How to Fix Nicotine/Tobacco Stained Fingers Quickly

Aside from the negative health effects, Tobacco products, no matter electronic cigarettes, unfiltered cigarettes or filtered cigarettes also found to cause some rather obvious physical effects including ugly nicotine stain on fingers and nails. This is why it is important to know how to remove nicotine/tobacco stains from fingers quickly.

What gets rid of nicotine stains on fingers?

How to remove nicotine stains from finger

Bleach, lemon juice, aspirin, sugar scrub, toothpaste, acetic acids, hydrogen peroxide, orange peels, mouthwash and potato can remove tobacco stains from fingers. Yes, you read it right. Potato can help in nicotine stained fingers.

Here are the top 10 methods for removing nicotine stains from fingers and we also will show you the best way to prevent nicotine stains on fingers. Method 5 and 9 are our favorite methods to get nicotine off fingers.

Method 1 – Use a bleach solution

Does bleach remove nicotine stains?

Yes, one way to free your fingers from yellow stain from nicotine is by using a dilute solution of water and bleach. Mix 4 parts water with 1 part bleach for this solution in a glass container. Dip a nail brush to the solution then apply this to the yellowed parts of your fingers. Allow the solution to stay on your fingers for several minutes before rinsing it off.

If this is not enough for removing the stains, you can also try soaking your fingers in the bleach solution for an interval of 5 minutes 5 times a day.

Once you have finished rinsing your hands, don’t forget to apply some moisturizer or hand cream to counter the bleach’s drying effects. Make sure you also wear a mask if you want to try this method. You should never use this method right after you used another stain removal method or if you have an existing open wound.

Stay away from this method if you have sensitivity to bleach. If your skin is irritated after using this method, rinse off the bleach from your skin immediately.

Method 2 – Turn to lemon juice

Does lemon juice get rid of nicotine stains on fingers?

Yes. Another effective natural bleaching agent you can use to remove nicotine stains from fingers is lemon juice.

Cut a fresh lemon in half. Take one half then hold this against the yellow spot on your fingers. Use this lemon half for rubbing the stained spots until everything is coated and soaked in lemon juice.

Let the lemon coating stay on your fingers for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.  This process can be repeated up to 5 times daily. Remember that this method is going to sting a bit if your fingers have small cuts.

Method 3 – Dissolve aspirin in water

Grab one aspirin tablet then dissolve this in the standard 8 oz. cup of hot water. Dip and soak your stained fingers in the solution once it has slightly cooled down for a few minutes. Once you are done soaking your fingers, use water and soap to wash your hands.

You might also want to add several drops of water to one aspirin tablet and form a paste. You can use this paste for scrubbing your stained nails. Get a nail brush then apply the paste to all yellow parts of your skin and allow it to stay there for 15 minutes.  Rinse the paste away and thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.

Method 4 – Start with skin exfoliation

Soak your fingers in water for several minutes to dampen your skin but without taking too long to the point that your skin will start to prune. Sand away some of the stains from nicotine on your fingers using a pumice stone, nail file, sugar scrub, salt scrub, or body brush. Apply gentle pressure for rubbing the grit on the yellowed part of your fingers until the stains start to fade away.

Make sure you avoid rubbing your fingers for over several seconds because it can lead to irritation. A matchbox’s sandpaper can also be used. Stop rubbing the spot once you notice that it has become irritated or has turned red.

Method 5 – Rub it with potato

This next method is much gentle compared to other methods, which makes it a great choice if your skin is sensitive. Peel a potato then use it for rubbing the stained parts of your fingers for several minutes. Wait for a few minutes before rinsing away the potato juice. This process can be repeated for up to 10 times a day.

Method 6 – Turn to toothpaste

Another product you can use for removing nicotine stains from your fingers is toothpaste. Get any standard toothpaste brand then squeeze a dab of this to the yellow part of your fingers. Use a toothbrush for scrubbing the toothpaste on the yellow skin for several minutes then use warm water to rinse the area once you are finished. You can use whitening toothpaste if you are dealing with extra tough stains caused by nicotine.  

