How to Get Rid of Garlic and Onion Smell from Hands

Why Garlic and Onion Smell Lingers on Your Hands

You finished prepping dinner hours ago. But your hands still smell like raw onions or crushed garlic. No matter how many times you wash them, the odor hangs on. Why?
Garlic and onions release sulfur compounds when cut. These compounds bind to the proteins in your skin, making the smell tough to remove. Water and soap often aren’t enough.
You’re tired of scrubbing but no luck. No worries. This post will help you find simple, proven ways to neutralize garlic and onion smells. Our chefs at LivegreensPDX have been trying one of these six tricks to get rid of the garlic and onion smell for years now.

Read till the end for the sake of fresh hands…

6 Practical Ways to Get Rid of Garlic and Onion Smell from Your Hands

Garlic and onion odors are stubborn because of sulfur compounds that stick to your skin. Regular soap doesn’t always break them down.
That’s why you need methods to neutralize or lift these compounds away from your skin. Below are six easy and effective ways to remove the smell.
Most of these use items you already have in your kitchen.

1. Use Stainless Steel

This trick sounds odd, but it works. Stainless steel neutralizes sulfur compounds through a binding reaction. When you rub your hands against stainless steel, it pulls the odor molecules away from your skin.

How to do it:

• Rub your hands over a stainless steel object under cold running water. Use a spoon, a sink, or even a stainless steel soap bar.
• Make sure to rub between your fingers and around your nails.
• Continue rubbing for about 30 to 60 seconds.

Pro tip: Stainless steel “soap” bars are made for this purpose, but a simple spoon or faucet works just as well.

2. Lemon Juice or Vinegar Rinse

Both lemon juice and vinegar are acidic, which helps neutralize the sulfur that causes the smell.

How to do it:

• Pour a little lemon juice or white vinegar into your palm.
• Rub it all over your hands for 20-30 seconds.
• Pay attention to your fingertips and nails where odors linger.
• Rinse off with cold water.

Note for sensitive skin: Dilute the lemon juice or vinegar with water to avoid dryness or irritation. Follow up with a hand moisturizer if your skin feels tight.

3. Baking Soda and Water Paste

Baking soda works as a gentle abrasive and a natural deodorizer. It lifts the sulfur compounds off your skin and neutralizes odor.

How to do it:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with a small amount of water to make a thick paste.
• Rub the paste gently over your hands, focusing on areas that touched the garlic or onion.
• Scrub for about 30 seconds.
• Rinse well with cold water.

Important Note: If your skin is sensitive, don’t scrub too hard. Baking soda can be drying, so consider using a moisturizer afterward.

4. Salt and Olive Oil Scrub

Salt acts as a natural exfoliant, scrubbing away odor-causing compounds from your skin. Olive oil helps moisturize and prevents dryness after exfoliation. Together, they remove the smell and leave your hands soft.

How to do it:

• In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of coarse salt (like sea salt) with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Rub the mixture all over your hands, paying attention to your fingertips and nails.
• Massage gently for 1 to 2 minutes. Don’t scrub too hard—coarse salt can be abrasive.
• Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
• Dry your hands and enjoy the soft, odor-free skin.

Bonus: This scrub not only removes smells but also moisturizes, making your hands feel smoother.
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5. Coffee Grounds Scrub 

Used coffee grounds are great for absorbing and masking strong smells like garlic and onions. The texture also provides mild exfoliation.

How to do it:

• Take a handful of damp, used coffee grounds (freshly brewed grounds work best).
• Rub them all over your damp hands for about 30 seconds to a minute.
• Focus on areas where the smell is strongest.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water and dry your hands.

Important Note: Coffee grounds can be messy, so use them over a sink or a bowl.

6. Toothpaste (Yes it’s Not Just for Teeth)

Toothpaste contains mild abrasives and deodorizing agents like baking soda or menthol, which help break down and mask strong odors.

How to do it:

• Squeeze a small amount of plain, white toothpaste onto your hands (gel toothpaste isn’t as effective).
• Rub your hands together as if you’re washing them with soap.
• Make sure to get between your fingers and around your nails.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Please Note: Use a non-gel toothpaste for the best results. Minty toothpaste also leaves your hands smelling fresh.
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Quick Kitchen Fixes When You’re in a Hurry

If you’re short on time, here are three quick methods that can help in under two minutes.

