How to Remove Garlic Smell from Hands (3 Methods That Actually Work)

I love cooking with garlic, but I hate the way the smell sticks to my hands for hours, even after washing them with soap multiple times. I tried every trick I could find to get rid of garlic smell from my hands, and some of them work perfectly. In this guide, I'll show you the best methods.

Method 1: Stainless Steel (Most Effective)

This is the method I use all the time, and it works every single time.

1. Wet your hands with cold water.
2. Rub your hands all over a stainless steel object (like a spoon, sink, or stainless steel bar) for 30 seconds.
3. Rinse your hands with cold water.

The sulfur in the garlic binds to the stainless steel, which removes the smell from your hands.

Method 2: Lemon and Salt

If you don't have any stainless steel handy, this method works great too.

1. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into your hands.
2. Add a teaspoon of salt to your hands.
3. Rub your hands together for 30 seconds.
4. Rinse with warm water.

The acid in the lemon breaks down the garlic oils, and the salt acts as an abrasive.

Method 3: Baking Soda

This method also works really well, and it's gentle on your hands.

1. Make a paste with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water.
2. Rub the paste all over your hands for 1 minute.
3. Rinse with warm water.

What to Avoid

Never use bleach to get rid of garlic smell. It's dangerous and can cause chemical burns on your skin.

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Now you can cook with garlic without having the smell stick to your hands all day! For more easy kitchen hacks, check out our Kitchen & Life Hacks section or return to home.