Kitchen hacks: How to banish garlic smell from your hands

Garlic is an essential ingredient in many dishes. Its aroma pairs perfectly with meats and sauces, but unfortunately, it also clings easily to hands. Before you resort to intense scrubbing and despair over a garlic mishap, look at these simple methods to solve the problem.

When garlic is browning in a pan, its aroma immediately fills the entire house. While it's wonderful at that moment, before it hits the pan, it needs to be peeled and chopped. This is where the problem arises, as the strong smell easily transfers to hands, and washing it off is not that simple. You can simply ignore it, but if you have plans to go to work, a meeting, or a date, it's better not to exude the smell of garlic from your hands.

Garlic, though extremely aromatic and healthy, has one drawback – the intense odour that lingers on hands for a long time. However, there's a simple trick to say goodbye to the garlic problem once and for all.

Rub your hands on a stainless steel object, such as a knife or spoon. The chemical reaction between the sulphur compounds in garlic and the metal effectively neutralises the unpleasant odour. Stainless steel binds these compounds effectively, thereby neutralising the smell. It's a quick and efficient trick that lets you enjoy the taste of garlic without worrying about unpleasant consequences.

If you don't have a metal object handy, you can try washing your hands with bicarbonate of soda or lemon juice. Bicarbonate of soda is a true multitasker in the kitchen. You can mix it with water to create a paste, which you then rub into your hands. What remains in the bowl can be used to clean the kitchen.

A paste of salt and lemon juice works just as well, and it will double as a natural exfoliant for your skin. Just rub it into the skin of your hands and then rinse off. Lemon, with its disinfectant and whitening properties, not only removes the unpleasant garlic smell but also brightens the skin and removes any discolouration.

Alternatively, you can use ground coffee as a natural exfoliant. A small amount is enough, and you should massage it into your hands. Coffee grounds effectively remove the garlic smell and gently exfoliate the skin.

Who would have thought that while removing the smell of garlic from your hands, you could also enjoy a home spa treatment?