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After cooking for years, I know how frustrating it is to have a funky-smelling garlic odor on your hands once you’re done. No matter how often you wash your hands with soap, the smell still lingers. In this article, I will give you 5 proven methods based on my experience and science to remove the garlic smell from your hands.1
So, how do you get rid of it instantly?
The #1 Method: The Stainless Steel Trick (You don’t even need soap)
The fastest and most effective way to remove garlic odor on your hands is to rub them on a stainless steel object under running water. It sounds like a strange kitchen hack, but it works, and it’s backed by pure science and is the go-to trick for professional cooks and chefs.
What You’ll Need:
- Any stainless steel object: your faucet, a large spoon, the side of your kitchen sink, a chef’s knife (use the dull side for safety, although I highly don’t recommend it), or a purpose-made “stainless steel soap bar,” if you are not aware, it is an affordable and effective tool you can find on Amazon.
- Cool running water from your faucet
How to Do It:
- First, turn the faucet on.
- Take your choice of stainless steel object and rub it all over your hands and fingers. Spend about 30 seconds focusing on your fingertips and any areas that came into direct contact with the garlic.
- Rinse and smell your hands. The garlic odor should be gone entirely.
Why It Works: Garlic contains sulfur compounds (specifically, allicin, which breaks down into other smelly molecules). When you rub it with stainless steel, the molecules in the steel bind with the sulfur molecules on your hands, transferring the odor from your skin to the metal object. The running water then rinses these newly bound molecules away.
If you don’t have stainless steel on hand (which I doubt), these common pantry supplies will work just as well.
Method 2. Neutralize with Acid (Lemon or Vinegar)
The acid in lemons or vinegar neutralizes the enzymes in garlic.
- How: Slice a lemon in half and squeeze a small amount of lemon juice or white vinegar into your hands. Rub them together thoroughly, then rinse with water. Be cautious if you have any minor cuts, as the acid can sting. Lemon is a bit expensive, so I highly recommend using white vinegar instead.
Method 3. Scrub with an Abrasive (Salt or Baking Soda)
Using an abrasive helps to scrub away the oils and sulfur compounds.
- How: Wet your hands, then pour a teaspoon of salt or baking soda onto your palms. Scrub it on your hands like soap, focusing on the areas where the garlic smell is strongest, for at least 30 seconds. Then rinse your hands well. This also works as a great natural exfoliant.
- Be careful, though. If you have sensitive skin, avoid using salt.
Method 4. Coffee Grounds
The natural oils and intense aroma of coffee grounds are excellent at absorbing and masking other odors.
- How: Scoop a small amount of used or fresh coffee grounds into your hands. Rub them vigorously for a minute, then rinse them clean. Your hands might smell like coffee afterward, but for most people, that’s a significant improvement!
Method 5. Toothpaste
This is the first technique I learned for removing not only garlic smell but also other unpleasant smells, such as fish and ginger. The same ingredients in toothpaste that freshen your breath can freshen your hands.
- How: Squeeze a small amount of standard paste (not gel) onto your fingertips. Rub it over the affected areas and rinse. The abrasive elements and deodorizing compounds work together to lift the garlic smell.
- Do it 2x or 3x until smell disappears.
A Final Tip: Prevention
The best way, of course, to fight not having garlic smell on your hands is to prevent it from getting on your hands in the first place.
- Wear Gloves: Use thin, disposable kitchen gloves while mincing or chopping.
- Use a Garlic Press: A good garlic press minimizes the amount of contact. You place the clove inside and press it directly into your pan or bowl.
But let’s be honest, nothing beats the personal satisfaction of slicing and dicing garlic with your hands; it just feels good. However, with these simple methods I’ve outlined, you don’t have to trade that feeling for having funky, garlic-smelling hands.
So, the next time you’re cooking, you can chop garlic, knowing that a quick, scientific odor solution is just a stainless-steel spoon away.
