So, how do you wash your hands before cleaning tanks?

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

That antibacterial thread in chit-chat made me wonder.

How does everyone clean thier hands before cleaning your fish tanks? What soap do you use? Are some soaps bad?

:confused:

[valerie]

I usually dont' wask my hands before unless i know i have touched chemials or have hand lotion on. When i do wash my hands i dont' use soap as you might leave ressidue on your hands. I just do it with hot water.

[Dapple2]

Smae here with the hot water. In fact I'll even wait to take my shower until after I've cleaned the tanks or at least space them well apart. At the aquaculture lab I interned at though, we were required to use a bleach dip, followed by a hot water rinse. Perhaps those tanks are big enough to where any residual bleach doesn't do any harm?

[OrionGirl]

Hot water, here. And, I admit that I am probably not as good about this as I should be.

[ukclaire]

Hot water for Rupert and myself too.

Regards
Claire

[DEmigh]

I'm a little compulsive about handwashing, so when I want to work on the aquarium and realize that I just washed my hands I have to sit on em' for a while. Then I rinse with the hottest water I can stand, dry with paper towels, and sit on em' a while longer...

After the second or third rinse, I finally feel safe to work in the tanks.

[kveeti]

Another for a long rinse under hot water, rubbing up my entire arms. Because I have to use the utility sink in the basement, I also drape the taps with one of my aquarium towels (washed in hot water) over the taps, so when I turn off the water, I'm not touching anything that may be on the taps.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I use hot water too. But from i've learned it doesn't do that good of a job removing bacteria. Especially because our skin is full of little crevasses that house germs. But i guess these aren't extremely hazardous to our fish?

I was just wondering if there were any natural soaps that would be safe for aquariums and good for removing germs.

[LMOUTHBASS]

you guys are compulsive! i don't unless i touched some chems or something but i wash em good when im though cleaning

[Slappy*McFish]

I usually just give them a quick rinse under warm tapwater, my hands generally are already pretty clean when I'm at home. I'm not worried about bacteria on my hands getting into the fish tank:rolleyes: ...the tank has far more bacteria than my hands. Though, I usually just make sure my hands are free of soaps, detergents, lotions, etc, before putting them in my tanks.

[Tammy]

Hot water for me, too. To remove detergents, not to remove bacteria. I use soap afterwards.

[blitzen25bm]

just water, i shower after i do the fish related stuff too usually its just because i need the shower after being waist deep in the pond.

[adblair]

Ok this is going to sound crazy, but my grandmother always kept fish (and she never used any chems or tests or anything and they just kept multiplying!) and she washed her hands with salt. So that is what I do also. You just pour some in your hand add a smidge of water and scrub then rinse with hot water. The salt also makes your hands softer because it scrubs off the dead skin. But if you have a boo boo it's the pits.

[goldfish freak]

I wash my hands with a plain antibacterial liquid hand soap and make sure that I rinse them very well before I put them in the tank.

That salt idea sounds good, I might just start using it.

[Cearbhaill]

I am fairly obsessive about this- what with all the housecleaning, gardening, and animal chemicals I am around. Plus I have really deep tanks and always end up in over my armpits, so I worry more about deoderant issues than I do hand washing.

I clean all my tanks in one morning each week, so shower before I do it and use no deoderant, powder, lotions, hairspray, etc. I also avoid washing dishes, or using any chemical products (Endust, Windex) until after the tanks are done.

Since setting up the reef tank I bought a pair of those shoulder length gloves and find that I actually love them. Now I can slip on a glove, reach in and adjust something, and not worry that I've introduced something wicked. And they go well over my armpit :p

[RENEGADE]

uh-oh what did i miss?
whats wrong with soap if you get it all off?:confused:

[shewlett]

I use soap and and warm water. I rinse for at least a minute, first using warm water and then using cold water. I can feel when the soap is gone because my hands and arms lose that slippery feeling. I like the salt idea that adblair uses.

