Mechanic’s Hand Scrub

What you'll need:
2 pumice stones (5"x1")
1-½ bars of soap
1 Cup of borax
Jars or bowls with lids

If you work on vehicles, and get covered in grease - or even if you work in the garden a lot - you might have already faced the challenge of trying to find a good hand scrub that will truly get your hands clean. And, if you finally find a really great product, you can bet it won't be cheap. Why don't you try making your own hand scrub? It won't take long to make it and the homemade version works as well - or better - than any product on the market. Whether you're a man or a woman, pumice hand scrub works really well on dirty or greasy hands.

To begin, use a cheese grater to grate the bar-and-a-half of soap into small flakes. Put them in a medium bowl. Check dollar-theme stores for pumice stone sets to help make the hand scrub for little money. If the pumice stones you're using have cords, remove them.

Crush the pumice stones into a fine powder by putting them in a thick, zipper-lock bag, and crushing them with a hammer. You'll have to hit the pumice really hard so put the bag on a piece of wood, a rock, or other hard surface. Pour the powder through a flour sifter to ensure the pieces are small enough. Pieces that don't flow easily through the sifter can be hammered again. Continue to sift the pieces until all of the pumice flows through the sifter.

Pour the pumice powder into the soap flakes and stir well. Add the borax and continue to combine the ingredients well. Pour these dry ingredients into the desired bottles or bowls and tighten the lids. Or, combine the powdered mix with a half-cup of water, and make a wet mix. Wet or dry, the hand scrub can be kept for a long period of time.

The homemade hand scrub is perfect for people who work with dirt, grease, and oil. The pumice scrubs deep into the skin, the soap allows the hand scrub to foam, and the borax just boosts the power of it all. The recipe makes several small jars so you'll always have an ample supply - and clean hands!