Shop Soap

[Brian]

I know a lot of you guys turn wrenches for a living and I'm curious to know what hand cleaner you like the best. I know gloves are an option but there are 2 major reasons why I don't use gloves unless I'm handling something toxic. #1 my hands sweat like no other. If I wear a latex or rubber gloves for 5 min my hands look like I sat in the tub for an hour. #2 When I wear gloves, I can't "feel" the work I'm performing which I don't like.
So my hands get dirty often and I wash them frequently but have never found a soap that's made me say "this stuff is bad ass".
Any soap suggestions to try?

 

[bonesfab]

A bar of Lava soap. Even have one in the shower for the arms and elbows.

 

[cakemoto]

I forget the name of it but one of the motorcycle guys came out with a product that has dirt in it works very well.check it out

 

[DLC]

I like the cherry flavored grit soap!

but I don’t use it every day

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I use cherry bomb, and a small hand scrub brush. Seems to do ok but like you I have yet to find something that makes me say wow!

 

[Mandelon]

I have some of that Zep orange goo in the pump bottle.

These tub o towels wipes work awesome for hands and cleaning doors and other surfaces too.

 

[rivergames]

This stuff is the BEST! Purchase a dispenser and a few boxes of Boraxo!

 

[lbhsbz]

Original dawn dish soap

 

[FreeBird236]

What ever happened to that stuff that looked like Crisco? I know someone's going to ask what's Crisco.

 

[Racer56]

X2 on the bar of Lava soap.

 

[Brian]

What ever happened to that stuff that looked like Crisco? I know someone's going to ask what's Crisco.

Waterless hand cleaner. I remember that stuff. My dad had it when I was growing up. Smelled like it had gasoline in it!

 

[FreeBird236]

Waterless hand cleaner. I remember that stuff. My dad had it when I was growing up. Smelled like it had gasoline in it!

Yep, that's the stuff.

 

[lbhsbz]

What ever happened to that stuff that looked like Crisco? I know someone's going to ask what's Crisco.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCB1115?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&campaign=GSC-Paint-Body-Equipment&campaign_id=10947560788&adgroup_id=110533803034&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI-9QxPXevZkib_wf-zmKHb35LfPQjTCrWDHuVyDxb9F-LbHFuoOXdAaAutkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&

 

[FreeBird236]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCB1115?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google&campaign=GSC-Paint-Body-Equipment&campaign_id=10947560788&adgroup_id=110533803034&adtype=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ouKBhC5ARIsAHXNMI-9QxPXevZkib_wf-zmKHb35LfPQjTCrWDHuVyDxb9F-LbHFuoOXdAaAutkEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&

You still needed a good hand soap at the end of the day, but worked well thru out the day.

 

[Devilman]

What ever happened to that stuff that looked like Crisco? I know someone's going to ask what's Crisco.

Gojo?

 

[FreeBird236]

Gojo?

I actually think there were similar cleaners prior to Gojo, but Gojo is probably the survivor.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Grip clean....works awesome and isn't harsh on your hands

 

[TrollerDave]

Side track- I like using these palm coated gloves. They keep you hands cleaner and have nylon to help breath better than a rubber/nitrile glove. Easy to take on and off and reuse. They are thin enough to hold and start a machine screw. Some of them have a thicker coating and are harder to handle small screws. That is why I like these.

Ansell HyFlex® 11-600 Polyurethane Coated Gloves - Black, XL S-17134BL-X - Uline

Enhanced dexterity for electronics assembly. Ultra-cool stretch nylon liner. Light coating with excellent protection. ULINE offers over 42,000 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing tubes, warehouse supplies and bubble wrap for your storage, packaging, or shipping supplies.

www.uline.com

 

[SoCalDave]

What ever you use you need a good nail/hand brush to really get that grime out.

https://www.amazon.com/Konex-Non-Slip-Wooden-Two-sided-Brush/dp/B01DCXXGFC/ref=sr_1_9?crid=25GTRY6TYNZ6W&dchild=1&keywords=nail+scrub+brush&qid=1631815100&sprefix=nail+scrub%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-9

 

[King295]

I forget the name of it but one of the motorcycle guys came out with a product that has dirt in it works very well.check it out

You're thinking of Bryce Hudson's Grip Clean.

Grip clean....works awesome and isn't harsh on your hands

X2 Grip Clean | Heavy Duty Soaps & Hand Care

 

[warpt71]

Lava or Dawn are my go to's, but Fast Orange makes a bar too that works well

 

[HB2Havasu]

These tub o towels wipes work awesome for hands and cleaning doors and other surfaces too.

I keep one of these in my truck all the time. Good Stuff!

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Powedered Tide laundry soap. Ive never used anything that works as well.

 

[Dana757]

Lava soap and green scotch bright pad is what's in our shop.

 

[Chili Palmer]

Use your female companion’s facial buff puffs when she’s done with them, they’re good for cleaning around your fingernails and cuticles without removing the first 2 layers of skin like scotchbrite pads do. They also work good for removing latex or enamel paint from your skin.

