Tip
Try one of these methods as soon as possible once you notice the stain; the longer the stain sits, the harder it will be to remove. Wear rubber gloves next time if possible! Also be aware that any of these methods should help; you don't have to necessarily go in the order mentioned in the article.
If you've ever picked up walnuts off the ground or handled walnut wood during woodworking projects, you've found that you quickly acquire a yellow stain on your hands. If left untreated, the stain can hang around for days. It will eventually wear away on its own, but you probably won't want to wait that long. Don't despair when soap and water won't remedy the problem. There are several other quick and easy ways to remove the stain.
Removing Walnut Stains from Your Skin
Begin the cleaning process by squirting a liberal amount of lemon juice onto your hands. You can use bottled lemon juice or juice from a fresh lemon or two. You will need one half cup to a cup of lemon juice for this procedure.
Add a few shakes of salt to your hands as well. If you're measuring, this would probably equal about two tablespoons of salt.
Rub your hands together vigorously once you've applied the lemon juice and salt. Continue until the stain is gone. According to Bob Villa's website, the combination of salt and acid from the lemon will remove the stain, but it won't injure your skin.
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Try rubbing toothpaste on your skin if the lemon juice and salt treatment doesn't work. Use an old toothbrush to rub the toothpaste in a small circular motion. Continue this method until the stain has disappeared completely. Any brand of toothpaste can help, but you will find the most success with a type of toothpaste that contains baking soda.
Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one-fourth cup of dish detergent in a shallow bowl. Use the old toothbrush to apply this mixture to your hands. Scrub the stain with the toothbrush using the same circular motions from step 4. Continue scrubbing until the stain has begun to go away. Try this method if the aforementioned remedies have not worked.
Wash and moisturize your hands after you've attempted one or more of these methods. Although none of these remedies are dangerous for your skin, the rubbing and exposure to moisture has the potential to dry your skin out and possibly chafe it. Washing your hands will remove any remaining cleaning substances, and any general skin moisturizing lotion should help to protect against skin irritation.
References
Writer Bio
Charlotte Johnson is a musician, teacher and writer with a master's degree in education. She has contributed to a variety of websites, specializing in health, education, the arts, home and garden, animals and parenting.
