I work in oil paints, on greasy cars and in the kitchen on a regular basis. I get dirty. There are some simple solutions that will help you clean up after a productive day and not worry about making a mess while in the thick of it.
Get the right clothes
I suggest staying cheap and wearing old clothes you don’t care about whenever you are doing anything messy. You may think that you are careful and won’t get anything on you but you’d be wrong. You will get something on you that won’t come out. An old pair of torn Levis that you don’t care about is great but if you want to take it to the next step, I suggest medical scrubs. They are cheap, washable and disposable. They also come in countless designs. If you want to work in the garage and still rep your favorite sports team without ruining that vintage jersey then find their logo on a set of scrubs uniforms. I promise you that they are out there.
Get the right soap
After a day of working on a new oil painting I am caked in thick, oily, dry paint that refuses to budge off my hands. You can pour mineral spirits on your hands but I don’t suggest ever doing that, let alone on a regular basis. Find Gojo. It’s a mildly abrasive hand cleaner that smells like oranges and cuts through the toughest gunk in a heartbeat. It’s a little rough on your hands for daily use but it’s great for once in a while. I don’t suggest using it on polished surfaces or anything you are worry about scratching up. It is abrasive.
Have a designated working area
Whether it’s a specific room in your house or just your garage, you should keep messy work to one area and take the precautions you need to ensure that you don’t ruin your floor. In a garage, it’s not that big of a deal but you should still keep tarps and oil absorbing materials around to take care of those spills. Keep a hamper in the work area for your nasty scrubs so they don’t get mixed in with the normal laundry and mess up that vintage jersey or new dress you’ll be kicking yourself over for years.
