In our pursuit of vintage radio restoration, we often utilize a variety of chemicals such as cleaning agents, paints, thinners, solvents, and rust removers. Petrochemical molecules then lodge themselves deep into skin pours and are not easily washed away. To break these chemical bonds and completely remove the offending odor, use dish detergent and a little table salt. First wet both hands then add 1 drop of dish detergent (I use Palmolive OXY). Rub your hands together adding a couple shakes of common table salt. Now thoroughly spread the mixture all over, between fingers, and under nails. Work it into your skin for about 30 seconds. Also works great on gasoline, kerosene, charcoal lighter, WD40, etc. Your hands will smell fresh as a daisy.

I'm surprised no one as asked how this works. In simple terms, the organic compounds (those containing carbon and hydrogen) are exchanged for sodium ions liberated from the salt with the detergent and heat from the body and friction from rubbing acting as the catalysts. The sodium ions are harmless and odorless. I'm not really a chemical engineer but I play one on TV.

Thank you for the information. I don't care much what my hands smell like....wisps of pine solder flux are welcome here. CRAIG

Well, we're all thankful you don't cut the cheese at our local Kroger store.

I hadn't seen this tip before, so will try it next time. Thanks.

You are quite welcome. I posted this because it was so effective.

Best wear disposable gloves. Latex or nitrile types depending on what you are handling. Masks and eye goggles should be at hand lest you take chances.

I had a chance to test this a little sooner than I expected, when I brushed some poison ivy this moning. We'll see if it helped remove it, in a couple of days.

At the peril of stating the obvious, why not wear gloves?

Nitrile gloves are relatively resistant to most household chemicals and they are not that expensive. I buy the ones at Costco; 2 boxes of 500 for less than 20 bucks.

You should not be getting these chemicals on your hands to begin with.

The procedure is designed for those times when there is inadvertent or accidental exposure.

Well R. Jepsen I think the phrase about casting pearls before swine just may apply here.
FE

Yes indeed.

This all reminds me of an unfortunate event where I was drenched in gasoline. I was filling my gas tank while watching the numerals on the pump wiz by. I was using that little lever on the spout that allows gas to flow without actually squeezing the trigger. Usually when the tank is full and the static pressure changes, the pump abruptly shuts off. But the mechanism was defective and when the tank reached it's limit, gas came flying out hitting me on the side. I quickly reached over and grabbed it to manually shut down the flow. In that short period of time, there was gasoline on the ground and all over my side including shirt, pants leg, shoes, and my arms & hands. In the past at this particular gas station, I'd noticed on occasion people smoking while pumping. So in a near panic, I had to decide what to do. First, I thought about immediately taking my clothes and shoes off but then they would still be soaked with gas along with the puddle of gas on the ground. The gas station attendant had no clue and no one came running out to help me. At that point, I envisioned myself going up in flames as more cars were arriving to buy gas and one of them could have a cigarette hanging off their face. Taking the lesser of two evils, I jumped into my car and quickly drove off hoping to avoid any sparks or open flame. It was about a three mile drive and I had to open the windows to get air on my trip home. I was somewhat panic stricken and driving way too fast --hoping and praying I was not stopped by a cop. When I finally got home, I dashed out of my car and ran to the garden hose. I was surprised and very frustrated at how difficult it was to get gasoline soaked shoes. socks, and Jeans off. Clinging to me, it was as if they didn't want to leave my body. Finally after getting everything off and into a pile, I turned the hose onto myself. Then I suddenly realized I was outside naked, wondering how I would explain this embarrassing event to the neighbors. Luckily, I don't think anyone saw me. After showering, I went back outside to hose down my clothes and check to see how much gas got on the car seat. I'm very thankful there were no ignition sources during my ordeal. The smell of gas never left my shoes and they had to be thrown out.

baking soda and water may work as well

Well there's no sign of a rash on my arms yet. It was about 10 minutes before I could get home and wash up.

Incidentally, I don't think nitrile golves would have helped. I don't normally wear elbow-length gauntlets when walking to the Post Office to get my mail.

Let's hope that concoction also works to break those oil bonds and you don't develop a skin reaction. I was going under some low hanging bushes once and got poison ivy or oak on my back and it was long and painful. Good Luck!

Poison Ivy: Calamine lotion (available any pharmacy no Rx Required).and very light cotton clothing if it does erupt. You will still have to don gloves while engaging in personal hygiene. Don't ask. Also let someone else take care of the kids, and remain well hydrated, as in water, lots of it. If it's a real bummer, see doctor, to rule out anything more serious.

Poison Ivy has nothing to do with chemical odors of the hands that I know of, but chemical odors can usually be overcome with baking soda solution, as already mentioned, or lemon juice/vinegar (just the opposite [pH,) or many times just a mild soap followed by some gentle hand cream. If in doubt, or you don't know what happened flush with clean fresh water and seek attention.

It is no less foolish to get any chemicals on your hands than to tread on poison ivy, but life does happen!

Gloves! Eye protection!

Calamine just treats the symptoms. I'd like to prevent the oil from being absorbed in the first place. Seems to me the salt-and-detergent idea might work to get the oil out of skin pores, and since I was washing anyway, the extra salt cost nothing. No problems yet, and it's been a day and a half.

RJepson wrote above "..But the mechanism was defective and when the tank reached it's limit, gas came flying out hitting me on the side." Standard safety when pumping gas is to keep all body parts (except for the hand holding the grip lever) and clothing as far as possible to the left or right, away from direct line of flow of gas, if the automatic shut-off valve fails to work, or if the car's filler tube develops an air-lock and shoots gasoline out before the tank is filled. For whatever reason, I've never seen this safety tip posted at a gas station...but it should be. I've seen many folks stand right in front of the filler gun&spout while filling, which invites an accident. Most self-service stations don't allow the mechanical lock levers on the grips anymore, so one has to hold their hand on the grip the entire time; but modern safety shut-offs can malfunction and not shut off in time. This same thing happened to someone in our church congregation a few years ago, and thankfully they were standing to the side, so only their hand & arm got drenched. I think that doing this is analogous standing directly in front of, in line with a table saw blade; asking for a high-speed kick back to break a few ribs.

Re: Standard safety when pumping gas is to keep all body parts (except for the hand holding the grip lever) and clothing as far as possible to the left or right, away from direct line of flow of gas, .....

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I'm in full agreement with respect to safety. Knowing the hazards, gasoline companies used to have an attendant fill the tank, check the oil, and clean the glass. Then, since we are all sheep, we began pumping our own gas and rewarded with one-cent per gallon discount. Now, the one-cent discount has vanished and they charge you for tire inflation air. And of course the attendant is busy selling beer and cigarettes, don't really care what goes on outside --unless you drive off without paying.