How to Get Rid of Garlic Smell on Fingers

Garlic is a wonderful that herb with a potent smell and flavor that makes it great for most dishes and terrible for breath or fingertips. On fingers, garlic smell can linger for days and drive many a chef nuts. If you can't live without the delicious herb but tire of scrubbing your hands raw to remove the smell on your fingers after chopping garlic, you can still have your cake and eat it too. The following ways will help you get rid of garlic smell on your fingers.

Soak Your Hands

One method for ridding your fingers of garlic smell is to soak your hands in a solution of vinegar or lemon juice for about five minutes. This should be done immediately after chopping the garlic. Then wash your hands with soap and warm water.

Rub Your Hands

If your hands are free of cuts, another option for removing the smell is to rub your hands with salt, prior to washing them. However, even the tiniest cut could cause searing pain when a salt granule is injected into it. Another option is to rub your hands on stainless steel, such as your sink or a kitchen tool, prior to washing your hands. Other suggestions for getting rid of the smell include rubbing your hands with mint, parsley, orange peel or cilantro.

Scrub Under Your Nails

If tiny slivers of garlic remain beneath your nails, no method of soaking or rubbing will remove the smell completely until you've gotten rid of the garlic. Scrub under your nails with a brush or toothbrush to help remove the smell of garlic from your fingertips.

Prevent Garlic Smell from Getting on Your Hands

Scrubbing or soaking hands can wreak havoc on particularly sensitive skin. Eliminate the need for post-cooking clean up by ensuring that the garlic never touches your fingers. An easy way to avoid contact is to use gloves anytime you chop garlic. Two more ways to avoid coating your fingers with garlic smell is to use a garlic press or buy garlic that has already been chopped.

If your hands begin drying out, be sure to use a hand cream after washing your hands. Consider leaving cream in your kitchen.