Conference turris::cooks

    Try a waterless hand cleaner, sold in the auto section of most stores. 
    The problem is the oil in the peppers, water will not take it off, 
    these cleaners will for the most part get it off.  As for your contacts,
    good luck, try an enzyme cleaner before you put them back in, it seems
    to break down the oil.  
    
    Ken

    Have you tried any products around your house that are safe on hands,
    and cut grease/oil?  Palmolive (or other sink-dishdetergent -- not 
    dishwasher machine detergent), nail polish remover, maybe even lemon
    juice?
    
    Another thought - mechanics hand cleaner "Goop", or sticker-remover
    "Goo-Gone".
    
    Whatever you try, make sure you clean well under your nails, too.
    
    It's probably some lingering oil that will eventually go away with
    typical washing.  You'll probably also have to clean your contact
    lenses again instead of just changing the storage solution. 
    
    Good luck,
    
    Lauren
                                                                

    I took my time typing... .1 has all the same ideas... you beat me to
    it!
    
    Lauren
    

    Would they work for garlic?
    

    Try wiping your hands with potato peels.  It works for getting rid of
    garlic and onion juices/oils.
    
    Becky

Try soaking your hands in milk, it's much more effective than water when it
comes to burning peppers in the mouth, so maybe it'll work on your hands as
well.

Next time you may want to consider wearing rubber gloves!!

Laura    

    I usually scrub my hands with a combination of baking soda and a good
    soap when a mess up and get into a hotter-than-planned pepper.  
    
    I prefer the vinyl gloves you can get a hardware stores, the latex ones
    are too heavy for me to feel what I am doing.
    
    meg

    Per my copy of "Book of Hint's, Tips and Everyday Wisdom"
    
    	Washing with vinegar water will neutralize the chili oil and bring
    relief to irritated areas."
    
    

My solution,

I use my left hand to hold the chillies and then make a real conscious 
effort to not touch them with my right.  That way I have at least one hand 
that won't 'bite back'.


Regards

Charley

I handled some `mild' roasted chiles this past weekend (without gloves) and I 
thought I would never get the taste and heat off of my hands.  I think the 
chiles were mislabled at the Farmer's Market.  

I used some `waterless' hand cleaner (Watkins brand) and it took the smell, 
taste and heat away instantly.  Thanks to whoever made that suggestion.

Judy

P.S.  BTW, steaks grilled with a cleaned/seeded roasted chile laid on top were
      deliciously HOT!  ;-)

Capsecein, the chemical compound that makes chilies hot, is 
fat-soluble, not water-soluble, so you need either grease or soap 
(preferably a strong detergent).

--PSW

    capsaicin

Guess that's why milk works...the fat dissolves the capsaicin and then also
conditions the skin...

Laura

    	I saw a recent article in some chile magazine entitled, "Hot Nuts!"
    which reminded me of this note thread and the time I had been dicing
    serrano chiles and then had to go to the bathroom.....

Hahahahaha!!!!!  Guess you learned a lessen from that??

    	Yes, and so did my wife (now ex-wife)!

    I also had a similar problem while making hot pepper jelly.  Anyway, 
    ended up calling poison control.  
    
    Their suggestion:  soak in milk for at least 20 minutes; or try soaking
    in vegetable oil.  Tried both - Milk was the best.
    

    	I like the vegetable oil idea. I'll have to "accidently" get a
    little hot pepper juice on the wife and I and have the bathtub all
    loaded up with vegetable oil and ready to go!
    	So who sent us down this path? Oh yeah, I did!

Marrrvelous idea!!!  

    I've oiled my hands up before handling peppers.  Makes them a little
    slippery, but the pepper oils dont get in the pores.
    
    Andy