So, how do you wash your hands before cleaning tanks?
- Thread starter ~*LuvMyKribs*~
- Start date
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.
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.
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.
That salt idea sounds good, I might just start using it.
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
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
Soap & Thorough Rinse
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.
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.
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.
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..Originally posted by ~*LuvMyKribs*~
...How does everyone clean thier hands before cleaning your fish tanks? What soap do you use? Are some soaps bad?
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....
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^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!
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!
