Whatever the cause, handling a gas can, bleaching a garment, or slicing onions, you may need to get a bad smell off your hands. Fortunately, there is a wide variety of home remedies you can experiment with to get them smelling and clean again.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Quick Fixes
Step 1. Wash your hands with soap and cold water
Always use cold water in these cases, because hot water causes pores to dilate, so dirt and odor-causing substances could penetrate even deeper into the skin. Lather copiously with the soap and rub one hand carefully against the other before rinsing them off with cold water.
Step 2. Spray them with antiseptic mouthwash
In addition to masking the bad smell, the mouthwash is able to kill the bacteria present on the hands that can be responsible for the unpleasant emanations. The scent of the mouthwash, which is usually mint, will give a pleasant sensation of cleanliness and freshness.
Step 3. Remove the bad smell from your hands by scrubbing them with a stainless steel object
Take any stainless steel object, such as cutlery or a kitchen bowl, and rub it against the skin of your hands under cold water. Do this in each part and continue until the bad smell is gone.
- Any stainless steel item will work, including the kitchen sink, if it's made of the right material.
- You can buy a stainless steel anti-odor bar of soap specially designed to remove bad odors from your hands.
- This system is excellent for removing the smell of garlic or onion from your fingers after using them in the kitchen.
Step 4. Rinse your hands with vinegar to neutralize the bad odor
In this case there is no need to rub them together, just wet them with vinegar; you can spray it on the skin and let them air dry. If you are concerned that they will smell like vinegar at that point, you can wash them with soap and water after they have dried.
Vinegar is good for removing fish or onion odors from your hands after cooking
Step 5. Pour some rubbing alcohol or sanitizing gel on your hands and rub them together
In both cases, a teaspoon will suffice. Continue rubbing your hands until the product has evaporated and the skin is dry again.
Since alcohol dehydrates the skin considerably, it is best to use this remedy only once and switch to another if the odor persists
Method 2 of 3: Prepare an Anti Odor Scrub or Paste
Step 1. Squeeze some toothpaste onto your hands to neutralize the bad smell
If possible, it is best to use a toothpaste that contains bicarbonate. Either way, squeeze a small amount into your hands and rub them against each other. Continue for a couple of minutes, then rinse them off with water.
Step 2. Rub some wet salt into your hands as if it were a scrub
Pour a small amount into the palm of one hand and then start scrubbing the skin of both, as you do when using a regular scrub. It is best to lightly moisten the salt with a few drops of water before starting to scrub, to make it adhere better to the skin. When you are satisfied, rinse your hands with plenty of water and finally dry them.
If you want, you can lather your hands with dish soap before scrubbing them with salt. Rub the cleanser into your skin to start eliminating the odor and rinse it off with water when you're done
Step 3. Use ground coffee if you want to have scented hands
If you don't mind that they smell like coffee, you can use it to counteract unpleasant fumes. Cover them completely with the coffee powder, then rub them gently together in a bowl full of water. Alternatively, you can massage whole coffee beans into your hands until the bad smell disappears.
Step 4. Make a pasty mixture of water and baking soda
Mix 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water in a bowl to make a doughy mixture. Once ready, rub it thoroughly on all hands for at least a minute. Finally, rinse the skin with plenty of water.
Method 3 of 3: Soak Your Hands
Step 1. Mix one part of hydrogen peroxide with one part of water
By mixing these two elements together you will create a safe hand sanitizer (hydrogen peroxide is nothing more than hydrogen peroxide). Soak your hands in the solution for between 1 and 3 minutes, then rinse them with plenty of clean water before drying them.
Step 2. Eliminate bad odor from your hands with lemon (or lime) juice
You can use it both pure and diluted with a little water to reduce the adverse effects on the skin. Squeeze the fruit in a bowl with water, then put your hands to soak.
In general it is best to use a ratio of 1: 1 for good results
Step 3. Pour a tablespoon of vinegar into the water for a diluted version
Fill a small bowl with water before adding a tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar. Soak your hands in the solution for 2-3 minutes, then rinse and dry them carefully.
