The 10 Best Ways to Get Rid of Garlic Smell on Your Hands

Co-authored by Jerran Boyer and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: April 25, 2024 References

Garlic smells delicious when you add it to your meal, but not so much when the odor lingers on your hand for a few days. If you don't want to deal with smelly garlic hands after you get done cooking, there are a ton of things you have at home that can make the odors disappear. Keep reading for the best ways to completely get rid of the garlic smell so your hands are fresh and clean!

1

Salt and baking soda

Download Article

A salt and baking soda scrub absorbs the garlic smell from your hands. Add 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt and 2 tablespoons (10 g) of baking soda into a bowl. Slowly add water until you make a thick paste. Scrub the paste into your hands, focusing on the areas that are the smelliest. Then, just rinse off the paste with soapy water. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and salt exfoliates your skin to get rid of deep odors.
- Salt could sting if you have any open cuts or dry skin on your hands.

2

Lemon and salt

Download Article

The fresh citrus scent helps cover and eliminate smelly garlic. You can use bottled lemon juice or juice a fresh lemon since the acid neutralizes the odor from your hands. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on your hands and pour on the lemon juice. Scrub your hands vigorously until you completely get rid of the garlic smell. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Be careful using lemon juice if you have cuts or dry skin since it may sting.

3

Stainless steel

Download Article

Stainless steel bonds with the molecules that cause lingering garlic odor. Take any stainless steel utensil like a spoon or a butter knife, and hold it underneath cold running water. Rub the utensil over your hands vigorously for a few minutes before checking if the smell disappeared. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you have a stainless steel sink, you can rub your hands on it instead of using a utensil.
- You can get a stainless steel soap bar to keep near your kitchen sink whenever you work with garlic or other smelly ingredients.
- Cold water helps shrink your pores so the odors don’t get caught or stick around.

4

Coffee

Download Article

You can use coffee grounds or instant coffee to get the smell off your hands . Sprinkle the coffee on your hands and wet them underneath some water. Rub the coffee into your skin on your fingertips and palms. Check if the garlic smell is gone a few times while you’re scrubbing your hands to make sure the odor goes away completely. Rinse your hands with clean water when you’re finished. ^{[4]
X
Research source}

5

Vinegar

Download Article

The acid in vinegar cleans and naturally deodorizes garlic smells. Splash some white vinegar on your hands and rub it into your skin. Really scrub the tips of your fingers since that’s usually where the garlic is the smelliest. Rinse the vinegar off your hands and dry them. ^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Your hands might smell a little like vinegar right after you clean them, but the smell will go away after a few minutes. If the smell bothers you, wash your hands with soap and water.

6

Tomato juice

Download Article

Cut a slice of fresh tomato or open a can of tomato juice and run it on your skin. Scrub your hands really well to mask the garlic smell and draw it out of your skin.

7

Mouthwash

Download Article

The minty smell of mouthwash helps get rid of the garlic smell. Splash the mouthwash onto your hands and rub it into your skin. Scrub your hands really well and add more mouthwash if you can still smell garlic. Just rinse the mouthwash off of your hands with soapy water so they aren’t sticky when you’re finished. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You can use mouthwash to get rid of garlic breath too.

8

Toothpaste

Download Article

Use a white toothpaste that has added baking soda so it’s more effective. Wet the toothpaste with some water and rub it between your fingers to remove the smell of garlic from your hands. Then just wash your hands with soapy water to clean off the toothpaste. ^{[7]
X
Research source}

9

Hand sanitizer

Download Article

Squirt a coin-sized amount of hand sanitizer on your hands and rub it in completely. The sanitizer will cover the smell of the garlic so it’s not noticeable. It may not remove the odor entirely, so reapply sanitizer if you notice a smell again. ^{[8]
X
Research source}

10

Perfume or cologne

Download Article

Perfume or cologne works as a last resort to mask the odor. If you’re in a rush and can still smell garlic on your hands, spritz the cologne or spray perfume on your wrists and rub it in. If the scent of the perfume or cologne starts to go away, just reapply a small spritz.
- If you’re going to be touching other food, avoid using perfume or cologne since the smell could transfer to the food and leave an unpleasant taste.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Put on a pair of disposable gloves before you start working with garlic so the smell doesn’t get on your hands in the first place. ^{[9]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Crush the garlic with the side of a knife or a garlic press to break it apart without touching it. ^{[10]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

Log in

The 10 Best Ways to Get Rid of Garlic Smell on Your Hands

Steps

Salt and baking soda

Lemon and salt

Stainless steel

Coffee

Vinegar

Tomato juice

Mouthwash

Toothpaste

Hand sanitizer

Perfume or cologne

Expert Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories