Mushroom picking is one of my favorite hobbies for many. But along with the peace and tranquility that a person feels when engaged in “quiet hunting”, he has some unpleasant moments: after going through the woods, the question arises of how to clean fingers and palms from dirt.
Some mushrooms have their own, unique, features, thanks to which they can be distinguished from other species. In particular, this applies to oil. They have a specific composition of mucus, so it is very difficult to clean off the skin after collecting it. In this case, the question arises, how can you wash your hands from oily mushrooms at home.
Content
Causes of hand contamination when collecting oil
Before considering the question of how and how to wipe the dirt off your hands after collecting the oil, you should understand why they turn brown.
The composition of the mucus of the mushrooms
Oil mushrooms contain a large amount of vitamins, and they are also enriched with iron. The mucus, which is covered with the cap of the mushroom, has in its composition pigment, which becomes the cause of blackening of the fingers and palms.
The reason for darkening of the skin when working with the type of mushroom in question is the thin film that covers their hats. When water gets on it, an intensive process of oxidation of iron occurs, resulting in the appearance of a "rusty", red coating.
In addition, the mucus has a dense, thick consistency. At the same time, it easily “eats” into the skin, as a result of which it becomes very difficult to wash it, at least with the help of ordinary soap.
Danger to humans
Mushrooms themselves do not pose a serious threat to human health. But mushroom pickers need to be extremely serious about choosing where to pick these mushrooms.
The fact is that they are able to accumulate carcinogens and free radicals in themselves, and these substances are extremely dangerous to health.
Skin Cleaning Methods
There are several highly effective methods by which you can easily remove the red spots on the fingers and palms left after processing these mushrooms.
Vinegar
You can wash your hands after cleaning the oil using vinegar mixed with water in a ratio of 1: 3, respectively. In this tool you need to lower your palms and hold for 10 minutes. After this, pour 3 tsp into the solution. soda and dip your hands in liquid again.
After 10 - 15 minutes, when the skin is well wet, you can go directly to the removal of dirt. You need to wipe it with either a pumice stone or a hard washcloth. Thanks to the softening effect of the lemon-vinegar solution, red spots after oil are removed much easier and faster.
Lemon acid
Citric acid is used to prepare hand baths. To this end, 10 g of the product should be dissolved in a small amount of warm water. Liquids should be taken so that the palms are completely immersed in it.
In the finished bath should lower your hands, and wait literally 10 minutes. Gradually, the red spots themselves will begin to disappear. If they do not come off completely, then they can be wiped off with a pumice, washcloth or hard towel. At the same time, they will be removed much easier and faster.
Laundry soap
Hozmila is another great way to help quickly cleanse the skin of mucus and dirt left after processing mushrooms. This product contains alkalis, which are absorbed into the skin, and corrode the components that make up the mucus of this type of mushroom.
It is necessary to arrange a real hand wash, collecting all the linen or clothes that need to be washed. Only in the course of active friction can dirt be removed from the skin, and hands returned to their absolute purity.
Chemicals
If the pigment is too deeply ingrained in the skin of the hands, and none of the above improvised tools helps to remove it, then you can resort to the use of chemicals:
- Acetone. It should first be applied to a piece of cotton wool or cosmetic disk, and then rub it with contaminated areas of the epidermis. When the cotton wool turns black, it needs to be replaced with a clean one.
- Nail polish remover. It will be a good alternative if acetone is not under your hands. The principle of removing red spots after mushrooms is oiled with the help of this tool is similar to the above.
- Anti-oil shampoos and soaps. They are good in that, unlike acetone and nail polish remover, they gently remove residual impurities from the skin without harming it. It is only necessary to grease hands with gel or shampoo, foam and rinse.
- White. According to numerous reviews of women, this tool also helps to remove the remnants of mucus and dirt from the hands after cleaning the butter and other mushrooms. They need to be treated with the skin in the same way as with acetone or nail polish remover.
Cuticle removers, as well as used engine oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel, can be found on the many forums on the Internet for tips on how to clean hands from stains left by mushrooms. Which method to prefer - the choice is up to the hostess.
Therefore, if there are wounds or scratches on the epidermis, it is better to use safe folk remedies. Let them be less effective, but they will not cause any harm to the skin of the hands.
Protective measures
In order not to look for ways to combat stains from mucus and dirt when working with mushrooms, you need to think in advance about the reliable protection of the epidermis from mushroom juice. This can be easily done if you follow these simple tips:
- When collecting and cleaning mushrooms, rubber or latex gloves must be worn.
- If it is not possible to use gloves, then before going to the forest or processing oil, the skin should be treated with vegetable oil. The best option is a product made from olive.
Of course, oil will not help to completely protect the epidermis from stains, but the pigment contained in the oily juice cannot penetrate deep into the skin. Thus, even if specks appear, they will be pale and small.
- Quite often, particles of mucus or pulp of mushrooms “clog” under the upper part of the nail plate. To prevent this from happening, before a “silent hunt” you need to use your fingernails several times on a bar of soap.
FAQ
Quite often, beginner mushroom pickers ask the following questions:
There are many ways to cleanse the skin of spots that have appeared after the collection or treatment of oily mushrooms. But it is important to consider that a specific tool will help someone, but for someone it will be useless.
Moreover, most of the above methods are aimed at partial discoloration of the pigment. They will not help to completely remove the spots, but they will lighten them so much that you can go outside without gloves. And after 2-3 days ugly spots "leave" themselves.