest cracks in your skin.

Use a Brush

Using a brush is a great way to gently exfoliate the grime away from your skin. It is important to remember, your hands will be feeling delicate after working all day, you should not scrub violently. These brushes are designed to remove dirt from your hands, under your nails, and remove dead skin. If you do need to buy a new brush, you may want to consider investing in a brush that is made of natural fibers and a wooden block. This can be a little more expensive than the standard plastic brushes, but they are better for the environment. If you do use a nail brush, make sure you use soap as well as they work better together.

Repeat if Needed

Oil can be really tricky to remove so you may need to soak your hands again and give them another gentle wash with some Extra Strong Mechanic Soap. Oil is hydrophobic so it doesn’t dissolve in water, and this is what makes it so difficult to remove. It might be tempting to break out the dish soap and start scrubbing at this point but this will cause more harm than good. Dish soap is for washing dishes and prolonged contact with your skin can cause issues such as blisters.

Hand Cream

Dry hands and mechanics don’t mix. Dry hands can crack, cause deep breaks in the skin, and this can cause problems. This in turn causes pain in the hands and prevents you from being able to work on your engine. Handcream is not just for aftercare but should be an important part of your hand routine. Using our Intensive Oat Lotion before and after you go to work on the engine, you put your hands in a much better position to recover. If you need some more intense moisture, you could try some whipped butter to help massage your hands.

Wear Gloves

One of the best things you can do is wear disposable gloves when you are working on an engine and it is a tip that people often forget to do. By wearing gloves, you will protect your hands from the worst part of the dirt and oil. They are not fail-safe and can split, or you end up with oil all the way up your arm. If you do wear gloves, make sure you still moisturize your hands before popping a pair on. If you are not a fan of disposable gloves, you can get reusable gloves that fit closely to your skin and have rubber pads to grip bolts.

Taking care of your hands is an essential part of your routine, so it is better to do it properly. As you clean your hands, you are ensuring that you are taking care of your overall health. Your hands are the best way for germs to spread, and if your hands are grime-covered with cracked skin, you will not be doing yourself any favors. Take care of your hands and your hands will take care of you.