Smelly Hands

Updated on October 14, 2009
A.V. asks from Austin, TX
27 answers

We eat a lot of food with onions in it. I am starting to realize that my hands smell of fresh onions for a good 24 hour period after I cut onions. I may wash them as many times as I like & apply cream, but the odour lingers on. Any suggestions on how to get that smell out? I hope there is a fast & sure way of removing the smell without taking up too much of my time. Ladies, please help me out.

2 moms found this helpful

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L.N.

answers from Houston on

I have a stainless steel sink and if you rub them on the sides of the sink the smell goes away! I thought it was a really nutty idea... but it works! (When I remember to do it right after I've cut the onions...)

1 mom found this helpful
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D.M.

answers from Houston on

I had the same problem... I got a handsoap (I think it's Softsoap) called Kitchen Fresh hands... Works great, and it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin like a lot of things do. =o)

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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

A., I have a box of cheap disposable plastic gloves under the sink near the trash bags. I grab those to chop onions/garlic- it has solved the problem for me. YOu can get a box of 100 gloves at home depot in the paint section.

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T.E.

answers from Houston on

simply rub your hands on yur stainless steel faucet after you cut your onions. it immediatly cuts the smell. or if you have a different kind of faucet, they sell stainless steel blocks at the kitchen stores just for onions.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Houston on

On the Food Network recently one of the cooks (I don't remember which one) said to wash your hands with a stainless steel spoon to remove onion and garlic odors. Just hold the bowl of the spoon like you would a bar of soap and wash away. I haven't tried it, but it sounds like a great idea, especially since there's nothing new to buy!

2 moms found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Fish will do the same thing I have used lemon juice after both for years. It works for me.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.M.

answers from Sherman on

Hi A., I have found if you wash your hands with vinegar, it will help to get rid of the onion smell, vinegar is so good for so many things. W.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Waco on

Hi A.
Lemon juice- keep a large jar handy - use it to wipe down everyplace where you cut and prepare your onions and just pour over hands when finished. it is the best yet......
good luck and blessings

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

have you seen that metal soap bar. i think you can find it at bath and body works. i have also heard if you rub your fishy,onionie hands on the metal faucet that works too...i think it needs to be a certian type of metal.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.D.

answers from Houston on

Just thought it was interesting that I got a forwarded email the same day as your post about the health benefits of onions. It claimed onions sitting out in the room can keep one from getting colds and flu or help you heal from it. If you google onions and health you will find a lot of claims out there.

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S.H.

answers from San Antonio on

there is a silver peanut shaped item that you wash your hands with and it takes the smell out. I bought mine at Kitchen Collections in New Braunfels. I think Bed Bath & Beyond has them too. Don't kinow how, but it works. I keep mine in the window sill over my sink.

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C.D.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Hey A., have you tried to wash your hands in lemon juice? It does well with me. Hope it works for you!

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C.G.

answers from San Antonio on

Buy a box of powder free latex gloves and wear one on the hand that touches the onion when you cut it. Then throw it away after and no more smelly hands.

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

You can cut the smell with lemon juice, but honestly, the very best thing is nitrile exam gloves. They form to your hands, don't interfere with your sense of touch, and their disposable! You can get them at most stores in the health product section.

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D.H.

answers from Houston on

Haven't read the other responses and maybe someone has already said this. This is how I get odors off my hands.
After you cut the onions or garlic grab one of your stainless steel serving spoons and some dishwashing detergent and wash your hands rubbing the spoon all over your palms while you wash. Then rinse. The odor will be gone. They sell stainless steel things to do the same thing but this works the same and you already have spoons that need washing.

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D.M.

answers from Austin on

try rinsing your hands with a little limon or lime juice

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I've heard to wash your hands with water while rubbing them on the back of a stainless steel spoon (no soap).

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K.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Do not wet your hands before you wash them- put soap on and then salt your hands generously. Rub Rub Rub and then rinse- the salt acts like as an exfoliant.

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D.C.

answers from Austin on

you can generally get rid of the smell by simply taking a tsp or tablespoon, and running it over your hands under cold running water.......somehow or another that will neutralize the smell

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E.C.

answers from Houston on

Lemon juice! It does not have to be fresh cut lemon. Just squirt some on and rub in like you are washing them. Cirus is also a natural grease cutter and disinfectant. I hope this work for you!

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P.G.

answers from Brownsville on

Just turn on the faucet and wet your hands and "caress" the faucet with both hands, including between fingers, and voila! the smell should be gone. There is some kind of chemical reaction when your hands that are laden with the smell of onions or garlic touch the faucet (metal) that makes the smell go away. Follow up with a mild hand wash soap. I have used this for YEARS! (I'm 62!)

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J.H.

answers from Houston on

I have notr tried either of these things, but I hear you can use toothpaste or vinegar. See if that helps.

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E.H.

answers from San Antonio on

Hey A.,
All the advice given so far is ok. but I'm from the south and the best and only advice for the smelly hands is to use salt. Just wet your hands and pour salt in them and rub together and rinse. Good luck.

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L.S.

answers from Houston on

rub your hands on a stainless steel ball, or even on your sink.. helps with garlic too!

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G.B.

answers from Killeen on

Try putting some lemon juice on your hands then wash with soap. Or, I use either SoftSoap Kitchen Fresh Hands or Bath & Body Kitchen Lemon hand soap and they both work very well for me.

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S.J.

answers from Houston on

I would try rubbing fresh lemon or lime juice on your hands after washing them to get the onion juice off them. It always works for me. Something in the acid of the lemon seems to neutralize the odor of the onion. Good luck!

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J.T.

answers from Austin on

I'm inclined to think that your pores are exuding the aroma of onion when you're perspiring. If someone eats enough herbs and/or spices, it can literally start to overpower the glands scent-wise and that could be why you smell it all the time. Try cutting back on the amount of onion you ingest on a daily basis and see if that doesn't help.

-Jen

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