How to Get Rid of Yellow Stained Nails

Your nails may become yellow stained for many reasons. The most common causes of yellow stained nails are nicotine and nail polish. Nicotine is absorbed into the nail plate while smoking, and using dark pigmented nail polishes can leave a yellow stain behind if a quality nail base coat isn't used prior to polishing your nails, according to Cosmopolitan Magazine. Now that you know what caused those yellow stains, consider a few different nail treatments that will help to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

• Nail buffer
• Water
• Bowl
• 100 percent acetone nail polish remover
• Cotton balls
• Lemon essential oil
• Liquid hand soap
• Denture cleaner tablets
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Lemons
• Baking soda
• 3 percent hydrogen peroxide

Instructions

1. Use a nail buffer to buff your nails. This will remove any yellow stains from the surface of your nails.

2. Wet a cotton ball with the nail polish remover, and gently scrub your nails. Fill a bowl with warm water, and add about 5 drops of lemon essential oil to the water. Soak your nails in the water for about 10 minutes. Repeat this treatment daily until yellow stains are gone.

3. Add about 3 drops of liquid hand soap to a bowl of warm water. Soak your nails in the soapy water for about 10 minutes. Repeat this treatment up to 4 times daily until yellow stains are gone.

4. Drop a tablet of denture cleaner into a bowl of hot water, and allow it to dissolve. Once the mixture has cooled down, soak your nails in the bowl for about 10 minutes. Repeat this treatment up to 3 times daily until yellow stains are gone.

5. Apply a small drop of toothpaste to an old toothbrush. Use the toothbrush to gently scrub your nails for about 5 minutes. Rinse your nails with warm water to remove the toothpaste. Repeat this treatment up to 2 times daily until yellow stains are gone.

6. Add 1 tbsp. of fresh squeezed lemon juice to a bowl of warm water. Soak your nails in the lemon water for about 10 minutes. Cut a slice of lemon, and gently rub it on your nails. Repeat this treatment daily until yellow stains are gone.

7. Mix 3 tbsp. baking soda with 1 tbsp. 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Use an old toothbrush to apply the mixture to your nails. Gently massage the mixture into your nails, and allow it to penetrate the nails for about 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse your nails with warm water to remove the mixture. Repeat this treatment up to 2 times daily until yellow stains are gone.

Tips & Warnings

• Gently massage a small amount of nail and cuticle cream into your nails to soften your nails after each treatment.

References

• Woman Junction: Nail Whitening
• Cosmopolitan: Nix Yellow Nails