Getting a foul odor from your hands

Content

To step
Method 1 of 5: Stainless steel
Method 2 of 5: Salt
Method 3 of 5: Citrus fruits
Method 4 of 5: Antiseptic mouthwash
Method 5 of 5: Vinegar and baking soda
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

When preparing food in your kitchen, you often work with ingredients with a strong, pungent smell. Foods like garlic, onions and fish can be used in many different ways in dishes, but they also make your hands smell very strong. This smell can linger long after cooking. The chemical compounds that cause these odors cannot always be washed away with soap and water, so it is necessary to use other means to get rid of these odors. There are several methods you can use to get rid of bad smells after working with highly scented ingredients.

To step

Wash your hands with soap and water. Before trying an alternative method, try to get rid of the foul odor by washing your hands with water and hand soap. Always use cold water for this, as hot water can widen the pores in your skin. This allows the oils and dirt particles that cause the odor to penetrate deeper into the skin. If soap and water don't get rid of the smell, try a different method.

Method 1 of 5: Stainless steel

Get the odor off your hands by rubbing it with a stainless steel object. Rubbing your hands with a stainless steel object is a great way to remove garlic and onion odors from your hands. Simply grab a stainless steel item, such as cutlery or a mixing bowl, and rub it all over your hands under a cold tap. Continue this until the odor is neutralized.
- You can use any stainless steel item with this method, including your sink if you have one made of stainless steel. You can also buy a stainless steel "soap" made for exactly this purpose. Such an item is shaped like a bar of soap for easy use.
- It is unclear how this process works because the findings vary widely, but it is generally thought that the sulfur in the garlic (and many other strong smelling substances) is believed to bind with the chromium in the stainless steel. This is why you should use stainless steel and not other iron alloys as they do not contain chromium.

Method 2 of 5: Salt

Rub salt on your hands. A gentle and natural way to get bad smells off your hands is to rub salt on them. Sprinkle a small amount of salt into your hands and rub them together. You can wet the salt with a little water to get a better grip. When you're done, rinse off the salt with water and dry your hands.

Method 3 of 5: Citrus fruits

Neutralize the odor on your hands with lemon or lime juice. Smearing lemon juice on your hands is a natural and effective way to get rid of bad smells. You can use pure lemon juice or dilute it with a small amount of water to make it less harsh on your skin. Lime juice also works well. Simply squeeze the lemon or lime juice into a bowl of water and soak your hands in it. Know that this method will cause your hands to smell like lemon or lime.
- It also works for soaking your hands in freshly squeezed tangerine or lemon juice.

Method 4 of 5: Antiseptic mouthwash

Wash your hands with an antiseptic mouthwash. Rubbing mouthwash on your hands is another easy way to get rid of strong smells. Not only does it neutralize the smelly chemical compounds, but it can also kill the bacteria on your hands that cause the odor. Flavored mouthwashes also give your hands a peppermint-like scent that can mask the rest of the foul air.

Method 5 of 5: Vinegar and baking soda

Rinse your hands with vinegar. Vinegar works well to remove fishy and onion smells. Let your hands air dry. The vinegar smell will disappear when your hands are dry. If not, just wash your hands with soap and water.
Make a vinegar and baking soda paste. Rub the paste over your hands to remove the odor. Rinse your hands with cool water. The dirty air should be gone.

Tips

Wearing gloves when working with highly scented ingredients will prevent unpleasant smells from sticking to your hands. You can also buy special tools to peel and cut ingredients like garlic without having to touch the food with your hands.
When you're on the go, take a small pack of scented antibacterial hand soap with you. Spread a small amount on your hands to get rid of bad smells. Do not use this soap too often. It can dry out your skin and if you use the soap too much, it can cause certain bacteria to become resistant to it.
A hand disinfectant can also remove the odor, but it may also make the odor worse.
An effective method for freshening your hands is to rub coffee beans on your hands.

Warnings

Know that salt, lemon juice, and alcohol mouthwash can all irritate cuts and bruises on your hands. It is therefore best to avoid these remedies if you have cuts in your skin or if your skin is irritated in any other way.