How to Get Rid of the Smell of Garlic

Love the taste of garlic, but hate the lingering smell? Here are some tips on how to remove the odor of garlic. Choose one that best fits for the condition.

EditSteps

EditRemoving the Smell From Your Hands

1. Rub or spray your hands with lemon (or other citrus fruit) juice.
   
   • Make your own citrus spray by adding the grated rind (peel) of any citrus fruit (e.g. lemon, orange, grapefruit) to hot water. Allow to cool, then strain the water into a spray bottle.
2. Rub your hands on stainless steel or use a "steel soap." In theory, the steel reacts with the sulfur in garlic neutralizing the smell. This works for some and not for others.
   
3. Use soap and stainless steel. Apply soap to your hands and use a clean stainless steel spoon to rub it all over your hands, even in between fingers.
   

EditRemoving the Smell From Your Breath

1. Realize that the smell of garlic may stay in your lungs for 24-48 hours (1-2 days) after you eat it. The solution to getting rid of garlic breath isn't as simple as washing your mouth out or brushing your teeth since the garlic smell, isn't just in your mouth.
   
2. Chew on some fresh parsley or mint leaves.
   
3. Drink some green tea or cinnamon tea.
   
4. Drink lemonade, or eat a lemon. Meyer lemons are sweet enough to be eaten like fruit. Use homemade lemonade because store-bought lemonades tend to have very little lemon juice in them.
   
5. Run a stainless steel teaspoon all around inside your mouth. Touch all the skin surfaces, including the entire tongue and the sides! Turn the spoon upside down to get your tongue all the way back.
   

EditRemoving the Smell From Wood Cutting Boards

1. Use dish detergent.
   
   • Soak the board in very hot water. Do not allow the board to soak for hours (or overnight) as the board may warp.
   • Squirt undiluted dish detergent on the wet board.
   • Scrub the entire board thoroughly with a scouring pad or brush.
   • Rinse off the board with hot water and leave to dry. A thoroughly well-scrubbed board will not smell when it’s dry.
2. Use salt or baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and lemon.
   
   • Rinse off your cutting board.
   • Sprinkle the salt or baking soda on the board.
   • Use half a lemon to rub the salt / soda into the board.
   • Rinse the board and allow to dry thoroughly.

EditRemoving the Smell From Your Home

1. Open the windows and use air freshener. If you have extraction fans, turn them on.
   
2. Place a small bowl or saucer of baking soda in the affected room (or fridge or cupboard).
   

EditTips

• For removing odors, you want baking soda (which is the same as bicarbonate of soda). Baking powder, however, is not the same thing.

EditVideo

EditRelated wikiHows

• Remove Onion Smell From Hands
• Get Rid of Bad Breath from Onion or Garlic

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