How to Clean Your Nails

Clean the dirt under your nails. Use the pointed end of a nail cleaning tool that comes with your nail clippers to remove dirt and debris underneath your nails. Do this in a well-lit bathroom so you can clearly see the state of your nails.

• Typically, it's easier to clean the dirt under your nails before washing your hands. So, try to keep your hands as dry as possible.
• Avoid using a pencil to clean your nails, as the pencil lead can make your nails look dirtier.

Wash your hands. Use a gentle natural soap and warm water to wash your hands. At this stage, there's no need to focus on cleaning your nails—just wash your hands for now.

• It’s best to use a mild soap and wash your hands frequently. Strong soaps with parabens can make your nails rough, while alcohol-based hand cleansers can weaken your nails. Try finding a hand soap specifically made for nails, like OrigiNails Bubble White.

Soak your nails in a warm soapy water bowl for about 3 minutes. Soak only the tips of your nails, not your whole hand, and wait for the nails to soften. Make sure the water isn’t too hot to avoid burning your skin; just comfortable warm water will do.

• Soaking helps soften your nails and makes them more flexible, preventing scratches or breaks during cleaning.

Use a nail brush to scrub the nail surface. After soaking, thoroughly scrub the entire surface of your nails, including the underside. Once finished, simply dry your hands.

• If you don’t have a dedicated nail brush, a clean toothbrush can be used, provided it's only used for this purpose.

Remove old nail polish (if needed). Use a nail polish remover and a cotton ball or cloth to clean off the old polish. Scrub firmly to remove any remaining polish, starting from the cuticle and moving toward the tip of the nail, making sure to clean the edges. Check your nails for any leftover polish and clean it off if necessary.

• Nail polish remover will dry on its own, but you can keep dry tissues or cotton balls handy to wipe your nails clean after removing the polish with a wet cotton ball.

Wash your hands again. Quickly wash your hands and dry them off, but don’t scrub too hard. Apply hand cream if desired, or move on to the next step.

• Ensure your nails are all the same length, and file or trim them if needed. Finish off with a clear top coat to help keep your nails strong and healthy.

Apply baking soda to whiten your nails. To keep your nails strong and clean, mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide. Use about 2.5 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to create a thick paste. Apply this mixture on the surface and underneath your nails, then rinse and dry them.

• Daily use of this mixture will help brighten and shine your nails, especially after using dark nail polish.
• Alternatively, you can use whitening toothpaste and follow the same process. The active ingredients in both products are similar, in case you don’t want to mix the paste yourself.

Moisturize your nails daily. To prevent your nails from becoming dry, cracked, or damaged, it’s best to moisturize them regularly using aloe vera, shea butter, or natural oils such as olive or coconut oil. These natural methods might not drastically change the appearance of your nails, but they will help them stay soft and flexible within about a week.

Treat yellow nails with lemon juice or tea tree oil. Yellowing nails may be caused by smoking, nail polish, or fungal infections, and they can be difficult to treat. Tea tree oil is a natural antifungal product with antimicrobial and disinfectant properties, while lemon juice or lemon essential oil contains citric acid that helps return your nails to their natural white color.

• If your nails are yellow, apply a few drops of tea tree oil on each nail and leave it for about 5 minutes before rinsing. You can do the same with lemon juice, rinse, and wash your hands as usual.

Clean your nails with denture cleaning solution. Although this method may seem unusual, denture cleaning tablets contain citric acid and baking soda, which are commonly used to clean, whiten, and improve the surface of nails. Instead of soaking dentures, just soak your nails in the solution.

Try using apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar, rich in malic and acetic acids, can clean and treat fungal infections, helping to whiten your nails, reduce inflammation, and prevent discoloration. Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water and soak your nails for about 20 minutes.

Supplement your diet to strengthen your nails. There are many misconceptions about natural methods to strengthen nails, but the most reliable way is to add nutrients to your diet. Biotin has been proven to strengthen nails, though it takes about 6 months to see results.

• Most home remedies like applying garlic or eating protein-rich foods won’t make nails grow faster or stronger.

Stop using nail polish for a while. Regular use of nail polish can cause nails to stain and weaken over time, even if you clean them thoroughly after each application. It’s best to allow your nails to recover and maintain a healthy color once a year, which means taking a break from nail polish for one or two months.

• Instead of painting your nails, use this time to nourish them by applying homemade nail cleaning and whitening products to keep their appearance fresh.
• One important tip: always apply a base coat before your nail polish to prevent yellowing.