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Personal Care and Style
Nail Care
How to Clean Your Fingernails Download ArticleExplore this Article methods 1 Cleaning Your Nails (Quick Clean) 2 Cleaning Your Nails (Deep Clean) Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Marta Nagorska
Last Updated: November 16, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Marta Nagorska. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,356,347 times.
Looking for some creative nail-cleaning tips? Fingernails are like magnets for dirt, grime, and grease. But with a little extra care, you can keep them looking healthy and feeling strong. We're teaching you everything you need to know—so read on and learn how you can keep your nails bright, shiny, and clean!
Things You Should Know
Scrape underneath your fingernails to remove dirt. Soak your fingertips in warm water for 3 minutes and scrub your nails with a nail brush.
Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and warm water in a bowl. Soak your fingertips in the mixture for 20 minutes for squeaky clean nails.
Mix baking soda and peroxide to create a thick paste and spread it on your nails. Wait for the paste to dry and harden, then wash it off to reveal whiter nails.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Cleaning Your Nails (Quick Clean)
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1 Clean dirt from under your nails. Using the tip of the nail pick on a pair of clippers, clean underneath your fingernails to remove dirt and other built-up grime. Do this in the bathroom, under good lighting, so you'll be able to see your nails clearly.
In general, it's easier to clean the dirt from underneath your nails before you wash your hands instead of after. The drier the better.
Avoid using a pencil to clean them out, as the lead may cause them to look dirtier.
Try using a baby wipe or moist hand wipe to clean under your nails. You can push the edge of your wipe under your nail to gently remove anything discoloring your nails.
You can also clean beneath your nails with a manicure brush.[1]X Expert Source Marta NagorskaNail ArtistExpert Interview
2 Wash your hands. Use a mild, natural soap and wash your hands under warm water. You don't need to focus on your nails specifically, just wash your hands.
It's generally better to use mild soap and wash your hands more regularly. Strong, harsh paraben-based soaps will make nails brittle, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers likewise weaken nails. Try a fingernail-specific soap, like OrigiNails Bubble White.
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3 Soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for about three minutes. Submerge the very tips of your fingers, not your whole hands, under the water and let them soften slightly. Make sure the water isn't too lukewarm or scalding hot, but a comfortable temperature somewhere in between.
Soaking nails help to make them softer and more pliable, making it much less likely that you'll chip or break a nail during the cleaning process.[2]X Trustworthy Source American Academy of DermatologyProfessional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
4 Use a nail brush to scrub the tops. After soaking, scrub your nails hard all over, including underneath your nails. When you're finished, pat your hands dry.
If you don't have a brush specifically for cleaning your nails, use a clean toothbrush specifically for the purpose.
5 Remove nail polish, if necessary. Use a strengthening nail polish remover and cotton balls or wipes, and wet them with the polish remover. Scrub your nails firmly to strip the nail polish left on your nails, starting from the cuticle of the nail and working toward the fingertip, not forgetting to do the sides. Survey your nails afterwards for any more nail polish, and remove it if necessary.[3]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
The remover should dry thoroughly by itself, but you can keep a tissue or dry cotton ball nearby to help scrub after applying the wet cotton ball, as well.
6 Wash your hands again. Give your hands another quick rinse and then pat them dry, don't rub them. Rub on some rich hand cream, if you want, or go about the rest of your routine.
Make sure the nails are all completely even and file or clip them if necessary. Finish off the look with a neat coat of clear polish to strengthen the nail.[4]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Cleaning Your Nails (Deep Clean)
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1 Apply baking soda to whiten. Mix a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, using about 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda per tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to create a paste. Spread the paste on and underneath your nails, then rinse and pat dry.
Applied weekly, this mixture helps to keep your nails white and luminescent, especially after having used a darker nail polish.
Alternatively, try using whitening toothpaste in the same way. The active ingredients are essentially the same, if you're not interested in mixing up a batch of the home-made stuff.
2 Moisturize your nails every week. To keep your nails pliable and free of cracks and other problems, it's a good idea to moisturize them regularly with aloe, cocoa butter lotion, or even natural oils like olive or coconut. These natural treatments won't necessarily change the look of your nails, but will help to keep them soft and pliable over the course of the week.[5]X Trustworthy Source American Academy of DermatologyProfessional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
3 Treat yellow nails with lemon juice or tea tree oil. If you have yellowish nails, it can be the result of either smoking, stain from polish, or a fungal infection, which can be difficult to treat and get rid of. Tea tree oil, however, is a natural fungicide with antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, while lemon juice or lemon essential oil has citric acid which helps to whiten nails back to their original luster.
