# How to remove the smell of fish from hands... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303 "2002-05-29T05:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheOtherOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@TheOtherOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOtherOne)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/1 "2002-05-29T05:33:03Z")
So, what’s the best method to remove the smell of fish from my hands? I’ve tried soap, SOS pads, Stainless steel, Gasoline, Bleach…What works for you? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Salads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mr\_Salads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Salads)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/2 "2002-05-29T05:39:58Z")
lol, that reminds me of the cook in The Beach who was afraid that he was becoming a fish since he couldnt get rid of the smell. As to what works, I really don’t have “weird” suggestions. I just washed my hands with plain white soap several times over. That stuff seems to be the strongest. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/3 "2002-05-29T05:57:38Z")
Lemon juice or vinegar are my usual choices. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/4 "2002-05-29T06:03:08Z")
What !!!??? No references to _Atlantic City_??? this group is seriously slipping… ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/5 "2002-05-29T06:08:53Z")
Seriously. Let your cat lick them clean. Your cat’s saliva contains enzymes that neutralise the smell. Of course, then you wash your hands to get rid of ‘cat breath’. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/6 "2002-05-29T06:21:06Z")
In “Crossing Delancey”, the pickle guy soaks his hands in vanilla to get the pickle smell off them. Couldn’t hurt, I figure; vanilla has a nice smell. Although vanilla-scented fish would be kinda gross. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/7 "2002-05-29T12:00:32Z")
Former chef in a seafood restaurant checking in. Lemon juice is what we always used. ---
**Author:** ![emulsified](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emulsified/32/2915_2.png) [@emulsified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emulsified)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/8 "2002-05-29T15:19:01Z")
The family method of removing fish smell after cleaning fish was to use regular bar soap combined with some ordinary table salt. Coulda been an “old wives’ tale” approach, but it does seem to work. Or else you could try washing your hands while holding [stainless steel](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990618b.html). ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/9 "2002-05-29T15:21:33Z")
Yes, use lemon juice. The acid in it reacts with a basic compound in the fish responsible for “fishy” odor, and the resulting salt has no smell. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-the-smell-of-fish-from-hands/111303/10 "2002-05-29T17:23:29Z")
I once liberated a tub of that Orange Go-Jo stuff, which contains pumice and also, presumably, citric acid or whatever it is that reacts with fish stink. It works very well, but you also need a nail brush to chase all the Go-Jo out of your fingernails. And you’re not going to have Palmolive hands when you’re done.