After a day of working in your garden, where you have managed to cover yourself from head to toe with dirt, mud, grass stains, and other stains, how “cleaned up” do you need to be to make one last mad dash to the garden center to get that last (fill in blank here of what you ran short of)?
We have already established that most serious gardeners wear some of the goofiest outfits while out working in their gardens. But when it comes to “cleaning up” a bit to go to the garden center, how clean is “clean enough”?
I’m sure there is a wide range of opinions on this subject ranging from “just go as you are” to “stop, clean up, and change clothes”. Plus there is the ever popular “find the cleanest person in the house who has a driver’s license and make them go while you take a much needed break”. (Though we all admit that if this cleanest person is not a gardener, there is a big risk that they will not return with the right (fill in blank here of what you ran short of)).
Even those of us who are willing to make that last trip in the “just go as you are” gardening attire we have on, complete with bits of leaves and twigs stuck in our hair, would agree that the one thing we should do before we head back to the garden center is…
Wash our hands.
Treat them well.
Make them smell good and feel a little softer by washing them with a good bar of soap like the new Botanical Interests Gardeners Scrubbing Soap with Basil and Poppyseed.
At this point, I should insert a picture of my hands before washing with this soap and a picture of my hands after washing with this soap, but my hands, with clipped short fingernails and… well let’s just say I am not looking to switch careers to become a hand model anytime soon.
Instead, I’ll just leave you with these instructions…
To enter a drawing to win your own Botanical Interests Gardeners Scrubbing Soap with Basil and Poppyseed, leave a comment below and tell us how cleaned up you need to be to go to the garden center. Be sure to include a link that will take me back to a blog where I can find your email address or put your email address in your comment (disguised of course, something like Indygardener AT g mail dot Com). I’ll figure it out if you are the winner.
Comment by 5:00 pm EST on Sunday, May 23.
Open to residents of the United States and Canada.
Winner will be chosen by random drawing and be notified by email.
(Yes, Botanical Interests sent me a bar of this soap to try and they are sponsoring this giveaway.)
Times up! Thank you to all who entered. Our winner is Kari, lucky #22. Kari, watch for an email from me to tell you how to get your Botanical Interests soap.)
I usually try to change my pants because they are usually my yucky nasty gardening pants with dirt on the butt 🙂
leenburke at yahoo dot com
My quick run to the store outfit almost always includes the dirt on my forehead from swatting at mosquitoes~My email is on my blog! gail
I hope no one will take a candid photo of me and post it on YouTube, but in my opinion a gardener need only wash their hands (and maybe their face) before making a dash to the garden shop. I concede that my gardening clothes aren't too outlandish.
I usually wash my hands and make sure I don't have dirt on my face before we go to the garden center. If my clothes are filthy, hubby usually gets sent.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm one of those weird people who won't go anywhere without at least a swipe of mascara and making sure my hair is not sticking out at crazy angles. I do wash my hands, of course, and this soap sounds yummy. Now, does Botanical Interests make something to get the ground in mud out of the knees of my jeans??
Cleaned up? Who gets cleaned up for a garden center? If I clean up its for the car, so I don't get mud or dirt in there or at least where I sit. The back of the Subaru is another story. Any hand soap that will help my hands would be appreciated.
dan5446atcomcastdotnet
i'll go as i am at the time i'm not out to impress anybody
mverno@roadrunner.com
Timely post this morning as I looked at yesterday's gardening jeans and the only clean pair of pants I have (laundry day, dontcha know) while getting ready to head out to a big plant sale. Do I wear the scrungy jeans and look like, well, a gardener who's been working all morning or do I wear the nice pants and potentially get dirt on them?
I usually just go to the garden center or hardware store with a quick wash of the face and hands. And I try to get the dirt out of my hair. There's always dirt in my hair. Not sure how it gets THERE.
DEQDAVIS at G MAIL dot COM or on my blog.
