I used to use methylene chloride all the time to wash parts in. No gloves. Hands in it. I'll probably die of it. Can't do nothing bout it now.
My grandparents used to put turpentine on themselves as a remedy for about anything. Before neosporing cream was around, turpentine was the antibiotic. If you sprained something, soak it in turpentine. If you got cooties, bathe in turpentine. They no longer make turpentine from pine sap, so it no longer has the "pine sol" smell about it. You'd probably have your kids removed by the child protection agency if you put turpentine on a cut they got while playing in the yard. Times have changed.
I also washed parts hands deep in kerosene, but find it gives my hands the tingles afterwards. Buy yourself a pair of rubber gloves. They last for a while, not that expensive, and will keep you from stinking as much. I usually do a finish wash with a spash of gasoline to remove any oil or such that was dissolved in my kerosene. This way I end up with clean parts with no oil or kerosene on them that needs to dry.
