Awesome Hand Cleaner: $30

[TNToy]

Okay, well I started my new job a bit back, and this brand new Toyota shop is great. 36 climate-controlled bays. Ceramic tile floors. Large built-in toolboxes, a service-cart, work benches, and overhead-storage in each bay. And all the diagnostic and service equipment you could possibly need.

But the hand cleaner they use is horrible. It's ridiculous. I seriously think Fast Orange is better, and for you shade tree guys who haven't used anything better, that stuff is... um... not so great. I found a place online that sells my favorite product (TKO, made by ZEP) for $20 per gallon. If you're using it by yourself, a gallon lasts a very long time.

There's one of two problems with most hand cleaners:
First is the abrasive; you can use pumice, which works well. It's sharp (duh, it's tiny jagged lava rocks...) But it scrubs really well. Small plastic beads work nearly as well, but are much easier on your hands.
Second is the de-greasing agent: A lot of the waterless or industrial products use a solvent, kinda like a mild carb cleaner or gasoline.

My new shop's stuff has a cleaner that's both pumice, AND solvent-based. Consequently, the guys go through Diamond-Grip gloves by the case. I can't stand working in gloves, so I work on a car, wash my hands, and repeat. I worked on 12 cars today, and probably scrubbed them clean 15-20 times. I mix 2 pumps of hand cleaner with 8 pumps of soap... and it's okay. But it doesn't really get your hands cleaned off - just clean enough to drive the car without soiling it.

We had a thread on here a while back on hand cleaners, and I mentioned how much I love TKO. A couple of other professional grease-monkeys chimed in and agreed completely. It's got plastic-beads as the scrubbing agent, and some seriously effective detergent mixed in with some moisturizers to get your hands squeaky clean without leaving them red and dry.

So this is the stuff:

And here's where I found it for $20 a jug:
http://kscdirect.com/item/ZEP+TKO/ZEP+MANUFACTURING+COMPANY_1+GALLON+TKO+ZEP+HAND+CLEANER

I bought 2 jugs for $51.72 (including $11.70 shipping).

Okay, great. Now I need to dispense it. They have an expensive wall-mounted bracket, but all you need is a bigger version of the pump on that bottle of SoftSoap your wife keeps near the sink. So I bought 3 of them (one for work, one for home, and a spare) off eBay for $14.92 each, shipped. Just go search for "gallon jug pump".

So for a total of $66.64 I'm set at home and at work for at least 6 months. If anyone out there is looking for something GOOD in the hand-cleaner department, this stuff is it. I used it over a dozen times a day in my old shop, my hands were spotless, and they weren't irritated or dried out. If you only wanted one jug and a pump dispenser, it'd be what? $30? Not too bad for a Sam's-Club size jug.

I'll let you guys know how all this works out if/when everything shows up.

 

[pearltsi]

I have this stuff in my shop at work. Its great. My hands and/or arms are always covered in grease or oil

 

[TNToy]

I know. I want it back... Badly enough to pay $60 for soap.

 

[kartracer55]

Ever try mean green? The Meangreen "Power scrubber" is their top of the line stuff. Its around 20$ for a tub but it lasts forever and it uses micro scrubbing beads. The rep told me that the beads are all sized so that they can fit into the cracks of your skin, its awesome. Im interested in this ZEP TKO stuff now, I was told about it but have never tried it.

And I use fast orange after I wash my hands with a heavy scrubber because fast orange has moisturizers in it... in the winter 10 or so hand washings will beat the hell out of your skin.

 

[bmwpower]

Cool! I could use something like that. I've been using the orange stuff for a while, but in the winter it's really painful since my hands are dry before I even enter the garage.

How high is the jug? Does it pour? I'm thinking of putting it another container cause I'd rather not have a gallon jug sitting on my sink. If it's the right height I could probably fit it behind my sink.

 

[TNToy]

Off the top of my head... between 12"-16" tall. I'll measure it when it arrives, if you like.

Doesn't pour all that well. In my old shop, the pump dispenser broke over 2 years ago. The guys all poured a little out (and a lot on the floor) and used it that way. I got pissed one day and lopped the ends off of a bad sway-bar link I was replacing...

So I had a 1/2" steel bar that was 18" long. I tossed that in there. When you needed some, you just used the rod like a dipstick, wiped it off in your palm, and dropped it back in the jug. Worked great as long as the bottle was over 1/4 full.

 

[jay50]

$20 for hand cleaner WTF?...well, maybe you can afford it with the shop rates Toyota charges per hour for repair...LOL

I'll stick to my go-jo,,, cheaper price and does the job....

 

[bmwpower]

$20 for hand cleaner WTF?...well, maybe you can afford it with the shop rates Toyota charges per hour for repair...LOL

I'll stick to my go-jo,,, cheaper price and does the job....

Yea, you ever see those "Misc Shop Supply" charges? lol.

 

[TNToy]

Go price a GALLONof that **** you're using because you don't know any better. I bet it's ony $5-10 cheaper. And TKO is worth every penny.

If $20 for hand cleaner freaks you out, you've clearly never spent $45 on one tool-truck brand socket. See, you still have some perspective...