Other ways to remove nicotine stains from your fingernails

The below are the alternative 4 easy methods to get nicotine stains off fingernails.

Method 7 – Apply some apple cider vinegar

Will vinegar remove nicotine stains from fingers? Yes. Apple cider vinegar contains malic and acetic acids that can reduce nail discolorations. Apply cider vinegar is one of the best nicotine stain remover for fingers.

Pour one half cup of lukewarm water to a dish with one half cup of apple cider vinegar. Dip and soak your stained fingernails in the solution for 20 minutes. Rinse off your fingernails then dry them off with a towel. 

Method 8 – Take advantage of hydrogen peroxide

Can hydrogen peroxide remove nicotine stains from fingers? Yes. The whitening properties of hydrogen peroxide can help you get rid of those unsightly nicotine stains stuck on your fingernails. You can pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide to one half cup of water then stir well. Dip your fingernails to the solution then soak them for around 15 minutes. Scrub any leftover stains with a toothbrush and rinse them off with water.

Method 9 – Use some orange peels

Can orange peels get nicotine stains off your fingers? Yes. The high content of vitamin C found in orange peels is found to help in getting rid of yellow nicotine stains from your fingernails. Get an orange and peel it off. Rub the peels’ inner portion along the yellow nails for about 5 to 10 minutes every session. 

Method 10 – Mouthwash can help

Will mouthwash remove nicotine stains? Yes, an alcohol-based mouthwash will also be able to help in removing stains from your fingernails that were brought about by nicotine. Get a clean plastic cup and pour some mouthwash into it. Make sure that you pour an enough amount of mouthwash for dipping your fingers into. Soak your fingernails in the solution for about half an hour.

Do Nicotine stains go away

Yes, Nicotine stains go away. Fortunately, there are numerous effective methods you can adopt that will make your teeth whiter. However, the Nicotine stain will never be completely gone from your teeth if you keep smoking as they are bound to come back anytime you smoke. Therefore, the only way you can have Nicotine stain completely gone from your teeth is by staying away from smoking altogether.

Once you determine to stop smoking, make sure to always rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and brush your teeth anytime you smoke. I know that will be a bit challenging for an ardent smoker, but it will surely work as it will keep the stain from sticking to your teeth.

Is Nicotine stain permanent

No, Nicotine stain no matter where it occurs is not permanent, although they may be difficult to remove because they are usually a result of stain buildups from your frequent smoking over the years.

When you smoke without ensuring proper after-smoke hygiene, the stains will penetrate deep into your teeth’ enamel and settle there and as they build up, they spread to the outermost later of your dentin. Fortunate enough, this situation is not permanent and can be easily remedied. With proper treatment, like professional whitening, the whiteness of your teeth will be restored in no time.

How to prevent Nicotine stains from fingers

When you are addicted to smoking, there’s no way you can escape nicotine stained fingers unless you put on gloves anytime you smoke and I don’t that is practicable, or better still, you should stop smoking and follow any of the 9 useful tips shared on how to get nicotine stains off your fingers in this guide.

Other Nicotine stains removal tips

How to remove Nicotine stains from plastic

When you smoke, even though you never intended to stain your plastic because obviously, you wouldn’t puff into plastic, as you repeatedly expose your plastic to smoke due to frequent smoking, dust will start to accumulate leading to oily, grimy, brown stains that adhere to your plastic.

Nicotine stains on plastic whether heavy or light are usually difficult to remove and you will have to exercise a little patience because you may have to scrub repeatedly a couple of times before the stains can be finally gone. Check below for information on how best you can remove Nicotine stains from plastic.

