How to Clean Yellowed Fingernails

Yellowing nails are caused by using a dark nail color directly on fingernails. It's easy to avoid by using just a simple base coat of clear polish. Buy one that's specifically made to be a base for the best protection. If your nails are already yellow, try the following homemade remedies to get them back in the pink again.

Things You'll Need

• Lemon, small bowl and warm water (for the first rememdy)
• Cotton-tipped swabs and hydrogen peroxide (for the second remedy)

Instructions

1. Choose the remedy according to what you already have on hand. To use the lemon remedy, fill a small bowl up with warm water. Cut the lemon and squeeze the juice into a small bowl.

2. Soak your nails in the lemon water for about five minutes. Do this twice a day until the yellowing is gone. How many times you need to do this will depend on how stained your nails are and how long they've been discolored.

3. Try the hydrogen peroxide if the lemon didn't do the trick or if you have peroxide (and not lemons) on hand. Dip the cotton swab into the peroxide, making sure to press out the excess before you use it.

4. Rub on fingernails carefully avoiding the cuticles. Use this up to twice a day until the nail is back to normal.