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Keep Your Nails Clean

Edited by Shiza Ahmed, Eulalee, Eng, Ephraim and 10 others

5 Parts:

How to Clean Your Nails

How to Brighten and Whiten Your Nails

Tips, Tricks & Warnings

Questions and Answers

Comments

Most people wash their hands several times a day to get rid of dirt and germs, but how often do you actually clean your fingernails? Dirty nails harbor tons of bacteria, so it's essential to pay extra attention to your nail hygiene and clean them on a regular basis. The extra effort is worth it for your health, and it allows you to show off beautiful, healthy nails.

Contents

1 How to Clean Your Nails
2 How to Brighten and Whiten Your Nails
- 2.1 Baking Soda and Lemon Method
- 2.2 Hydrogen Peroxide Method
3 Tips, Tricks & Warnings
4 Questions and Answers
5 Comments

How to Clean Your Nails

1
The first step to cleaning your nails is to to soak them in warm or tepid water for a few minutes
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The warm water softens the nails, making them easier to clean.

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2
Scrub the nails with a nail brush, paying special attention to the tips
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Use a circular motion on the front nail surfaces and a horizontal motion beneath the tips to remove all traces of dirt and debris. Use a good moisturizing soap to create the foam for the brush.

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3
Get a cuticle oil from the pharmacy or beauty store and use it to moisten the cuticle and its surrounding skin
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This will make it easier to push back the cuticles. It might seem like a painful process but, putting the nails in warm water before applying the cuticle oil makes it totally pain free.
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4
Use a clean cuticle pushing tool to push the cuticles back gently
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The proper tool also adds to making it a pain-free process.

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5
Apply a good moisturizer to the hands and nails to keep them soft
.

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6
Be sure to cut your nails
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Even if you prefer to wear your nails long, it is a good idea to trim them regularly to keep them at the same length. You can trim them straight across or curve the edges.

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7
Get a more finished look by also filing the nails
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This step is especially for women who usually file their nails to achieve the finished look. It is usually recommended that nails are filed in the same direction to prevent breakage.
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8
To keep the nails even, cut them all when you break one of them
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Keeping all of your nails at the same length just looks better.

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9
Simply take a toothpick and place the blunt end underneath the tips of the nails to remove dirt and debris
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It's an easy and painless process. After doing that, place the nails in warm tap water for just a minute to soothe and soften them.
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How to Brighten and Whiten Your Nails

There are a few ways you can brighten the appearance of your fingernails with some common household products. If your nails are discolored or dingy from a previous nail polish application, this technique can restore a clean, fresh appearance without the need for a new coat of polish. Make sure to start with freshly washed hands and scrubbed nails, then follow up with hand cream for the best results.

Baking Soda and Lemon Method

1
Mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda in a container
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2
Apply this mixture to each nail and let it sit for at least 5 minutes
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3
Rinse off the paste thoroughly
.
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4
Buff your nails lightly with a nail buffer to restore shine
.

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Hydrogen Peroxide Method

Hydrogen peroxide helps remove stains on the nails

1
Fill a bowl with warm water mixed with a few drops of liquid hand soap and add about 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
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2
Soak your nails in the solution for at least 5 minutes
.
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3
Rinse your hands well with warm water
.
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4
Buff your nails lightly with a nail buffer to restore shine
.

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Tips, Tricks & Warnings

Nails should be filed in the same direction to prevent breakage.
Remove the dirt under your nails after daily activities.
If you break a nail, cut it off completely and allow it re-grow.
Use the nail pick tool on fingernail clippers to remove dirt and debris from underneath your fingernails when you don't have access to a nail brush. Wash your hands after cleaning them to get rid of dirt and germs.

Questions and Answers

How do you keep your nails clean and healthy so that they grow long faster?

How can I keep my nails cleaner, stronger and healthier, so they can grow longer and even faster?

You can clean your nails using the method listed in the article above as often as needed. For healthier, longer nails, keep your nails clean and moisturized. Use a good hand cream or even olive oil on the clean nail surface to encourage new growth and prevent breakage. Nail hardeners aren't always the best bet for nail health since they can cause brittleness and further breakage. Biotin supplements can help your nails grow faster and thicker, according to researchers at NYU. You must take 2.5 milligrams daily to get this effect. You should also avoid using acetone nail polish remover, since this can strip your nails of natural oils. Apply moisturizer each time you wash your hands, and avoid using rough emery boards which can cause small cracks that lead to breakage. Use a finer file or buffing square. Wear gloves when doing housework, washing dishes or handling chemicals, as well.

How to not damage my nails when using these techniques?

I really don't want to damage them VisiHow QnA. This section is not written yet. Want to join in? Click EDIT to write this answer.

How do I keep my finger nails clean?

Actually my finger nails, I am not able to maintain it properly, how do I keep it clean

If you have trouble keeping your nails clean, it's best to trim them short. Use gloves when you're cleaning, working with chemicals or doing anything that would leave dirt under your fingernails. When you wash your hands, use a nail brush to clean under the nail, and follow up with moisturizer to keep your nails strong.

How to keep them white and bright?

I want them to be white long and pretty.

There are several things that you can use to brighten and whiten your nails, and many of them are items you might already have at home. Whitening toothpaste, especially formulas with baking soda, can be applied to wet nails with an unused toothbrush in a circular motion with light pressure, then rinsed. You can also apply a paste of 1 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide and 2 1/2 tbsp. baking soda to the nail tips and let it sit for 3 minutes before rinsing. You can also substitute lemon juice in place of the peroxide. If you want to keep your nails strong so they'll grow faster, apply hand cream or olive oil to the nail beds after the whitening treatments and every time you wash your hands. Use gloves when washing dishes or cleaning, as well.