  1. Wear rubber hand gloves. You can make use of your normal dishwashing gloves.
  2. Pour hot water in a bucket, filled to half its total volume. Then pour a cup of distilled white vinegar and an equal amount of baking soda.
  3. Spray the multipurpose cleaner generously on the Nicotine stained plastic and leave it to soal for about 5 minutes.
  4. Dip a scrubber into the baking soda/vinegar solution and scrub the stained plastic thoroughly. Continue to scrub until all the stains are completely lifted.
  5. If you are dealing with a large stain, make sure to change the solution as it changes color. The solution will change to brown as the stains transfer to the scrubber then into the solution. If the stain looks more greasy, pour undiluted vinegar directly on the stains then dip your scrubber into the solution and scrub.
  6. If you notice any fine details in the molded crevices of the plastic, scrub with a toothbrush. Again, sprinkle undiluted baking soda liberally on the now wet plastic and scrub into the stain or you can make use of your original solution.
  7. Rinse afterward with a towel or rag soaked in water.
  8. Soak a towel or rag in cold water and use it to wipe down the plastic to rinse off the cleaning solution. If after rinsing, some stains are still very apparent, follow up with the steps below.
  9. Use any eraser sponge of your choice to scrub the plastic further, as the melanin foam in these erasers can be effective stain removers.
  10. Rinse off any stain residue afterward with a wet towel or rag.

How to remove Nicotine stains from the ceiling

Attempting to remove Nicotine stain from the ceiling is one of the most difficult chores, not just because the Nicotine stains wouldn’t budge easily, but because you will have to do some stretching and intense scrubbing which could be stressful. Nicotine stains are one of the hardest, and therefore, to effectively remove them from the ceiling, you will need an abrasive cleaner like vinegar. Check below for details on how it can be effectively applied.

Using Vinegar

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of equal parts of vinegar and water in a bucket.
  2. Soak your scrubbing mop in the solution and squeeze to get rid of excess water.
  3. Thoroughly scrub the ceiling with the mop and repeat until you can cover every inch of the ceiling.
  4. Climb the stepladder and check if there’s any Nicotine stain on your chandelier. If there’s any, make a new solution and pour in a spray bottle, then spray generously on it.
  5. Scrub the stains off the chandelier funding a clean rag or towel. You can extend your cleaning to the curtain rods too.

Note; When cleaning with a mop, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned before use to avoid spreading the stains to another part of the ceiling.

How to remove Nicotine stains from Porcelain

When you smoke, the flames travel through the air and settle on any surface even your porcelain plate. If you happen to have Nicotine stains on your porcelain plate, follow the steps below to guide you through the removal process.

  1. Dip a towel in warm sudsy water and use it to wipe the stained porcelain plate.
  2. Rinse thoroughly afterward and wipe it dry. If the stain refuses to budge after the first attempt, follow up with the simple steps below.
  3. Dip a wet towel into a baking soda.
  4. Gently rub the plate with the towel until the stains are completely lifted.
  5. Wipe off all stain remnants.
  6. Rinse afterward with water and dry up with a clean cloth.

How to remove Nicotine stains from rubber

It is easy to get rid of Nicotine stains on rubber products. Check the details below for information on how you can effectively remove Nicotine stains from rubber.

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of half a teaspoon of liquid detergent, a quarter of warm water, and a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar.
  2. Dip a sponge into the solution and scrub the affected area with it.
  3. Use a clean pad to blot the treated spots and rinse afterward with water.

How to remove Nicotine stains from the fridge door

If you have a Nicotine stain on the door of your fridge, all you have to do is to clean the affected spots with vinegar and water. Check below for details on to go about it.

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of equal parts of water and vinegar in a small container.
  2. Dio a microfiber or soft towel in the solution.
  3. Do not wipe down immediately, but instead keep the dampened towel on the affected spot for about 2 to 3 minutes so that the vinegar can break the stains on the fridge door.
  4. Rinse the microfiber towel with water then use it to wipe down the treated spot.
  5. Dry afterward with a clean dry microfiber cloth.

How to remove Nicotine stains from the uPVC window frame

The most popular method commonly used is cleaning uPVC windows frames with any ammonia, vinegar, or baking soda. Check details below on how these 3 agents can be effectively used to clean a uPVC window frame.