If you have yellow nails, try using an eye dropper to drop a small amount of tea tree oil onto each of your nails and let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse. Apply lemon juice in the same way, rinse, and clean your hands normally.
4 Use denture-cleaning solution on your nails. While it might sound strange, tablets used to make denture-cleaning solutions are high in citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which can be used to clean, whiten, and otherwise improve the look of your nails. Instead of soaking false teeth, soak your fingernails.
5 Try apple-cider vinegar. Apple-cider vinegar is rich in malic and acetic acids, which have cleansing and anti-fungal properties which can help to whiten nails and keep them from infection and discoloration. Dilute vinegar with an equal part of clean water and soak nails for up to 20 minutes.
6 Use supplements to strengthen nails. There are a lot of misconceptions about natural remedies for strengthening your nails. Biotin may strengthen nails.[6]X Trustworthy Source Cleveland ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Most home remedies like applying garlic or eating more protein, will not help your nails to grow faster or stronger.
7 Give yourself periodic vacations from polish. If you regularly wear nail polish, you can stain and weaken your nails in the long-term, even if you thoroughly clean them between applications. It's a good idea to let the nails build back up some strength and healthy color about once a year or so, keeping polish off them for a month or two.[7]X Trustworthy Source Mayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Instead of applying polish, use the chance to really pamper your nails, applying coats of homemade cleansers and whiteners to get your nails looking good again.
It's also important to always clear-coat your nails before adding colored polish to keep them from staining as easily as they might otherwise.
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Expert Q&A
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Question How do I get rid of the dirt underneath my nails? Marta Nagorska Nail Artist Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition. Marta Nagorska Nail Artist Expert Answer A manicure brush is a great tool to clean the underside of your nails, especially after the debris softens during a shower or bath. Alternatively, you can use a wet wipe wrapped a manicure stick or an eyelash spoolie to clean beneath your nails. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 18
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Tips
Do not let your nails get excessive exposure to water/chemicals; such as cleaning supplies. Thanks Helpful 30 Not Helpful 23
Protect your nails. If you paint them with a proper color, make sure to sandwich the layers between a coat of clear polish. Re-apply the clear polish every other day, and wear gloves when doing jobs such as cleaning. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 18
To grow nails longer, apply one coat of clear nail polish over the manicure each day for 5-7 days. Paint over the edge of the nail to protect the tips. Remove and clean as described in this article. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 19
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Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
If you bite your nails and want to stop, it may be helpful to replace the biting habit with an oiling one. Buy some cuticle oil and keep it with you in an easy place to reach—whenever you want to bite, apply cuticle oil instead, rubbing it into your nails, cuticles, and surrounding skin for at least a minute (rather than biting). It'll replace the biting habit, make your cuticles healthy, and help get rid of painful hangnails!
It is very helpful to clean under your nails by using soap. Once your hands are clean, put soap on them. Then, start rubbing the tip of your nails on the soap, which leads to the soap getting underneath. After that, wash your hands normally and try to get in as much water as you can into your nails to clean them.
You can use a toothpick to clean out the dirt under your nails. Try not to prod too deeply beneath the nail, though!
Always protect your nails from harmful chemicals. For example, wear gloves when cleaning or washing dishes.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Be careful with cutting and cleaning your nails. Don't cut them right back to the quick so that they're sore and bleed, and don't stab the nail cleaner right into the flesh. Be careful. Thanks Helpful 95 Not Helpful 28
Nail polish can get a bit sticky at times. Practice painting your nails, and paint them on a rag. If you're terrible at it, get a friend to do them for you. Thanks Helpful 61 Not Helpful 32
When smoothing, and cutting back cuticles, take care in not jabbing your skin, as it will hurt and look different than the rest. Thanks Helpful 55 Not Helpful 36
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Co-authored by: Marta Nagorska Nail Artist This article was co-authored by Marta Nagorska. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition. This article has been viewed 1,356,347 times. 61 votes - 85% Co-authors: 81Updated: November 16, 2025 Views: 1,356,347 Categories: Nail CareArticle SummaryX
