The Best Way to Clean Dirt Out From Under Your Nails Fast

Keep your fingers dirt-free with these simple tips

Co-authored by Marta Nagorska and Danielle Blinka, MA, MPA

Last Updated: June 24, 2024

Dirty fingernails can undermine your whole look. Whether you’ve been doing dirty work or just think your nails could use some TLC, cleaning under your fingernails is sometimes necessary. If your fingernails look grimy, you can get them back in shape by cleaning them with an orange stick, scrubbing them with a nail brush, and restoring the whiteness of your fingernail.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning with an Orange Stick

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1
Get an orange stick. Orange sticks are wooden sticks that have a point on one end and a sloping flat edge on the other side, similar to a flat head screwdriver. You can find them in the beauty department near the nail care items.
- Alternatively, use a wet wipe wrapped around a manicure stick or an eyelash spoolie to clean under your fingernails.
- You can also use a cuticle pusher or a clean toothpick, but they are harder to use than the orange stick. ^{[1]
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2
Wash your hands. Start by clearing away dirt and excess oil. Scrub your hands under warm water, paying special attention to under your nails. Wash away as much of the grime as you can using the soap and water.
- Turn your hands so that the water runs over the underside of your nails.
- Pull back your fingers and work the soap under your nails using the pads of your fingers.
- Pat your hands dry when you finish. It will be hard to use an orange stick if your hands are wet.
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3
Push the edge of the orange stick under your fingernail. Gently press the stick under your nail, being careful not to break the skin. You need to go as deep as you can without separating the skin from the nail. If you do, then you’ll create a haven for dirt and bacteria. ^{[2]
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- You may find it easier to use the pointed end to remove the grime under your nails; however, it is riskier to use the pointed end because you may accidentally break the skin.
Start at one corner of your finger and gently insert the edge of the orange stick. Press it down until you feel resistance from your finger. ^{[3]
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Move the orange stick from one corner to the other. Wipe the grime onto a napkin and repeat until the orange stick comes away clean. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Scrubbing with a Nail Brush

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1
Get a nail brush. Nail or manicure brushes are great for cleaning under your fingernails. These brushes are slim and rectangular with soft bristles. They are similar to a toothbrush, but they are larger and don’t have a long handle. You can find them in the beauty supply section of most department stores. ^{[5]
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- You can use a nail brush daily in the shower instead of doing a full cleaning. ^{[6]
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- You can use a clean toothbrush instead of a nail brush. ^{[7]
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Add soap to a bowl of warm water and stir until they are well blended. You can use any kind of soap, but liquid soap blends better. ^{[8]
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Submerge the brush so that the bristles hold onto water. The brush needs to be wet in order to get your nails clean. ^{[9]
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4
Angle the brush downward. Hold your hand up, with the brush pointed down. Push the bristles under your nail. ^{[10]
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- You can brush under each nail individually or across all four nails of your index finger through your pinky finger at one time. Brushing them individually takes more time but gets them cleaner.
- You can also brush the front side of your nails for extra cleaning.
5
Brush side-to-side. Scrub under your nail to remove stubborn grime. Dip the brush back into the water regularly to clean the brush and add more soapy water. ^{[11]
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- Continue brushing under each fingernail until all of them are clean.
- Rinse the brush in the water before changing fingers.
- It'll be easier to clean under your fingernails after a bath or shower, as the warm water will have softened the debris.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Restoring the Whiteness

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1
Put toothpaste onto your nail brush. Add a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to your nail brush. Work the toothpaste into the brush bristles for a more even application. ^{[12]
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- Choose a whitening toothpaste.
- It’s okay to add more toothpaste if you want.
Just as you did when you cleaned your nails with the brush, scrub under your nails to apply the toothpaste. Make sure that a thin layer of toothpaste remains under your nail. ^{[13]
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The toothpaste needs time for the whitening action to work. After the three minutes, wash the toothpaste from your fingernails. ^{[14]
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4
Add lemon juice to a bowl. Squeeze the juice from two lemons, or use a container of lemon juice. Do not add water to your lemon juice. ^{[15]
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- You will just need enough lemon juice to soak your fingertips.
- You can find pre-squeezed lemon juice in the grocery store.
Leave your fingertips in the bowl to give the lemon juice time to whiten your nails. After the ten minutes, rinse your hands in clean water. ^{[16]
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6
Make a baking soda paste. Pour two tablespoons (30 milliliters) of baking soda into a bowl. Add enough warm water to make a thick paste. ^{[17]
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- If you accidentally put in too much water, it’s ok to add some more baking soda to thicken the paste.
Smooth the paste under your fingernails. Allow it to sit for five minutes before washing it off with warm water. ^{[18]
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Use soap and water to clean away any remaining residue from the whitening treatments. After you dry your hands, apply a moisturizing hand cream. ^{[19]
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Using lemon juice and baking soda can damage your nails if you use them too often.

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Be careful when cleaning under your fingernails because you can break the skin.

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Broken skin can result in an infected cut.

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The Best Way to Clean Dirt Out From Under Your Nails Fast

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Cleaning with an Orange Stick

Scrubbing with a Nail Brush

Restoring the Whiteness

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