How to Get Rid of Grease, Oil, Tar, and More from Your Hands: The Best Hand Cleaners for Mechanics Revealed

If you’re a mechanic, you know how hard it is to get rid of the grease, oil, tar, paint, ink, and other shit that sticks to your hands like glue. You can scrub all you want with soap and water, but it won’t do much good. You need something stronger, something that can cut through the grime and leave your hands clean and soft.

But not all hand cleaners are created equal. Some are too harsh, some are too weak, some are too expensive, some are too messy. You need to find the right one for your needs.


What is the best hand cleaner for a mechanic?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different hand cleaners may suit different preferences and needs.

However, some of the factors that you may want to consider when choosing a hand cleaner for mechanics are:

  • the type and amount of dirt and grease that you need to remove
  • the ingredients and texture of the cleaner
  • scent and moisturizing effect of the cleaner, and
  • price and availability of the cleaner

I’ve tested some of the best hand cleaners on the market and ranked them according to their effectiveness, ease of use, price, and smell.

Here are my top picks on the Best Hand Cleaners for Mechanics:

Gojo

This is my favorite hand cleaner for mechanics. It’s heavy-duty stuff that can remove everything from grease and oil to tar, adhesives, and heavy metals.

It has natural citrus degreasers and pumice scrubbers that get your hands clean without drying them out. It comes in a variety of sizes and dispensers that suit any garage or workshop.

It’s also USDA Certified Biobased, which means it’s good for the environment.

Grip Clean

This is another great hand cleaner for mechanics. It’s unique because it uses dirt as an ingredient[^4^][1]. Yes, dirt. The dirt breaks down and absorbs tough grease, oil, inks, odors, and stains from your hands without using harsh chemicals that wreck your skin. It also has coconut oil and olive oil that moisturize your hands after washing them. It comes in a squeeze tube or a pump bottle that you can keep handy.

Goop

This is a classic hand cleaner that many mechanics swear by. It’s waterless[^4^][1], which means you don’t need to rinse it off after using it. You just rub it on your hands until they’re clean and wipe them off with a rag or paper towel. It quickly and safely removes grease, paint, ink, tar, industrial soils,
and much more from your hands. Goop can also clean your tools as well as having multiple other uses throughout your house-hold.

TubOTowels

These are not just ordinary wipes.
They’re heavy-duty cleaning wipes that can handle any mess on your hands or anywhere else.
They have purified water, d-limonene, nonionic and anionic surfactants, dimethicone, lanolin, propylene glycol, aloe extract, and vitamin E in their formula.
They have a nice orangy scent and they make your hands feel nice after using them.
They come in a convenient tub that you can keep in your car or toolbox.

Permatex

This is another citrus-based hand cleaner that works well for mechanics.
It has pumice scrubbers that remove stubborn dirt and grime from your hands.
It also has lanolin and glycerin that condition your skin and prevent cracking.
It comes in a squeeze bottle or a pump dispenser.

Zep

This is an industrial cleaner and degreaser that can help you easily remove grease, lubricants,
oils and foods from most surfaces.

It has alkaline detergents and solvents that dissolve tough stains. It comes in a spray bottle
or a gallon jug.

Dura-Block

This is a soap bar with a built-in scrubber. It even removes dirt from beneath finger nails.
It cleans 10 times more effectively than standard bars of soap. It has natural ingredients like coconut oil
and palm kernel oil that nourish your skin.

It comes wrapped in paper or plastic.

Lav

This is another soap bar with pumice to exfoliate your skin. It removes dirt, oil, paint, and some adhesives while leaving your hands soft.

It has a fresh scent and it’s easy to use.

Full Bore: This is a hand cleaner that uses walnut shells as an abrasive 1. It can remove grease, oil, tar, paint, glue, and other tough stains from your hands 1. It also has lanolin and vitamin E that moisturize your skin. It comes in a plastic tub.

MA

This is a professional paste for washing very dirty hands 1. It quickly and effectively removes the heaviest dirt from grease, oil, soot, tar.

It has glycerin and lanolin that soften and protect your skin. It comes in a metal can.

These are some of the best hand cleaners for mechanics that I’ve tried. They all work well for different types of dirt and stains. You can choose the one that suits your budget and preference. But remember, no matter what hand cleaner you use, always wash your hands thoroughly after working on your car or bike. You don’t want to get sick or infect others with germs.

I hope you found this article helpful. If you did, please share it with your friends and colleagues who might also benefit from it. And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I’d love to hear from you.

How do you get grease off mechanics hands?

The best way to get grease off mechanics hands is to use a hand cleaner that is specially designed for removing grease, oil, tar, paint, and other tough stains from your hands.
These hand cleaners usually contain an abrasive ingredient such as pumice or walnut shells that can scrub away the dirt through friction.
They also contain solvents or detergents that can dissolve or emulsify the grease. Some of them also have skin conditioners or moisturizers that can soothe and protect your skin from drying out.
To use these hand cleaners effectively, you should follow these steps: wet your hands with water, apply a generous amount of hand cleaner on your palms, rub your hands together vigorously for at least 30 seconds, paying attention to your nails and cuticles where dirt may accumulate, rinse your hands thoroughly with water until all traces of hand cleaner are gone.

What is mechanic soap called?

Mechanic soap is a common name for any type of soap or hand cleaner that is used by mechanics or other workers who deal with grease, oil, and other tough stains on their hands.

What Cleaner dissolves grease?

There are many types of cleaners that can dissolve grease, such as: solvents (e.g., acetone, alcohol, turpentine), detergents (e.g., dish soap, laundry detergent), citrus-based cleaners (e.g., lemon juice, vinegar), enzymatic cleaners (e.g., baking soda), and degreasers (e.g., WD-40).
However, not all of these cleaners are suitable for cleaning your hands, as some of them may be harsh on your skin or cause irritation.
Therefore, it is advisable to use a hand cleaner that is specifically formulated for dissolving grease from your hands.

What is industrial hand cleaner?

Industrial hand cleaner is a type of hand cleaner that is designed for removing industrial dirt such as: grease, oil, tar, paint, glue, ink, resin, and other stubborn stains from your hands.
Industrial hand cleaner usually contains an abrasive ingredient such as: pumice or walnut shells that can scrub away the dirt through friction.
They also contain solvents or detergents that can dissolve or emulsify the dirt.