I’ll usually first notice it sometime in the afternoon, a stale, rubbery, maybe sour smell on my hands, especially the fingertips. Like a weak version of the smell that develops after wearing rubber gloves, even though I hadn’t touched gloves all day. Quite annoying and makes me want to grit my teeth. Washes off with soap and water 9 times out of 10, but I’m also not bothered enough to do anything about it until I bundle it with a trip to the restrooms. I’ve never been able to trace down the source and it’s been that way through school, work, and since at least 10 years ago in general. Anyone else experience this or know what might cause it?

  • monovergent@lemmy.mlOP
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    17 hours ago

    Spot on, I finally went around and found way too many degrading thermoplastics and rubberized surfaces causing this. The umbrella handle, office chair armrest padding, a pen grip, zipper grips, plasti-dipped tool handles (which then mixes with the smell of WD-40 and skin oil on metal). Ugh. At least it makes me mindful of how nasty plastics can get and how much crud sticks to unwashed hands.