I definitely don't change my clothes, but I do usually kick off the garden shoes and throw on a pair of flip-flops. And I have to admit that I don't "wash" my hands, but I usually spray them with the hose and wipe on my already filthy pants.
heathersgarden AT live DOT com
Well, you know how I went to the nursery the other day. I can attest they at least like your hands clean. I usually wear gloves, but I still always need a good bar of soap.~~Dee
wash my hands and face.
I wash up a bit and add cologne
I don't worry too much about some soil on my hands or clothing-I figure since the garden centre certainly has seen dirty hands before.
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca
I wash my hands and pat my hair down which is usually a mess. I only take off my garden clogs if they are really muddy.
terry at terrycorum dot com
going out to work I throw on my old clothes, or leave tee and shorts I slept in– I like playing in the dirt
I'm a girly girl and prissy. If I'm in the garden, I always bathe before heading out!
mzpaw@yahoo.com
I'm like Dee–a glove girl. But I always peel off the gloves and do a quick hand wash before I grab the car keys (and the dog who loves the garden center at the bottom of our hill). This soap sounds great! daffodilplanter AT g mail dawt com
Hummmm, let's see I wash my hands, put on lipstick, make sure nothing is hanging out of my nose. I usually wear the same lovely outfit including shoes. The sad thing is I do this even if I'm not going to the garden center. Cleaning up takes up too much precious gardening time. Where ever I go people are pulling debris out of my hair and wiping dirt off my face. It's just me. Now I am just lying hear staring out at my neglected garden wishing I could go to the garden center. whaaaaaaaaa!
I'll wash my hands and make sure there's not too much mud on my shoes. I really don't clean up much.
I wash my hands and comb my hair, unless the hat hair is really bad in which case I put on my most presentable gardening hat.
Deirdre
My hands & face have to be clean. The clothes, who cares. If they don't like they can look the other way 🙂
motherabagail531 at yahoo dot com
I dont bother going inside and looking in the mirror or i would feel obliged to clean up a bit. I just use the hose to wash my hands, splash my face, and grab a drink. Then it is off to the nursery.
Kuhrich at gmail dot com
I allways take a hot shower before leaving my house.
I usually just wash my hands, if my clothes are really bad I will change them. I consider dirt to be a badge of honor for gardeners.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Anything goes for the gardening center. I like to go first thing in the morning, so if I'm not in my pjs I'm good! That being said, I spent 45 mins this morning in a very chlorinated pool with my son during swim lessons and my hands are still dirty from gardening yesterday!!! I would love to try this soap!
greenlancer at comcast dot net
for the gardening center i'm lucky if i brush out my hair…ahah twigs, grubby clothes, etc…;)
i'd love to try this soap though! i do wash my hands before leaving the house!!
thanks so much!!!
I need to have my hair combed, makeup on and clothes clean. The only times I haven't gotten out like that are the times I have run into people that don't understand gardeners! 🙂
rtandkt at gmail dot com
Hands, feet, hair….all need showering after a couple of hours in the garden. I garden like I cook – messily.
Change my shoes, and wash my face and hands, since I'm heading to the garden center, then that means I'll be getting back to my "fun" as soon as I can. Thanks for the chance to try something new. vickers_73460 AT yahoo DOT com
I don't have to be very cleaned up. Just washmy hands & face & a little lipstick & I'm off.
Ellen
eering99@hotmail.com
I brush the dirt from my hair, wash my hands, and go.
farrell@crosslake.net
I brush my hair and that's about it. I'm not trying to land a man anymore so who cares is my philosophy.
Ever since a neighbor asked me while I was gardening, "Just where do you buy your clothes?" I try to change my shoes and get the 'stuff' out of my hair from pruning.. rusdarathotmaildotcom
I at least put my hair back in a ponytail and I don't wear my muddy, ripped up gardening jeans. But that's about the extent of my effort.
As a rule I always wear a hat and have my hair in a ponytail to start my gardening project. So no effort needed from the neck up. If my shirt is really dirt, I'll throw a hoodie over top. The pants normally stay as they are unless I've been dealing with muck. Change into cleaner sneakers and I'm off.
