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How to Remove Easter Egg Dye From Your Hands: The Kitchen Staples That Work Fast

Plus, a genius way to dye them sans the mess! 

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With Easter right around the corner, there’s a good chance coloring eggs is on your agenda. But when the fun is over, getting that pesky dye off everyone’s hands will undoubtedly be an issue. So, why not be prepared for the inevitable? We asked experts how to remove egg dye from hands using things you most likely already have…on hand! Keep scrolling for the easy solutions.

How to remove egg dye from hands: 3 easy hacks

Chances are if you’re reading this, washing up with soap and water didn’t do the trick. before trying any other methods, Nichole Siciliano from Dudley’s Easter, an Easter egg dye kit company recommends soaking your hands in a mixture of warm water and several drops of soap for a minute or two the help soak the dye off. If that doesn’t help, read on for more methods:

1. A sugar scrub

Noell Jett, mom of 5, author of Create Your Dream Home on a Budge, and the force behind @jettsetfarmhouse recommends using A DIY sugar scrub simply mix 1 cup of brown sugar (white can be used as well), 2-3 tablespoons olive oil and the essential oil of choice (optional for a pleasant scent). Then, scrub the mixture on hands, add soap then lather then rinse!

The abrasive sugar granules will help scrape off any stubborn pigment on the skin so it rinses off with ease and the oil will leave your skin feeling nice and smooth after. 

2. Baking soda and white vinegar

How to remove egg dye from hands: Using baking soda Sodium bicarbonate and white vinegar for home cleaning. White vinegar in spray bottle and baking soda in glass jar.
Helin Loik-Tomson/Getty

Another great idea is to combine baking soda and vinegar. Start by rinsing your hands in water. Rub your hands together and rinse until most of the Easter egg dye stops coming off. You can use a washcloth to speed up the process. Then, put vinegar in a bowl and soak a clean washcloth in it.  Remove the washcloth and use it to scrub your hands. You may need to rinse and repeat several times. The acid in vinegar will help break down the enzymes in the stains, ensuring that they are easy to wash away.

If the stain is still there, add baking soda (a gentle abrasive that can help lift the stains) to the mix. Place a small amount on your hands and rub them together. If this doesn’t take care of the remaining stains, you can try alternating the vinegar and baking soda steps or mixing them together on your hands and scrubbing. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly between steps. 

Related: Why You Should Never Scrub Paint Off Your Skin and What To Do Instead

3. Toothpaste

Another method that will work wonders is toothpaste, according to Sara McDaniel, an interior designer, home renovation expert and owner of Simply Southern Cottage. Simply massage a bit of non-gel toothpaste onto the stained skin until the pigment disappears, then wash away with warm water. The micro scrubbers in the paste will leave your skin free of colored dye. 

Related: 15 Brilliant Uses for Toothpaste That Have Nothing To Do with Cleaning Your Teeth

How to remove Easter egg dye from your table

Argh! Even if your hands remained dye free, you just realized the color got all over your table! Of course, it’s best to cover your table with a plastic tablecloth before you start dyeing eggs, but if you skipped this step, there are a few things you can try to remove the stains.

Experts agree that before you try any product on your table make sure you check to see if the cleaner or product you’re using is safe for the surface by testing it out on a small undetectable area.

1. Vinegar and water

If your egg dye soaked onto your table, the vinegar mixture you used for your hands can help remove the stains on your table as well. “Start with a cloth dipped in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water,” advises Jett. “And then wipe the table clean.” The vinegar will break down the stains, and leave your table looking as clean as ever. Just make sure not to scrub too hard, as it might ruin the finish on your table.

2. Baking soda and water

You can also try mixing 1 Tbs. of baking soda and 1 tsp. of water until it forms a thin paste. Apply it to the stain and rub gently with a soft cloth until the dye disappears. The rough texture of the paste will help remove the stains from your table, without damaging it.

How to get Easter egg dye off counters

How to remove egg dye from hands:Shot of a young woman cleaning a kitchen counter at home
LaylaBird/Getty

Kitchen counters are meant to take quite a beating, so they can usually stand up to most food and liquids. It typically takes only a sponge with a spray cleaner or kitchen wipes to mop up a mess — unless it’s Easter egg dye spilled all over the counter. In this case, just grab a few towels and wash as much of the dye off of the counters as you can. If dry or wet towels don’t get the job done, you can try using the vinegar and water method above.

You can also try the toothpaste method. Just use a small amount and gently scrub with a toothbrush. This should be safe for most countertops, but it’s always best to start with a small area and test it.

How to dye eggs without getting dye on hands or counters

How to remove egg dye from hands: a whisk

Want to avoid the mess all together? Try this genius method!  Simply place the egg inside a wire whisk and dip it into the plastic cup filled with dye. The whisk holds the egg keeping the mess and drips contained to the cup. And to remove the dye from the whisk, just wash it as you normally would.

How to make your own Easter egg dye

No need to shell out for store-bought dye when it’s a cinch to make your own, using items you already have at home. “Simply combine ½ cup of boiling water, 1 tsp. of white vinegar and 15 drops of food coloring.” says, celebrity party planner Marley Majcher.

No food coloring? No problem. “One teaspoon of turmeric will create a warm, yellow hue, while beet juice turns eggs a lovely purple,” she assures.

Related: 4 Fun New Ways to Dye Easter Eggs, Plus How to Make Your Own Natural Dye


For more stain removal tips click through the links below!

How to Remove Super Glue From Any Surface + the Freezer Hack That Works in Minutes

How to Remove Chocolate Stains From Every Surface in Your Home

How to Remove Toothpaste Stains From Clothes: Laundry Experts’ Fast Fixes

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