diff --git a/include/extern.h b/include/extern.h
index 65c4ba256..e2beed696 100644
--- a/include/extern.h
+++ b/include/extern.h
@@ -972,6 +972,7 @@ extern void dogushforth(int);
 extern void dryup(coordxy, coordxy, boolean);
 extern void drinkfountain(void);
 extern void dipfountain(struct obj *);
+extern int wash_hands(void);
 extern void breaksink(coordxy, coordxy);
 extern void drinksink(void);
 
diff --git a/src/fountain.c b/src/fountain.c
index 60145d642..229078578 100644
--- a/src/fountain.c
+++ b/src/fountain.c
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ void
 dipfountain(register struct obj *obj)
 {
     int er = ER_NOTHING;
+    boolean is_hands = (obj == &cg.zeroobj);
 
     if (Levitation) {
         floating_above("fountain");
@@ -437,17 +438,19 @@ dipfountain(register struct obj *obj)
         if (in_town(u.ux, u.uy))
             (void) angry_guards(FALSE);
         return;
+    } else if (is_hands || obj == uarmg) {
+        er = wash_hands();
     } else {
         er = water_damage(obj, NULL, TRUE);
+    }
 
-        if (er == ER_DESTROYED || (er != ER_NOTHING && !rn2(2))) {
-            return; /* no further effect */
-        }
+    if (er == ER_DESTROYED || (er != ER_NOTHING && !rn2(2))) {
+        return; /* no further effect */
     }
 
     switch (rnd(30)) {
     case 16: /* Curse the item */
-        if (obj->oclass != COIN_CLASS && !obj->cursed) {
+        if (!is_hands && obj->oclass != COIN_CLASS && !obj->cursed) {
             curse(obj);
         }
         break;
@@ -455,7 +458,7 @@ dipfountain(register struct obj *obj)
     case 18:
     case 19:
     case 20: /* Uncurse the item */
-        if (obj->cursed) {
+        if (!is_hands && obj->cursed) {
             if (!Blind)
                 pline_The("%s glows for a moment.", hliquid("water"));
             uncurse(obj);
@@ -539,6 +542,27 @@ dipfountain(register struct obj *obj)
     dryup(u.ux, u.uy, TRUE);
 }
 
+int
+wash_hands(void)
+{
+    const char *hands = makeplural(body_part(HAND));
+    int res = ER_NOTHING;
+
+    You("wash your %s%s in the %s.", uarmg ? "gloved " : "", hands,
+        hliquid("water"));
+    if (Glib) {
+        make_glib(0);
+        Your("%s are no longer slippery.",
+             uarmg ? gloves_simple_name(uarmg) : hands);
+        /* not what ER_GREASED is for, but the checks in dipfountain just
+           compare the result to ER_DESTROYED and ER_NOTHING, so it works */
+        res = ER_GREASED;
+    } else if (uarmg) {
+        res = water_damage(uarmg, (const char *) 0, TRUE);
+    }
+    return res;
+}
+
 void
 breaksink(coordxy x, coordxy y)
 {
diff --git a/src/potion.c b/src/potion.c
index 0ae6e8db8..19b954312 100644
--- a/src/potion.c
+++ b/src/potion.c
@@ -2177,8 +2177,10 @@ mixtype(struct obj *o1, struct obj *o2)
 static int
 dip_ok(struct obj *obj)
 {
-    /* dipping hands and gold isn't currently implemented */
-    if (!obj || obj->oclass == COIN_CLASS)
+    if (!obj)
+        return GETOBJ_DOWNPLAY;
+    /* dipping gold isn't currently implemented */
+    if (obj->oclass == COIN_CLASS)
         return GETOBJ_EXCLUDE;
 
     if (inaccessible_equipment(obj, (const char *) 0, FALSE))
@@ -2218,14 +2220,16 @@ dodip(void)
     uchar here;
     char qbuf[QBUFSZ], obuf[QBUFSZ];
     const char *shortestname; /* last resort obj name for prompt */
+    boolean is_hands;
 
     if (!(obj = getobj("dip", dip_ok, GETOBJ_PROMPT)))
         return ECMD_CANCEL;
     if (inaccessible_equipment(obj, "dip", FALSE))
         return ECMD_OK;
 
-    shortestname = (is_plural(obj) || pair_of(obj)) ? "them" : "it";
-
+    is_hands = (obj == &cg.zeroobj);
+    shortestname = (is_hands || is_plural(obj) || pair_of(obj)) ? "them"
+                                                                : "it";
     drink_ok_extra = 0;
     /* preceding #dip with 'm' skips the possibility of dipping into
        fountains and pools plus the prompting which those entail */
@@ -2239,10 +2243,16 @@ dodip(void)
          * supplied type name.
          * getobj: "What do you want to dip <the object> into? [xyz or ?*] "
          */
-        Strcpy(obuf, short_oname(obj, doname, thesimpleoname,
-                             /* 128 - (24 + 54 + 1) leaves 49 for <object> */
-                                 QBUFSZ - sizeof "What do you want to dip \
+        if (is_hands) {
+            Snprintf(obuf, sizeof(obuf), "your %s",
+                     makeplural(body_part(HAND)));
+        } else {
+            Strcpy(obuf, short_oname(obj, doname, thesimpleoname,
+                                     /* 128 - (24 + 54 + 1) leaves 49 for
+                                        <object> */
+                                     QBUFSZ - sizeof "What do you want to dip\
  into? [abdeghjkmnpqstvwyzBCEFHIKLNOQRTUWXZ#-# or ?*] "));
+        }
 
         here = levl[u.ux][u.uy].typ;
         /* Is there a fountain to dip into here? */
@@ -2253,7 +2263,8 @@ dodip(void)
                      flags.verbose ? obuf : shortestname);
             /* "Dip <the object> into the fountain?" */
             if (y_n(qbuf) == 'y') {
-                obj->pickup_prev = 0;
+                if (!is_hands)
+                    obj->pickup_prev = 0;
                 dipfountain(obj);
                 return ECMD_TIME;
             }
@@ -2270,6 +2281,10 @@ dodip(void)
                 } else if (u.usteed && !is_swimmer(u.usteed->data)
                            && P_SKILL(P_RIDING) < P_BASIC) {
                     rider_cant_reach(); /* not skilled enough to reach */
+                } else if (is_hands || obj == uarmg) {
+                    if (!is_hands)
+                        obj->pickup_prev = 0;
+                    (void) wash_hands();
                 } else {
                     obj->pickup_prev = 0;
                     if (obj->otyp == POT_ACID)
@@ -2338,6 +2353,11 @@ potion_dip(struct obj *obj, struct obj *potion)
         pline("That is a potion bottle, not a Klein bottle!");
         return ECMD_OK;
     }
+    if (obj == &cg.zeroobj) {
+        You("can't fit your %s into the mouth of the bottle!",
+            body_part(HAND));
+        return ECMD_OK;
+    }
 
     obj->pickup_prev = 0; /* no longer 'recently picked up' */
     potion->in_use = TRUE; /* assume it will be used up */