To clean your fingernails, first wash your hands with soap and water. Then, soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for 3 minutes to soften them. Use a clean toothbrush to gently scrub the tops of your nails and underneath them. You can also use a nail pick to carefully clean out underneath your nails. To whiten your nails, mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and spread the paste over your nails. Leave it on for 3 minutes, then rinse it off. Finally, pat your nails dry and moisturize your hands with lotion, focusing on the skin around your nails. If you want to learn how to remove discoloration or moisturize your fingernails, keep reading the article!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Chris
Jun 19, 2016
"Great article. I've been polishing brass on a boat using vinegar and Brasso, my nails looked like my hand was decomposing. Dark dirty green way up under the nails.The peroxide-baking soda mixture cleaned them up with a little effort and less trauma than digging out the dirt with a pick."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Marta Nagorska Nail Artist Co-authors: 81Updated: November 16, 2025 Views: 1,356,34785% of readers found this article helpful. 61 votes - 85% Click a star to add your vote
Chris
Jun 19, 2016
"Great article. I've been polishing brass on a boat using vinegar and Brasso, my nails looked like my hand was decomposing. Dark dirty green way up under the nails.The peroxide-baking soda mixture cleaned them up with a little effort and less trauma than digging out the dirt with a pick."..." more
Anonymous
Apr 30, 2017
"My nails always have dirt underneath them and I hate it. It's so annoying and disgusting. After browsing on the internet for a solution, I found this article and it helped so much! My nails are now dirt-free and they look so healthy and clean. Thank you so much, wikiHow!"..." more Rated this article:
Anonymous
Jan 2, 2018
"I have always had the most beautiful and long nails. My friends were always jealous, but theirs don't grow and mine started breaking. So using this now their nails grow and after taking a break from polish, they started growing normally again! Thank you!"..." more
Nancy Lanre
Mar 2, 2017
"I fix artificial nails because my natural nails are short and too soft. I have learned ways of making my natural nails healthier and longer. I am hopeful that I won't need to go artificial again. Thanks."..." more
Anonymous
Oct 20, 2017
"Using the toothbrush to clean my nails was an excellent idea. They looked very shiny and clean. Using toothpaste on the toothbrush is another good idea."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Cleaning Your Nails (Quick Clean) 2 Cleaning Your Nails (Deep Clean) Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Marta Nagorska 
How to Clean Gel Nails at Home 
How toSoften Cuticles 
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Co-authored by: Marta Nagorska Nail Artist This article was co-authored by Marta Nagorska. Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition. This article has been viewed 1,356,347 times. 61 votes - 85% Co-authors: 81 Updated: November 16, 2025 Views: 1,356,347 Categories: Nail Care Article SummaryX
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1 Clean dirt from under your nails. Using the tip of the nail pick on a pair of clippers, clean underneath your fingernails to remove dirt and other built-up grime. Do this in the bathroom, under good lighting, so you'll be able to see your nails clearly. 
2 Wash your hands. Use a mild, natural soap and wash your hands under warm water. You don't need to focus on your nails specifically, just wash your hands. 
3 Soak your nails in a bowl of warm, soapy water for about three minutes. Submerge the very tips of your fingers, not your whole hands, under the water and let them soften slightly. Make sure the water isn't too lukewarm or scalding hot, but a comfortable temperature somewhere in between. 
4 Use a nail brush to scrub the tops. After soaking, scrub your nails hard all over, including underneath your nails. When you're finished, pat your hands dry. 
5 Remove nail polish, if necessary. Use a strengthening nail polish remover and cotton balls or wipes, and wet them with the polish remover. Scrub your nails firmly to strip the nail polish left on your nails, starting from the cuticle of the nail and working toward the fingertip, not forgetting to do the sides. Survey your nails afterwards for any more nail polish, and remove it if necessary.[3] 
6 Wash your hands again. Give your hands another quick rinse and then pat them dry, don't rub them. Rub on some rich hand cream, if you want, or go about the rest of your routine. 
4 Use denture-cleaning solution on your nails. While it might sound strange, tablets used to make denture-cleaning solutions are high in citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which can be used to clean, whiten, and otherwise improve the look of your nails. Instead of soaking false teeth, soak your fingernails. 
6 Use supplements to strengthen nails. There are a lot of misconceptions about natural remedies for strengthening your nails. Biotin may strengthen nails.[6] 
7 Give yourself periodic vacations from polish. If you regularly wear nail polish, you can stain and weaken your nails in the long-term, even if you thoroughly clean them between applications. It's a good idea to let the nails build back up some strength and healthy color about once a year or so, keeping polish off them for a month or two.[7] 
Marta Nagorska Nail Artist Marta Nagorska is a Nail Technician and Nail Art Blogger based in London, UK. She runs the blog, Furious Filer, where she gives tutorials on nail care and advanced nail art. She has been practicing nail art for over 5 years and graduated from Northampton College with distinction with a Nail Technician and Manicurist degree in 2017. She has been awarded the top spot in the OPI Nail Art Competition. 
