# How to remove residual chile oil from hands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 25, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122 "2006-02-25T23:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/1 "2006-02-25T23:28:09Z")
I foolishly neglected to put on rubber gloves before cleaning canned chipotle chiles. From previous jalapeno experience, I know this will make taking out and putting in my contacts for the next few days sheer agony, even after multiple hand washing. Is there anything I can do to really get the chile oil off my hands? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/2 "2006-02-25T23:30:25Z")
Try a degreaser, or dish detergent with grease-cutting stuff in it. Barring that, wear gloves when putting in your contacts. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/3 "2006-02-25T23:38:03Z")
Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over your hands. Do this a few times and your hands will be clean. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/4 "2006-02-25T23:42:42Z")
" Capsaicin is insoluble in cold water, but freely soluble in alcohol and vegetable oils. This is why drinking water after munching an habanero pepper won’t stop the burning. A cold beer is the traditional remedy, but the small percentage of alcohol will not wash away much capsaicin. For relief from a chile burn, drink milk. Milk contains casein, a lipophilic (fat-loving) substance that surrounds and washes away the fatty capsaicin molecules in much the same way that soap washes away grease." I would recommend a very strong alcohol solution or more likely, one of those strong hand cleaners they sell for people that work with strong substances. You can find a selection at home improvement stores or store like Wal-Mart. They remove most oil based things. Paint thinner may also work. You can try washing your hands with lard or butter as well but I don’t know if that will get rid of it all. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/5 "2006-02-25T23:43:45Z")
My first paragraph above was a citation: [http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/features/capsaicin.shtml](http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/features/capsaicin.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olive_The_Other_Reindeer)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/6 "2006-02-26T00:45:06Z")
My hubby is a chef, and he says that any kind of cooking oil will work. Then soap and water to get rid of the oily feeling. Olive ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/7 "2006-02-26T01:11:50Z")
Plain old rubbing alcohol, but make sure to get under your fingernails and around your cuticles, too. Even non-“hot” peppers like poblanos and anaheims will make you cry if you stick your finger in your eye, so be sure and use it with those, too. Alcohol is very drying, so use some lotion after you’re all done. I’ve heard people swear by the oil/grease remedy, but it’s never worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/8 "2006-02-26T01:13:20Z")
Yes, Oil or Milk is the best. Or cream and animal fat but that’s a bit more expensive and esoteric. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/9 "2006-02-26T04:12:04Z")
Do you have anything made of stainless steel? I have a stainless steel hand thingy shaped like a bar of soap. I use it after handing stinky and spicy items and it removes whatever is on my hands causing the smell or sting. When not at home I have used older non plated dinnerwear with equal success. Just rub your hands with the stainless steel under warm water for a few minutes then wash with your regular hand soap. Don’t ask me how it works but it does. Mine is similiar to [this.](http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/11105_rub-away-bar-odor-remover.htm) ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/10 "2006-02-26T05:47:26Z")
Can I just say that I think it’s hilarious this thread is active at the same time as the destined-to-become-a-classic MPSIMS thread, [Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Penis Peppers](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=360492)? Well, I do think it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/11 "2006-02-26T05:58:48Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over your hands. Do this a few times and your hands will be clean. There’d better be another step between this and removing contact lenses… ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/12 "2006-02-26T07:06:59Z")
Well, I have listened to you all and washed with oil (several times), degreaser detergents (several times), vinegar (closest to lemon juice I had), nail polish remover (it’s a solvent!), stainless steel, oil salt scrubs, and regular soap. The test will come when I go to put my contacts in tomorrow. 🙂 I’ll let you know the results. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/13 "2006-02-26T07:37:31Z")
If you have any fingers left, there should be no further problems. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/14 "2006-02-26T07:40:38Z")
I believe vinegar also works, so does Dawn IME. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-residual-chile-oil-from-hands/346122/15 "2006-02-26T15:52:58Z")
Success! A slight twinge with the left contact, but nothing like the “my eyes are on fire!” I experienced with previous chile events. Thank you all for your advice.