 

[Franz©]

I'll just keep usin the little woman's Dawn dishsoap and a packet of sugar. Damn I'm makin money every time I wash my hands.

 

[PAToyota]

Might have to check that out. My hands get dry, cracked, and sore on a good day in the winter - without setting foot in the shop and the subsequent orange goop cleanup...

 

[Kevin54]

I'll just keep usin the little woman's Dawn dishsoap and a packet of sugar.

Never heard of the sugar deal but I also use Dawn. Works really well. The orange stuff cleans, but I end up getting cracks in my fingers from drying out that feels like razor blade slices. I like Boraxo. I work on dies and wash my hands probably 15-20 times daily. Boraxo, even though abrasive, does not dry my hands out. It gets the grease out completely. GoJo is great but I hate the solvent smell it has. But I keep GoJo in the garage where I don't have running water to clean my hands before I head to the house to wash up.

 

[bmwpower]

Do they make a container smaller than a gallon? There's gotta be other places that sell this stuff...

BTW, my price shows up as $23.53. Shipping for me is $13.72.

 

[amwalker]

Ask around some local shops, some/most are seen by a local Zep representative. That's how I was able to get some, from the rep that stopped by our shop.

 

[PAToyota]

From the Zep website, the gallon container is the smallest - although they can provide you with a 55 gallon drum!

They do mention a case of sample packs of some sort, but not sure on the size...

 

[Freejack]

What about good ole fashioned GOOP? I still find that to be one of the most cost effective degreasers.

Jake

 

[joa65]

We use Kresto at work. I think it works great.

 

[sethbriancollins]

i love scrubs
its like babie wipes with abrasive in it.
works really well for me without runing water in the garage on on job sites.
they also scrub white walls to perfection...

 

[kbs2244]

Like Franz, I use dishwashing soap. Not dishwasher soap. The stuff meant for people hand washing dishs. It is meant to cut grease but still be kind to your skin. And it is a whole lot cheaper.
I trick I learned by accident a long time ago is that after you wash your hands, use some cheap hand lotion, and work it in. I tried it because of chapped skin, but I noticed the lotion was desolving the grease down in the creases. The white lotion was turning gray. I washed it off and repeated. Hands came out both cleaner and softer. Clean enough to go to a wedding the next day with out being embaressed. While you are at it, work it under your fingernails. It will soften that stuff up so it will come out with a brush.
I use it after dinner while watching the TV news. Just keep rubbing it in. It will dry a bit, but still wash off real well after they sign off.

 

[Fedwrench]

We use Zep Cherry Bomb at work. It's great once you get used to the cherry scent. You may want to look at getting a tub of scrubs or some other type of hand cleaner wipe. They're great if you only need a quick clean up.

 

[TNToy]

BMW, if you want, I'll send you a little bit of the stuff when it shows up...

 

[rowbow41]

Check this price out on Amazon.com.
Shipping Details : 97tools
Shipping Method: Standard Shipping
Subtotal of Items: $61.00
Shipping & Handling: $21.99
------
Total for this Order: $82.99


Shipping estimate for these items: January 9, 2008 1 "ZEP096024 TKO Non-Solvent Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner. (4) Gallon Containers"
Misc.; $61.00

Sold by: 97tools

 

[jay50]

Check this price out on Amazon.com.
Shipping Details : 97tools
Shipping Method: Standard Shipping
Subtotal of Items: $61.00
Shipping & Handling: $21.99
------
Total for this Order: $82.99


Shipping estimate for these items: January 9, 2008 1 "ZEP096024 TKO Non-Solvent Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner. (4) Gallon Containers"
Misc.; $61.00

Sold by: 97tools

LOL, I'll stick with my 99 cent tube of Go Jo, does just as well as overpriced stuff...

 

[kartracer55]

We use Kresto at work. I think it works great.

Kresto works well but I have noticed that after using it a lot it will not remove ink and dye. Its almost as if my hands get immune to it, have you found this as well?

 

[dreamingmuscle]

If I know I'm going to be working on something really dirty I try to rub some dawn onto my hands first. Just rub it in like hand lotion & work it under your nails. Feels a little wierd at first but you get used to it. Wash as normal when done. It really does help release the grease from your hands.

And I will second the hand lotion routine.

Hand lotion will also help take off liguid nails and spray foam from you hands as long as it hasn't completely dried yet. Just keep working it in.

Glen
________
buy extreme q vaporizer

 

[M3Pilot]

This may sound like I'm a tree hugger,but the plastic micorbeads aren't good for the environment. Pumice (or sugar) would be better in that respect.

 

[bmwpower]

This may sound like I'm a tree hugger,but the plastic micorbeads aren't good for the environment. Pumice (or sugar) would be better in that respect.

By the time the microbeads overtake the human race, we'll all be dead.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Man, are you sure that some kind of *** act is not also included for that price!

 

[bmwpower]

Man, are you sure that some kind of *** act is not also included for that price!

Not for that price. You'd better be paying more for that sort of thing unless you want to come away with more than clean hands.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Not for that price. You'd better be paying more for that sort of thing unless you want to come away with more than clean hands.

