During fall, fresh walnuts are in season and those who love to eat them should learn ways on how to remove walnut stains from hands. Walnuts, especially the fresh ones have liquid in its green shell or exterior that can stain clothes and other objects it comes in contact with. Since these stains can be bothersome, it is vital to learn ways on how to remove walnut stains from hands and other objects. Read more about these effective removal techniques.
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How to get walnut stains off your fingers and hands
A way to get black walnut stains off your hands is with lemon. Pour some lemon juice on your hands and fingers, and rub them against each other for a couple of minutes. The acid in the lemon will remove the walnut stains. Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
A close look at the walnut tree
Walnut is considered highly beneficial in various ways with its nutritional value. The walnut tree is an aromatic, single-pinnate type of tree with leaves that face one another and belongs to the Juglandaceae family.
The tree sheds during the winter and produces fruit at the end of the summer and the start of the fall season. Within the maturing, sappy fruit which has large seeds holds the seed which is divided into two parts.
While this fresh fruit is picked and eaten, it is also broken and mashed. Due to this, once the exterior shell is broken, the sap is ejected and the leaves can stain on hands, clothes and other objects it comes in contact with.
Those who are involved in the harvesting or you simply picked one up in your garden during the fall can end up with brownish stains for days that blacken and dry on the hands. The main point to remember is to immediately wash the area with the stain when eating fresh walnuts. Just like with other stubborn stains, the stain from a fresh walnut is difficult to remove once it has fully dried.
Methods on how to remove walnut stains on hands
Although the best way to avoid getting stains is to steer clear from walnut trees, there are instances where you might end up with one. 4 great ways to remove walnut stains from your hands is Vinegar, Lemon, Toothpaste, and Dish detergent and baking soda.
Let us now take a close look at effective techniques on how to remove walnut stains on hands.
- Vinegar. Pour 2 spoons of vinegar into a glass and stir and place your hands into this mixture and wait for a while to help remove the stains. The next step is to wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Another alternative is to apply vinegar on cotton and directly rub on your hands.
- Lemon. Start the process by squeezing a generous amount of fruit’s liquid onto your hands. You can utilize liquid from a fresh lemon or bottled lemon juice. Sprinkle salt onto your hands, around up to 2 tablespoons in amount. Rub your hands together vigorously and continue until the stain is removed. The combination of the acid and salt will get rid of the stain but it will not damage your skin.
- Toothpaste. You can also rub toothpaste on your skin if the lemon juice and salt treatment are not effective. Simply utilize an old toothbrush to scrub the toothpaste in small, circular motions. Continue doing this until the stain steadily disappears. Any brand of toothpaste can be used but it is recommended to use one that contains baking soda.
- Dish detergent and baking soda. Combine a tablespoon of baking soda with a ¼ cup of dish cleanser in a bowl. With an old toothbrush, apply the mixture on your hands. Brush using circular motions until the stain starts to fade.
Do not forget to thoroughly wash and moisturize your hands after using any of these methods to remove walnut stains from the hands. The rubbing motion and exposure to the products used can dry out the skin and might even chafe it. Washing your hands can eliminate any leftover cleaning substances and applying a moisturizing lotion can protect the skin against irritation.
It is a good idea with a good hand lotion for dry hands after dealing with stains on hands: Check our top 20 list.
Video: How to remove Walnut stains from hands
Walnuts include a chemical specifically juglone that provides its hull with its distinctive black color. It is important to note that juglone produces a brownish to blackish, colorfast dye that is resistant to ultraviolet fading, making it the ideal choice as an outdoor wood stain.
Since it produces a strong stain, it is vital to utilize the necessary techniques right away to get rid of the stain effectively once your hands are exposed.
Sadly, it is not possible to completely protect clothes against fresh walnut stains. Luckily, some methods can tackle these stains.
The first method is to rinse your clothes in cold water. Add 2-3 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid on the stains followed by 4 drops of vinegar. Rub thoroughly the stained area. Once you have cleaned the area thoroughly, place a paper towel on the stain and wait for 5-10 minutes.
As the last step, rinse the stained area properly, preferably under running water until the stains are completely gone.
Hydrogen peroxide can also be used. Simply dampen the site of the stain and wait for a while. Make sure that the fabric will not be damaged. Detergents that contain bleaching agents can also be used on fresh walnut stains. Combine a teaspoon of bleach agent with one spoonful of water and apply it on the site of the stain. Wipe the site with a clean cloth that has been soaked in water that contains vinegar. Rinse thoroughly with running water.
If you have gathered walnuts off the ground or touched walnut wood during woodworking tasks, you might notice a yellowish stain on your hands. When handling fresh walnuts, the thick, green, corrosive outer coat which is called the epicarp is responsible for causing stains on your hands.
If your hands are not protected, the stain will adhere to the skin. It is considered as a stubborn stain to deal with and can last for days especially if left to dry. Over time, it will wear off on its own, but you do not want to wait that long. Although water and soap will not solve this issue, several techniques can remove the stain in no time.
Final thoughts
When dealing with walnut stains, the initial move is to quickly wash the area. If left to dry, this type of stain can be stubborn and difficult to remove. With the help of the cleaning techniques discussed above, it can help in getting rid of walnut stains from hands in no time.
