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Sticky fingers

PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
in Problem solving
Like an idiot I have just dead headed the Rhododendrons. The flowers are as sticky as anything. Now, so are my hands. Soap and hot water have had no effect. Anyone got a way of destickying my digits?
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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Palustris Raw sugar? Never tried it guess it works like a grainy face pack.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Tried that, now got sugary sticky fingers.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    White spirit? Swarfega?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Not very good for your skin, but petrol is great at getting pine sap off your hands.. so might work for other types of trees.  I just pore a bit into an old food container and use an aggressive textured rag (cut up piece of old hand towel) to dip and scrub.  Lots of soap and lotion after.  

    Have you tried cooking oil?  Internet says that works with sticky saps too.
    Utah, USA.
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Perhaps you’ll wear gloves next time . Lesson learned .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think you have to use olive oil with the sugar @Palustris so you can rub it more esaily over your skin and remove the sticky stuff more effectively.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Salt with the olive oil instead of sugar. It’s a great cleanser and exfoliant for the hands before a good emollient hand cream. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Takes me back to when my mother used to mix lard and sugar to clean her hands after blackleading the fire place. Does anyone remember 'blackleading?"
    Thanks folks. Turps did not work. Got no Swarfega or petrol. Strange as it seems the stickyness has gone of its own accord without any further action from me. Good job, it was hard to put down my eating implements at Dinner time.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I had a similar experience earlier today @Palustris … visiting a friend of my son’s, he asked me what was wrong with his apple tree leaves … I unfolded them to reveal lots of aphids and a ladybird larva munching away. Friend was relieved … and my fingers were sticky for about half an hour … and then somehow  the stickiness just disappeared. 👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    My husband has softer hands than me. This is not right! I will try the salt and olive oil thing to restore the natural balance. However, if he was moved to do a little more in the garden, that would work too.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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