# OK, how the hell do I get that onion smell off my hands? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779 "2001-11-16T18:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/1 "2001-11-16T18:37:05Z")
I love onions as much as the next guy who loves onions, but I hate preparing them and getting that smell on my hands. It doesn’t go away! I’ve tried every remedy the internet has to offer. Lemon juice? Big fat no. Stainless steel? Nope. Salt? No sir. Toothpaste? Well, I just tried. All I can smell is minty freshness, but if that wears off and the onion is still there, I am going to be damn pissed. So dopers, what has worked for you? Hmm? PLEASE? I can’t stand another day like this! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/2 "2001-11-16T18:46:42Z")
I was going to suggest the stainless steel, but since you tried that already: how about gloves? You can get cheap displosable ones for very little money. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/3 "2001-11-16T19:06:10Z")
Wash your hands with toothpaste, then regular soap to keep them from smelling like toothpaste (unless you like that… mmm… minty fresh hands…). ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/4 "2001-11-16T19:06:33Z")
Try soaking your hands in water with baking soda mixed in. Baking soda softens skin and removes odors, so it might just be the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/5 "2001-11-16T19:25:09Z")
Kerosene. But then you have a new smell to deal with… Actually, I’m surprised the lemon juice didn’t work. I’ve never noticed a problem after I cut onions…maybe if you cut the onion under water? It’s supposed to keep you from crying, so maybe it’ll keep your hands from smelling like onion… ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/6 "2001-11-16T19:33:37Z")
What works the best, from what I hear, is hiring a butler (preferrably named Jeeves) and a cook (Martha or Rosa.) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/7 "2001-11-16T19:40:29Z")
Use a food processor. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/8 "2001-11-16T19:59:04Z")
Used coffee grounds work for me to remove garlic, onion etc. smells. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/9 "2001-11-16T21:04:39Z")
Rinse your hands with lemon juice ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/10 "2001-11-16T21:08:49Z")
I heard that stainless steel works. How about salt? ---
**Author:** ![jmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/11 "2001-11-16T21:50:21Z")
Cut off your hands. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/12 "2001-11-16T22:02:51Z")
Well, the toothpaste seems to have worked. I also used Listerine with it, as I heard it can sometimes help. On a side note, how exactly does stainless steel get rid of that smell? I can understand how the food-stuffs and the toothpaste do it, because they are liquidy and akin to soap. But how on Earth does stainless steel remove the smell (not that it did for me, but it apparantly does for some)? ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-how-the-hell-do-i-get-that-onion-smell-off-my-hands/93779/13 "2001-11-16T22:07:16Z")
Put a little cooking oil on your hands. Rub it in and then wash your hands.Make sure you get the oil and soap under your fingernails.