SO...........throw another twenty bucks at er and call it a done deal!

 

[bmwpower]

SO...........throw another twenty bucks at er and call it a done deal!

Wha? You must have them cheap ho's in Kansas....

 

[Franz©]

The *** act involves being locked in a small closed room with Mrs Bill Clinton, and it will cost you everything to get the door unlocked.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

At work we use the Stoko line of products. The hand cleaner has ground up walnut shell in it, also has castor oil and a bunch of other stuff. Its a pretty effective hand cleaner. The Cupran cleaner for removing paint of all kinds, tar, etc., is very effective, but somewhat harsh on the hands, you have to use lotion afterward.

http://www.stokoskincare.com/prodclean.htm

Oh, by the way, the 97tools info on Amazon says if you buy the case of four gallons for $61 it includes a free pump for the bottles.

Charles

 

[krusty the clown]

i prefer snap on nitro gold. it also has the plastic micro beads. it cleans better than the zep stuff.......it ain't cheap but i use a lot less so it lasts longer. ask the snappy guy thry usually will have a small tube as a free sample.

 

[PanelDeland]

Try a product from Aramark(the uniform service)they also supply hand cleaners and paper goods.It called Pro Soy and has soy in it instead of beads or solvent.It's water activated so it doesn't work for a quick wipe off.It will take ink and other stuff off.
I use some hand lotion but use a product from "Restoration Hardware" called "No-Crack" .It's a cream and does wonders for my hands.You know the little cracks and creases in your fingers that get black with the dirt.I don't have them.I use the cream when I get up and after my shower and it has healed my hands that have been abused and had these problems for 35 years.It isn't real cheap but lasts me quite a while.
BTW I don't know about at your house but at my house if you can't get momma to hold hands you aint got a prayer of holding anything else or getting anything else held.Makes for lonely time when your hands are dry and cracked.

 

[bmwpower]

Try a product from Aramark(the uniform service)they also supply hand cleaners and paper goods.It called Pro Soy and has soy in it instead of beads or solvent.It's water activated so it doesn't work for a quick wipe off.It will take ink and other stuff off.
I use some hand lotion but use a product from "Restoration Hardware" called "No-Crack" .It's a cream and does wonders for my hands.You know the little cracks and creases in your fingers that get black with the dirt.I don't have them.I use the cream when I get up and after my shower and it has healed my hands that have been abused and had these problems for 35 years.It isn't real cheap but lasts me quite a while.
BTW I don't know about at your house but at my house if you can't get momma to hold hands you aint got a prayer of holding anything else or getting anything else held.Makes for lonely time when your hands are dry and cracked.

Is "no crack" greasy?

 

[TNToy]

i prefer snap on nitro gold... Ask the snappy guy they usually will have a small tube as a free sample.

Try a product from Aramark(the uniform service)they also supply hand cleaners and paper goods.It called Pro Soy...

I use some hand lotion but use a product from "Restoration Hardware" called "No-Crack"...

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll check out the other hand cleaners when I run out of TKO, in about a year. That's why I don't get people freaking over the price: It's a year's supply, maybe more if you only wrench in your garage once a month or so...

I'm going to order some 'no crack' - I'd like to get rid of those things. Don't care if I'd ever qualify for work as a hand model, but it'd sure make my hands easier to clean.

None of our snappy trucks stock hand cleaner - no one around here uses it. It's funny how moving to a new shop, or talking to guys in another part of the country opens that up. Example: These Toyotas I'm working on now are bad about having the oil filter right next to the exhaust. NO ONE I work with has a socket or band type of oil filter. They all use channel locks, and I've worked on exactly one car so far where it was easy to squeeze mine in there. I finally snapped and asked the foreman if Parts carried a cap-style of oil filter wrench for use with a ratchet. He looked at me like I was nuts.

...That's ALL we used at my last shop. Between band-type wrenches for oddball used cars, and cap/socket filter wrenches for the Volvos, I was covered.

What's taken for granted in one workplace, is completely foreign to another.

 

[tbgallant]

Great info on hand cleaners here guys. I just use dishwashing liquid as well, but may try the sugar trick for those tougher jobs.

I also agree that $20 shipped and taxes (!!) for a gallon of GREAT hand cleaner is worth it. That isn't that much unless you go through it in like 3 weeks (and even then, the amount of use you would get out of it to go through it in 3 weeks)!

Unfortunately for me I'm sure it'd be near impossible to find in Canada for anywhere near $20 a gallon...

Regarding oil filter wrenches, I love this one:

Universal and has a cam action that tightens around the filter. I use it for my Toyota with the small diameter filters. Works great.

Tim

 

[bmwpower]

BMW, if you want, I'll send you a little bit of the stuff when it shows up...

That would be cool. PM when you get it. I'll hold off until then.

 

[gotmud13613]

I have used Gojo Power Gold for the last few years, works 10 times better than the (Orange Stuff) plus it doesn't have a nasty smell. It's not harsh on the hands, removes paint, tar, grease even takes off Bondo, fiberglass resin off hands.

Only thing I usually have to get it off the net, Advance Auto used to carry it but they stopped.