Using Stainless Steel Items

In theory, stainless steel (also known as inox) can react with sulfur, which is the odor-causing component found in onions and garlic. Therefore, when you rub stainless steel objects on your hands, the unpleasant smell will disappear.

After rubbing stainless steel utensils on your palms and between your fingers, you can wash your hands again with soap or handwash to ensure the onion and garlic smell is completely removed.

Using Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a natural ingredient that works quite well at removing odors. You can squeeze a little lemon juice into a small bowl of water and soak your hands in it for about 3–5 minutes. Then wash your hands with soap and clean water.

Lemon juice not only helps eliminate odors but also makes the skin on your hands whiter and softer.

Alternatively, you can replace lemon with a few slices of orange.

Note: Both lemon and orange are acidic and may irritate open wounds. Therefore, if your hands are scratched or injured, it’s best not to use this method.

When chopping onions or garlic, the smell can easily cling to your hands. To remove this odor, you can use simple ingredients available in your kitchen.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is very effective at eliminating odors. It is easy to find and inexpensive.

Just sprinkle a little baking soda onto your hands, add some water, and rub it thoroughly on your palms, between your fingers, and on your fingertips. Afterward, rinse your hands with clean water.

Using Toothpaste

Toothpaste contains cleansing and deodorizing agents. You can use it as a substitute for soap or handwash when trying to remove the smell of onions and garlic.

Simply apply a thin layer of toothpaste onto your hands and rub them together as if you were washing with soap. After about 1 minute, rinse your hands with clean water as usual.

Using Mouthwash

If you have mint-flavored mouthwash at home, you can use a small amount to eliminate the odor of onions and garlic from your hands. Mouthwash contains antibacterial ingredients that effectively remove bad odors. Additionally, the minty fragrance helps mask unpleasant smells.

If none of the above ingredients are available, you can use dishwashing liquid as an alternative. Prioritize natural-based dishwashing liquids that are gentle on your hands.

Prevention Tip

To prevent onion and garlic odors from sticking to your hands during preparation, you can simply wear an extra layer of gloves while chopping the ingredients.