 

[DoughBallin14]

Old wrench man(dad) and old auto shoo teacher showed me original powder oxy clean Been using is for 15 years at least. Always worked perfect and cheap. Usually followed up by regular soap just to get rid of the fresh scent haha. Even removes the smell of gear oil.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I use "Shell Shock" on diesel & tractor grime. Cleaner greasy messes I use dish soap. Top secret one though: When stuck with the fiberglass itchies, I use my wife's face scrub stuff (clear amber Neutrogena?) It seems to pull the glass from the pores.

 

[Nordie]

Soak it (in cider)

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I use "Shell Shock" on diesel & tractor grime. Cleaner greasy messes I use dish soap. Top secret one though: When stuck with the fiberglass itchies, I use my wife's face scrub stuff (clear amber Neutrogena?) It seems to pull the glass from the pores.

For fiberglass, just take a cold shower and any soap will work. Hot showers open up the pores more and allow the fibers to bury deeper making them harder to get out.

 

[Racey]

Over the years i've tried all kinds of them, BY FAR this stuff absolutely blows everything else away

Loyal® Heavy Duty Waterless Hand Cleaner - 20 lb, w/Pumice | Vernon Sanitary Supply

Loyal® Heavy Duty Waterless Hand Cleaner - 20 lb, w/Pumice | Quickly removes all types of inks, paints, oil, grease, tar and other soils from the hands through its unique cleaning action. Fortified with aloe vera, glycerin and lanolin. USDA E-4. | Vernon Sanitary Supply

catalog.vernonsan.com

First off, it's not watered down, you need about the size of a nickel worth to clean your hands even if they are absolutely filthy. A dab of this soap, and some water and it starts working.

It cuts through grime and oil about 10x better than GoJo orange. And it works FAST, you don't have to lolly gag around for it to start cleaning.

and most importantly IT DOESN'T DRY YOUR SKIN. I don't care if it's winter and you wash your hands 20x a day, this stuff has Lanolin in it so it keeps your hands from drying out.

It used to cost about $200 a bucket, but the bucket will literally last you years.

 

[cakemoto]

Powedered Tide laundry soap. Ive never used anything that works as well.

That stuff will clean cement i used to use it all the time at bill Larzelere.

 

[monkeyswrench]

That stuff will clean cement i used to use it all the time at bill Larzelere.

Holy crap! A name I hadn't heard in awhile! Did some work for him, damn, 20ish years ago?

 

[Sportin' Wood]

This might be hard to find, but it is the best soap for the shop.
Wood-ease.

I think the guy who makes this is out of Murrieta Ca.

It uses fine sawdust as the abrasive. It does not take much and it takes off pitch as well as grease and grime.

I don't think marketing is in their wheelhouse.

 

[bonesfab]

This stuff is the BEST! Purchase a dispenser and a few boxes of Boraxo!

View attachment 1050047

View attachment 1050049

A kid in high school shop class snorted a line of that shit. I was blown away. Obviously there wasn't much brain to damage.

 

[rivergames]

A kid in high school shop class snorted a line of that shit. I was blown away. Obviously there wasn't much brain to damage.

Snort some Boraxo to cleanse your colon!

 

[ltbaney1]

I use "Shell Shock" on diesel & tractor grime. Cleaner greasy messes I use dish soap. Top secret one though: When stuck with the fiberglass itchies, I use my wife's face scrub stuff (clear amber Neutrogena?) It seems to pull the glass from the pores.

White vinegar works great for fiberglass itch. rub some of that on and then take a cold shower when you get home, cold water closes up pores.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Original dawn dish soap

This with a little bit of sand and you wont find anything better!!

 

[Yoshiro]

I second the tub o towels suggestion. I have several tubs. Clean hands, engine parts, drives, upholstery, etc.

Good for hands when you don't have water handy.

 

[Waterjunky]

This is the best I have found:

BOMB SHELL | sunrisenv.com

www.sunrisenv.com

I have tried many, hands down the best.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

What ever happened to that stuff that looked like Crisco? I know someone's going to ask what's Crisco.

Waterless hand cleaner. I remember that stuff. My dad had it when I was growing up. Smelled like it had gasoline in it!

You thinking of this stuff?

 

[bilz]

Lava bar and a squirt of dawn dish soap.

 

[JLG614]

I forget the name of it but one of the motorcycle guys came out with a product that has dirt in it works very well.check it out

Grip clean....works awesome and isn't harsh on your hands

another vote for Grip Clean. Stuff is amazing with grease and oil. doesn't eat your hands up either. We've been using it in our shop for years

 

[FreeBird236]

You thinking of this stuff? View attachment 1050307

That's one I remember.

 

[OkHallett270]

Original Dawn dish soap or Joe’s hand cleaner works well too.

 

[guest hs]

We use Works hand cleaner it’s a dry soap green in color and it’s the best I have used.

 

[Chili Palmer]

If you have tar or real stubborn grease stains on your body or anything else use the orange air freshener they sell at Home Depot, I think it's call Pure Citrus.
It also works on adhesive too. Good shit.

 

[CoolCruzin]

For our machine shop I buy Dawn Dish Soap.

 

[endobear]

Just found this stashed in a old pop up camper I'm

cleaning up. Wonder how old it is.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

Original dawn but add some coffee grounds for an adhesive

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I forget the name of it but one of the motorcycle guys came out with a product that has dirt in it works very well.check it out

Eagle Grit...