# What can I do to make my finger less smelly?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 19, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747 "2010-08-19T16:19:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/1 "2010-08-19T16:19:35Z")
I cut a pretty large piece of my finger 9 days ago. It was bandaged up tight. Two days ago it was taken off. And the finger smells really bad now. I can’t seem to wash it off with water or soap water.
The wound is closed now, and my doctor saw it today and thought it looked healthy.
What can I do to make the smell go away or at least mask it?
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/2 "2010-08-19T16:22:35Z")
Clean under your fingernail. Scrape it out thoroughly and rinse it well.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/3 "2010-08-19T16:39:31Z")
My first thought was that something was Very Wrong with it but you say the doc says it’s OK.
Consider plenty of sunlight and fresh air - spend some time outdoors. That might help, it’s supposed to be good for dealing with smelly / mildewy clothes.
Maybe a very gentle scrub with a paste baking soda and water? or a rinse with vinegar or lemon juice? (don’t do them right after the other unless you want to experiment with that good old acid/base reaction!!).
Facetious suggestion: do a lot of cooking involving chopping raw garlic. The affected finger may not smell any better but you won’t be able to tell :).
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/4 "2010-08-19T17:50:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Clean under your fingernail. Scrape it out thoroughly and rinse it well.
This - that’s probably what it is.
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/5 "2010-08-19T18:06:52Z")
Boy, I really thought this thread would be a lot more interesting.
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### Author:  [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/6 "2010-08-19T18:07:12Z")
Thx.
What about pure ethanol. Good/bad idea?
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/7 "2010-08-19T18:15:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Clean under your fingernail. Scrape it out thoroughly and rinse it well.
This will probably help a lot. So will just exposing it to air.
> [@mr.jp](#):
>
> What about pure ethanol. Good/bad idea?
Pure alcohol will be very drying. ONE application probably won’t hurt. However, I’d try something like an astringent, which will be gentler and which will probably have some sort of pleasant scent.
I think that the odor will probably go away after a few hours, and almost definitely after you take another shower or bath, if you’re allowed to get it wet during your bathing now.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/8 "2010-08-19T18:26:19Z")
Get yer hand out of yer pants!
Crate & Barrel sells a piece of metal shaped like a bar of soap that is supposed to help remove hand odours.
Lemon juice might work too.
Could try rubbing charcoal dust on your hands.
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/9 "2010-08-19T18:38:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Crate & Barrel sells a piece of metal shaped like a bar of soap that is supposed to help remove hand odours.
I’m pretty sure that’s just a piece of stainless steel in a special shape.
I say, give it a day or two to air out, and then see if it still smells.
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### Author:  [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/10 "2010-08-19T21:43:36Z")
I use cold coffee to get rid of the smell of gasoline when I get it on my hands.
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### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/11 "2010-08-19T22:07:09Z")
If the smell is lingering after cleaning under your fingernail, you can wash your finger with toothpaste. Apply just as you would hand soap … maybe a little more liberally. The scent of toothpaste on skin is fairly strong, and lasts a good while.
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### Author:  [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/12 "2010-08-19T22:15:46Z")
Perhaps something like witch hazel? It’s good for skin and would clean it without totally drying it out. I assume that because I live in a super dry climate and it still doesn’t dry mine out.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/13 "2010-08-19T23:26:00Z")
I like the sunlight and fresh air idea - I am very reluctant to bandage any cuts or scrapes unless they’re actually bleeding, and mine heal up very nicely and quickly every time (and never smell 🙂 ).
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/14 "2010-08-19T23:36:28Z")
You really should keep cuts and wounds moist, like with Vaseline or Polysporin, and covered with a bandage, washing them and changing the bandage twice a day. This drastically reduces the risk of infection, and allows them to heal faster, better, and with less scarring.
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### Author:  [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/15 "2010-08-20T01:30:15Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> You really should keep cuts and wounds moist, like with Vaseline or Polysporin, and covered with a bandage, washing them and changing the bandage twice a day. This drastically reduces the risk of infection, and allows them to heal faster, better, and with less scarring.
Agreed. I think the smell is bacteria on your skin. Lucky you didn’t get an infection. soap and water and time will do the trick.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/16 "2010-08-20T02:17:01Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> You really should keep cuts and wounds moist, like with Vaseline or Polysporin, and covered with a bandage, washing them and changing the bandage twice a day. This drastically reduces the risk of infection, and allows them to heal faster, better, and with less scarring.
I keep having this argument with my Indian relatives, who insist that the way to deal with a wound is to leave it uncovered and to leg it dry. They even use “dry” as a synonym for “heal.”
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### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/17 "2010-08-20T02:27:00Z")
Stop sticking up your butt. Seriously. And think about getting a second opinion. It shouldn’t stink.
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/18 "2010-08-20T02:59:38Z")
It could stink, if it was kept wrapped in the same bandage for several days and not cleaned during that time. Sometimes people with lower leg wounds have to have “una boots” applied, which is gauze covered in calamine, topped with an elastic bandage, from foot to knee. They can leave it on for up to a week. When you have to cut one of those off, it stinks- bad.
The signs of infection are increasing pain, swelling, and warmth to the touch. Certainly the doctor would have noticed any of those.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/19 "2010-08-20T06:30:12Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Stop sticking up your butt.
I stifled my desire to make that the first response in this thread, but I think that just left me unable to resist in a couple of other threads.
Come on people, who didn’t think of that when they first read the question?
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-do-to-make-my-finger-less-smelly/550747/20 "2010-08-20T06:46:05Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> The signs of infection are increasing pain, swelling, and warmth to the touch. Certainly the doctor would have noticed any of those.
This. If it is swelling and continues to smell then I would suspect internal infection.
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