[TKOS]

I don't want to take the chance that I didn't get all of the soap off. So I just rinse really well with tap water. Then after I am done I scrub really well with soap and water.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by ~*LuvMyKribs*~
...How does everyone clean thier hands before cleaning your fish tanks? What soap do you use? Are some soaps bad? :confused: I use Lava soap. It's the best soap I have found that can really cut dirt and oils. I've tried some "liquid" or "de-greasing" soap out of a round can stuff, and there's no way I'd put my hands in the tank after that stuff.. I think it was an automotive hand cleaner type slippery soap, and it stinks too.. :eek:
With Lava soap a thorough rinsing of the hands and good drying leaves no soap smell or soap residue. It's got "grit" in it -- not sure if it's actual lava particles though... LOL

Good question considering how easy in can be to pollute a tank...
I once saw a friend dip his hand into his aquarium to move something right after doing an oil change on his car ... I tried to point out the error he made... but it didn't seem to help....:eek:

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

^Yikes!

I will try to find some of that lava soap. We have that gritty 'orange' cleaner soap but i don't think thats good for the tanks.

Thanks guys!

[125gJoe]

http://www.wd40.com/Brands/gifs/pht_lava_bar.gif

Well, it does have pumice in it!

Link: Lava Product Info (http://www.wd40.com/Brands/lava_product_info.html)

[delmore]

Baking soda is what I use, rinsed with hot water. I found out about the baking soda in the North Jersey Aquarium Society newsletter, and have been using it for years. Some people (not me!) even use baking soda to brush their teeth.

The only downside is if you get the residue into the tank, it could raise pH.

[tricksterpup]

I am with the group that Washes their hands with soap but does the long double rinses after words.
I find this helps alot and after a long day.


jim

[Slappy*McFish]

Yeah, Baking soda and peroxide do a very good job of cleaning your teeth.

[Must4ng s4lly]

I use warm water and rub my hands and arms well. Sometimes don't rinse at all! One thing to watch... deodorant/ antipersperant. I am up to my arm pits in my aquariums and I have to be so careful with this! Houston's hot so I wear a lot! Hey that rhmes!

[Lukara]

I use a low-sudsing anti-bacterial soap and also actually try to space my tank cleanings until after I've taken a shower. I thought I was the only one who did this! I never told anyone that I did this in fear that they'd think I was being "anal" lol! (please excuse the language). I'm glad to hear that I'm not actually crazy or at least not the only crazy one out there.

Slappy, yes peroxide and baking soda does wonders for the gums!

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

i have a thing like joes but mines pink lol not sure about joes but mines like a porus rock which i use as i have a sink between my 6 fts so i know to do it every time i think it has a mild soap but i rince my hands also.

when im inside i use salt water

[Uncle Bete]

I prefer cleaning tanks after taking the trash out, then take a shower! Just kiddin'!

Actually it crosses my mind were my hands/arms have been lately before putting them in the tank. But usually it's got to do with how long ago I washed my hands. And don't do it unless it's been a while. And wash them good after they've been in a tank. I'd hate to have to take a Malachtite Green bath! :sick:

I haven't thought about washing with baking soda or salt, both sound like very good ideas. I've used salt water for cleaning plastic plants before, works good and can be put right back into the tank. I like the baking soda idea with not so good of a rinse lol. Nuthing like a little boost for the KH! My tap water could always use that.

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Must4ng s4lly
.....One thing to watch... deodorant/ antipersperant. I am up to my arm pits in my aquariums ....Glad I'm not the only one that thinks about that problem. I mentioned this way back, and still wonder if that could be a part of some peoples "scum on top of water" syndrome?? :eek: Possibly worse problems...

[ticklemepunk473]

hmm i never thought about washing my hands but i am going to have to be more careful. Most of my spontaneous re-aranging or tank cleaning happenes well... spontaneously!