How to make a gardener's hand scrub recipe to gently scrub away dirt and debris after gardening. This Epsom salt scrub recipe is strong enough to get rid of dirt, but the natural oils in the Epsom salt scrub recipe nourish your skin to make it softer.

Spring means gardening. We live in farm country, and we have excellent soil for gardening. We grow several types of vegetables and herbs so we can preserve them for the year.

While my husband does most of the vegetable gardening, I mainly grow herbs in pots on my patio. However, when it's planting time for the veggies, it's all hands on deck.

I don't mind getting dirty while I'm in the garden, but I do like to keep my hands looking nice. We have a lot of clay in our soil, which dries out my hands like crazy.

When I'm done gardening, I head inside to use a hand scrub for gardeners. This is an easy Epsom salt scrub recipe that also has sugar in it to remove dirt while it soothes irritated skin and nourishes your skin.

Gardener's Hand Scrub Recipe

Today, we will learn how to make a hand scrub for gardeners. Although this is a simple hand scrub recipe, I chose each ingredient carefully and just for gardeners.

You can also adapt this recipe to make a cleansing scrub for gardeners. This will clean and scrub at the same time.

However, I wanted a hand scrub for gardeners because my hands get so dry from our soil and I tend to have dry skin anyway.

Use a hand soap for gardener's before using this Epsom salt scrub recipe. You can use this pumice melt and pour gardener's soap recipe or a loofah gardener's hand soap with melt and pour soap.

What is a Hand Scrub?

A hand scrub is made with salt or sugar (or in this case, both salt and sugar). It gently removes dirt and debris from you hands.

This gardener's hand scrub recipe also soothes your skin with aloe and nourishes with fractionated coconut oil.

How Do You Use a Hand Scrub?

Once you learn how to make a hand scrub, it's time to use it. Hand scrubs are fairly easy to use. Simply wash your hands with soap and water to get off as much loose dirt as you can.

Then scoop out 1 to 2 tablespoons of the Epson salt scrub recipe and gently scrub your hands. You should use enough pressure to get rid of the dirt, but you don't need to scrub too hard.

After you use a hand scrub for gardeners, you can rinse your hands or wash them. I don't wash my hands because I want the oil to nourish my skin.

How Do You Make a Gardener's Hand Scrub?

There are several recipes to learn how to make a hand scrub for gardeners. I used a simple recipe, but I selected each ingredient for a specific purpose.

I used both Epsom salt and sugar to really scrub away dirt. Our clay soil really sticks to the skin!

I also added aloe vera gel because it's soothing. I get a lot of small cuts when I am in the dirt, so I wanted something that would promote healing.

The raw honey in this hand scrub for gardeners helps soothe your skin. It also acts like a natural humectant drawing moisture to your skin.

For the essential oils, I used a blend called Bumps and Boo Boos to promote healing. We will talk more about essential oils below.

What is the Best Sugar to Use for a Scrub?

The best sugar for your hand scrub for gardeners depends on your skin. Brown sugar is the most gentle. It probably won't remove dirt effectively.

I use regular table sugar. Tables sugar has smaller granules and is rounded on the edge, so it's gentler on your skin.

You can also use turbinado sugar. It has a larger particle for more scrubbing power.

Which is Better a Salt Scrub or Sugar Scrub?

That depends on your skin and what you want from your scrub. Salt scrubs tend to be better exfoliators and will remove more dirt in this gardener's hand scrub recipe. However, it can be too abrasive for those with sensitive skin.

Sugar has smaller particles that are more gentle for your skin. Sugar also dissolves in water before salt does, so the sugar will be gentler as it dissolves.

Learn more about salt scrub vs sugar scrub here.

Can You Mix Salt and Sugar for a Scrub?

Yes, you can absolutely make a sugar and Epsom salt scrub recipe. I used both table sugar and Epsom salt to get the best of both worlds.

I wanted something with more scrubbing power than sugar, but I didn't want to use all Epsom salt. Using both gives you the best of both worlds and makes a wonderful hand scrub for gardeners.

How Long Does Homemade Hand Scrub Last?

Your gardener's hand scrub recipe should last about six months. If you notice any discoloration or an odor, discard it immediately.

Always use clean and dry hands to dip into your scrub. Even better, use a spoon or a scoop to get out the scrub so you don't touch it.

You don't need to add a preservative for this Epsom salt scrub recipe since it doesn't have water in it. However, your hands can introduce water to the scrub. This can cause microbes to grow.

The oil can also go rancid. I used fractionated coconut oil because it has a long shelf life. However, oils can go rancid and smell funny. If you notice a funny smell, it's time to toss the scrub.

Why Does My Homemade Sugar Scrub Get Hard?

An Epsom salt scrub recipe with solid coconut oil can get hard at cooler temperatures. Solid coconut oil makes a wonderful hand scrub for gardeners because coconut oil is so great for your skin, but it will get solid and make a hard scrub.

I used fractionated coconut oil instead. It has a long shelf life, and it's a liquid at room temperature. It also absorbs into the skin quickly.

However, you can use solid coconut oil if you prefer.

Gardener's Exfoliating Hand Wash Recipe

Once you learn how to make a hand scrub, you can easily adapt it to a gardener's exfoliating hand wash recipe.

Simply recipes half of the oil with liquid castile soap. When you use it, it will cleanse while it exfoliates.

Hand Scrub for Gardeners Essential Oils

I used Bumps and Boo Boos from Simply Earth. It promotes healing and is great for minor cuts and scrapes.

It's a blend of helichrysum, lavender, tea tree oil, and lemon essential oils.

Helichrysum essential oil is an excellent oil for the skin. However, helichrysum is an expensive oil. If you want the benefits of this oil for your skin, then I recommend buying the blend.

Helichrysum is almost $45 from Simply Earth and almost $37 from Mountain Rose Herbs. It's an oil that I use often for skin care, but you can save a lot by buying it in a blend.

I also like lavender to promote skin healing. Lemon is a natural degreaser, and tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic.

You can also use the Skin Care blend from Mountain Rose Herbs. It's a blend of lavender, frankincense, helichrysum, and carrot seed essential oils. It promotes skin healing.

Citrus essential oils would also be good in a hand scrub for gardeners. I like the Citrus Blend from Mountain Rose Herbs or Citrus Burst from Simply Earth.