Think Twice Before Using An Eggshell Hack To Remove Paint From Your Hands

There are many unexpected uses for eggshells around your home and garden. For example, you can add eggshells to your compost to give it a boost of calcium. You can also reuse eggshells to make the cutest springtime vases. One hack suggests adding ground eggshells to your hand soap to give it an exfoliating action, but using eggshells to wash your hands is akin to using a straw cleaner to brush your teeth. Is it technically possible? Yes. However, many would agree that it's a bit questionable as a practice. Handling raw eggshells can be unsafe. And if you work with paint often, you may be placing yourself at higher risk. The reason is that raw eggs may contain Salmonella, which is a type of pathogenic bacteria often linked to food poisoning. 

If you're assuming the solution is to simply use pasteurized eggs instead to lessen the possibility of salmonella issues, you have a good point. Using these eggs will reduce the chance of contracting the bacteria. However, there's still a possibility. But the truth is, this paint removal method just isn't ideal, as rubbing eggshells back and forth on your hands can also be a bit abrasive on your skin and quite uncomfortable. So it may be best to save your eggshells for the garden, not body scrubs. Besides, why do this when there are so many safer, more comfortable, and just as affordable ways to remove stubborn paint from your skin?

When it comes to removing paint from your hands or any surface, it's always best to tackle it as soon as possible. This way, you'll catch it before it dries, and you won't need as much elbow grease to get it off. One of the quickest and easiest ways to remove paint from your hands is to liberally apply dish soap to them. Dish soap is specially formulated to break down oils, as it contains surfactants. These are the primary agents responsible for its amazing grease-cutting action. They work to penetrate the oil so it can be lifted away and removed.

Speaking of oils, they are also great paint thinners that can remove paint from your hands without scratching them up the way eggshells might. Common oils used for this purpose include baby oil, olive oil, and mayonnaise, believe it or not. The method for application is pretty much the same for all three oils. To remove paint from your hands, start by applying a generous amount of the oil to them. Next, scrub the oil on your skin (a towel or sponge may be helpful for this step) to loosen the paint. Then, let the oil sit for a few minutes to penetrate the paint. Then, rinse your hands with warm water and repeat if needed.