Using Ammonia

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of a gallon of warm water and half a cup of ammonia in a bucket and pour in a spray bottle.
  2. Spray the solution on the stained window frame and syrup with a microfiber cloth.
  3. Sprinkle the frame with glass cleaner then wipe with a dry microfiber cloth to help get rid of all stain residue.

Using vinegar

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of equal parts of vinegar and water and pour in a spray bottle.
  2. Spray the solution on the affected spot and scrub with a lint-free cloth or towel.
  3. Sprinkle glass cleaner on the treated surface and wipe down with a clean dry lint-free towel or cloth.

Bonus; if the stain is persistent, spray with undiluted vinegar and leave to sit on the stain for about 5 minutes.

Using Baking soda

  1. Spray the affected spot with a glass cleaner and leave it there for about 5 minutes.
  2. Pour hot water into a bucket filling it up to half its volume. Add equal parts of distilled white vinegar and baking soda into the water.
  3. Soak a microfiber towel in the bucket, wring to get rid of excess water, then wipe down the dirty surface with it.
  4. If the stain refuses to budge, scrub with an eraser sponge.
  5. Clean all stain residue with a dry clean microfiber cloth or towel.

How to remove Nicotine stains from the toilet bowl

Follow the steps below to guide you through the process involved in removing Nicotine stains from the toilet bowl.

  1. Make a paste from the mixtures of a quarter cup of salt, half cup of baking soda, and a quarter or half cup of vinegar (depending on how concentrated you want your paste to be).
  2. Apply the paste on the stained spot with a sponge or brush and leave it to sit for about an hour.
  3. Flush the paste afterward.

How to remove Nicotine stains from teeth

You can get rid of Nicotine stains on your teeth using various methods, however, only two of the methods will be discussed here. Check details below.

Cleaning with Baking soda

  1. Make a paste from the mixtures of 6 droplets of hydrogen peroxide and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
  2. Rub the paste as gently as you can on your enamel for about 30 seconds.
  3. Wash your mouth afterward with clean water.

Cleaning with hydrogen peroxide

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of 1 quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 cup of water. Stir thoroughly!
  2. Rinse your mouth with the solution for about 30 seconds.
  3. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water afterward.

How to remove Nicotine stains from the tongue

The most effective way to get rid of Nicotine stains from your tongue is by using a tongue scraper. Check below for information on how it can be used.

  1. Stick out your tongue for as far as it can go.
  2. Place the tongue scraper at the end (back) of your tongue.
  3. With little pressure, gently move the tongue scraper from the back of your tongue to the front. This should be done until all stains are removed.
  4. Clean off stain debris on the device with warm water after use to prevent the growth of bacteria. 

How to remove Nicotine stains from the skin

When there’s a Nicotine stain on the skin, it is most likely going to be on the hands or fingers. Check below for useful tips on how to remove Nicotine stains from the skin.

  1. Apply toothpaste on the stained spot.
  2. Using a toothbrush, rub the paste on the affected spot for about 2 minutes and rinse afterward with warm water.
  3. If the stain persists, cut half a lemon and rub it on the treated spot for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Rinse off stain remnant with warm water.

How to remove Nicotine stain on the wall

Check below for information on how to get rid of Nicotine stains from walls using vinegar.

  1. Make a solution from the pictures of vinegar and water in equal parts in a bucket and pour in a spray bottle. You can warm the vinegar before mixing it with water for a more effective result.
  2. Pour hot water in a bowl and place close to your workspace.
  3. Spray the solution on the wall and leave it few minutes.
  4. Rub the wall with a scrubber or sponge, starting from the bottom, and slowly make your wall to the top until covers the whole part of the wall.

How to remove Nicotine stains from upholstery

Check below for information on how to clean your Nicotine stained upholstery furniture.

  1. Make a solution from the mixtures of a quarter of warm water, half a teaspoon of white liquid detergent, and a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar.
  2. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and apply over the stained surface.
  3. Keep the cotton ball or pad on the surface for about 15 minutes.
  4. Once the pad or cotton ball absorbs the stains, leave the upholstery to air dry.

If you want to learn how to clean nicotine off wood cabinets, please read our latest in-depth guide.

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