Choosing the right hand cleaner for home and garage mechanics.

When it comes to soap and shampoo we’ve been duped. We spend a good amount of money each year to keep our hands, body and hair clean. Then we spend more to moisturize and condition. Many of the most common soaps and shampoos out on the market use harmful ingredients that dry and damage. So we turn around and buy products to counteract this problem. Savvy manufacturers have created products that combine cleaning and conditioning, but they use the same harmful ingredients. We’re paying good money to damage our skin. It’s time to choose a better way.

Common soap and shampoo contain surfactants, which create a nice lather. But the surfactants (commonly Sodium Laurel Sulfate SLS) are harmful. SLS is known to agitate skin. It is an eye irritant (who hasn’t endured shampoo in the eyes). In children, the damage can be permanent. SLS removes the natural oils that protect the deeper layers. It dries up hair leading to split and broken hair, and leaves skin rough, dry and cracked.

SLS products usually create a great lather and often are infused with good strong fragrances. A good lather and scent are familiar to us. But we should realize that the damage is still being done whenever sodium laurel sulfates are used. Good lather and great smell does not always equal clean. Here’s another thing, the conditioners and lotions are built to replace protective oils that the shampoo just removed. Incredibly, many of these conditioners have SLS in them. The bottom line is that we’re paying for twice as many products and still doing damage to our skin.

Switching to a natural soap/shampoo

Finding the right soap that you like without SLS isn’t difficult any more. There are plenty of options out there. Natural soap effectively cleans. While it’s cleaning, the soap’s natural oils restore pH balance and protect the skin. Over time, and maybe immediately, you will have balanced skin and will not feel the need to use additional moisturizers.

Don’t expect the lather to be as luxurious. Natural soap will lather up but it will have a silkier feel. The fragrance is typically more subtle. Using natural soap is a different experience, but the immediate and long-term benefits make it worth it.

RüK has developed a natural soap called CleanKüR. It was originally developed for mechanics to attack the grime and pull grease out of the nooks and crannies of their beat-up hands. It proved so effective at moisturizing/balancing that it quickly moved from the shop into the kitchen and bathroom. The product is completely safe and effective to use on a daily basis. There is a pumice and a non-pumice version, both have a nice subtle lime fragrance.

Do yourself a favor, switch to an all-natural soap. After you get used to the different feel, you’ll wonder why you ever bought the other stuff.

RüK Development Inc (rukse.com) manufactures chemical products and coatings to improve lubrication, combustion and exhaust properties for automotive and industrial environments.