Garlic is an ingredient that’s loved by many — unless you’re a vampire or about to lean in for a kiss on a first date. But as much as garlic delights the taste buds, it also leaves behind a pungent and stubborn odor on the fingers. Most of the time, washing your hands with soap…
Martha Stewart to the Rescue
Credit where credit is due: The person we have to thank for bringing this ingenious hack to our attention is none other than celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart. The trick is simple, though it requires you to be extra careful as to not cut yourself. All you need is a source of warm, running water and a stainless steel knife.
Head over to the sink and turn on the water so it’s warm and comfortable to touch. Then take the knife in one hand, place it under the water, and rub your garlic-smelling fingers against the dull side of the blade. After a few seconds, the potent garlic smell will dissipate and your hands will be left smelling fresh and clean.
Without getting too scientific, here’s a quick explanation of why it works: Garlic contains sulfur compounds that cling to your fingers and cause them to stink. Rubbing your fingers against stainless steel causes the metal to bind to these compounds and neutralizes the odor. This method is also effective for removing onion and fish smells.
Some Safer Alternatives
While Stewart’s method is by far the most popular, you don’t need to use a knife. In fact, any dull stainless steel kitchen implement will do. The duller it is, the less likely you are to cut yourself. Some reasonable alternatives include a stainless steel serving spoon or spatula. You can also rub your fingers against the sink itself, assuming it’s made of stainless steel.
Odor-Eliminating “Soap”
This sleek stainless steel “soap bar” is another (safer!) option for home cooks. It costs less than $6 — a small price to pay to easily get the garlic smell off of your hands. Keep this bar next to your sink and rub it on your hands under running water after cooking with garlic to banish the smell before it starts to linger.