I just wash my hands before I go. I don't think you should have to completely wash down or take a shower before heading to the garden center. It is after all a 'garden center', so I'm sure they almost expect a certain amount of soiledness to their customers. 🙂
I'm not sure my garden center trusts anyone without dirt on them somewhere…..
I will wash most of the crud off of my hands, put a towel on the seat of the car and then go…
And you really should post a before and after pic of your hands…I bet all of our hands look similar..gardener's hands…
VWinship at aol dot com
Wash my face and hands and maybe change pants and shoes so car doesn't get too dirty.
Heels and a dress! ha!!! just kidding I go in dirty!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
OK, I take my gloves off and I check that nothing sticks to the backside of my pants that would dirty the car's upholstery. Then I go, wearing large sunglasses so noone can recognize me.
But I do wash my hands if I have a snack after my day's labors.
Oh I wash my hands because they are always dirty after being in the garden . I love being outside . I just go as I 'am .
Clean enough to where I don't leave anything dirty there!
Neat reading all these comments. I go as is, usually stopping long enough to grab keys (and intentionally avoid the mirror).
Thanks for the giveaway…depending on the the output of sweat I might throw on a dry tee shirt, and my "good" baseball cap, so as not to scare the other shoppers.
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
Basically I just wash my hands as best I can. Usually this means there is still dirt under my nails and ground into my skin.
I'm so desperate to get back to my garden and finish what ever I'm trying to complete, I'll just wash my hands and change my dirty tee shirt; The dirty pants, scarf, and shoes stay on!
vmerri@ymail.com
I admit I change clothes, because I wouldn't want anyone seeing me in my gardening attire! It's pretty bad! I will go without make-up though!
I usually don't change clothes, but maybe my shoes. The shoes I wear in the garden, I don't even want in my car–usually muddy. I do wash my hands, sometimes more than once trying to get them clean. They seem to get dirty even when I wear gloves.
HORTON111@AOL.COM
I TRY TO LOOK HALF WAY CLEAN WHEN I GO LOOKING FOR PLANTS AND GARDEN ITEMS
I"ll wash my hands, and check myself in the mirror before I go
I wash my hands and maybe run a comb thru my hair… depending on the gardening attire d'jour… I may have to change! (yes, I'm one of those)!
sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net
It depends, I usually don't like to go too dirty unless I'm desperate (I wont go smelly , though!)
I go everywhere clean and with light makeup.
I just make sure my clothes, face and hands are clean in case I run into someone I know.
I definitely don't change my clothes, but I do usually kick off the garden shoes and throw on a pair of flip-flops.
I wash the dirt off my hands and go.
I don't need to be cleaned up because I think they expect you to be dirty, however if you decide to go to another department you may run into trouble because they may think you are a day laborfer or homeless and call security on you. I play it safe and dress up in my golf clothes like a yuppie redneck wannabe. garrettsambo@aol.com
Clean up?? Who has time to clean up? Gotta get there before they close! But I could use some of that great soap at the end of the day so old left brain will quit calling me raggamuffin.
I need to be cleaned up pretty good.
lilyk@mail2world.com
I will wash my hands, and maybe change my pants/shorts if they are super dirty (don't want the car seat to get dirty), but that's about it. A dirt-covered tshirt is no problem. 🙂
amyspener at gmail dot com
An entire change of clothes and wash hands and face
angelsspot(at)hotmail(dot)com
I usually like to get cleaned up.It
is nothing worse then standing next
to a smelly person,even at the garden
center.
CharlieGurl57(at)aol(dot)com
Sometimes I just have to change my clothes because I'm a muddy, dirty mess, but sometimes I just pick up and go. Since the nearest garden center is some distance away, I rarely make a quick trip there without planning other stops, so I'm usually fairly cleaned up.
I'd sure like to try this soap! Thanks to Botanical Interests for the giveaway and you, too, Carol!
You have my e-mail, and if not, it can be found on my blog.
I might have to change my clothes and wash hand, legs and face.
My email is jinijose_v@yahoo.com
i don't clean up at all to go to the garden store, i just go in whatever i have on
susansmoaks at gmail dot com