1. Parsley Leaves

Grab a handful of fresh parsley from your kitchen. Crush the leaves between your fingers to release the juices, then rub them all over your hands. The chlorophyll in parsley helps neutralize and absorb odors. After rubbing, rinse your hands with cold water. It leaves a mild, fresh scent behind.

2. Cold Milk Dip

Pour some (enough to cover your hands) cold milk into a small bowl. Soak your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. The fat and lactic acid in the milk help break down the sulfur compounds that cause strong odors. After soaking, rinse your hands with cool water and dry them.

3. Hand Sanitizer

If you’re away from the kitchen sink, a small amount of alcohol-based hand sanitizer works in a pinch. Squirt some onto your palms, rub your hands thoroughly, and let it evaporate. The alcohol helps dissolve and neutralize odor molecules quickly.

How Long Does Garlic and Onion Smell Last on Hands?

On average, the garlic or onion smell on your hands can last anywhere from a few hours to a full day. In some cases, it sticks around longer…especially if you have dry or rough skin.

There are several factors affect how long the odor lingers:

• Skin texture: If you have dry, cracked, or rough skin, smells cling more easily. The tiny cracks trap the sulfur compounds from garlic and onions, making the odor harder to wash away.
• Length of contact: The longer you handle garlic or onions, the deeper the oils and sulfur compounds soak into your skin. Peeling or chopping large amounts increases the chance the smell sticks.
• Natural skin oils: Some people have skin that absorbs and holds onto oils more than others. If your hands tend to stay dry, the odor molecules may hang around longer.

That’s why it’s a good idea to rinse your hands frequently during prep rather than waiting until you’re finished. And when the smell does stick, use one of the six methods we just covered. 
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Why Do My Hands Smell Like Onions Without Eating or Handling Onions?

Sometimes, your hands smell like onions…even when you haven’t been cooking. 

There are a few reasons this happens.

1. The most common cause is residual sulfur compounds from previous cooking. Garlic and onion oils can linger deep in the skin’s layers, especially if you didn’t exfoliate after handling them.

2. Another reason could be sweat reacting with bacteria on your skin. Some people’s sweat contains compounds that, when broken down by skin bacteria, release odors similar to garlic or onions.

3. In rare cases, phantom smells (called phantosmia) might be the cause. This is when your brain senses smells that aren’t there. It can be linked to neurological or metabolic conditions. If the smell is persistent and you’re sure there’s no physical cause, it’s a good idea to check with a doctor.

What can you do?

• Give your hands a deep cleanse. Try exfoliating scrubs like salt or baking soda.
• Moisturize afterward to prevent odors from getting trapped in dry skin.
• If the issue doesn’t improve, consult a dermatologist.

READ: How Long Can a Kitchen Knife Be Wet? + Essential Care Tips

How to Prevent Garlic and Onion Smell on Hands Next Time

The easiest way to deal with garlic and onion smells is to avoid them in the first place.
Here are a few simple strategies you can use next time you’re cooking.

Wear Disposable Kitchen Gloves

A pair of thin, disposable gloves creates a barrier between your skin and the sulfur compounds in garlic and onions. Once you’re done chopping, just peel them off and toss them—no smell left behind.

Apply a Thin Layer of Oil or Vinegar

Before you start prepping, rub a small amount of olive oil or white vinegar onto your hands. The oil creates a barrier that prevents the sulfur compounds from sticking to your skin. Vinegar works similarly and can even neutralize some odors on contact. After chopping, wash your hands with soap and water to remove the residue.

Use a Food Processor

When possible, use a food processor to chop garlic and onions. You’ll cut down on direct hand contact, and cleanup is often easier.

Pro Chef Tip: Chill onions in the fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. This reduces the release of sulfur compounds that cause both smell and eye irritation

Smell-Free Hands = Confident Cooking

Garlic and onions make meals delicious, but nobody wants to wear that scent long after dinner. You (and people around you) feel uncomfortable if you smell garlic and onion…that smell is really stinky.

So find the best way from the abovementioned ways and make it part of your kitchen routine. Maybe stainless steel does the trick. Maybe it’s that olive oil scrub. Either way, your hands deserve better.

And if you love the taste of garlic and onions but can’t stand the smell…consider hiring a personal chef. 

They’ll do the chopping, you’ll enjoy the meal, and your hands stay clean.

FAQs About Garlic and Onion Smell on Hands