Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

We have a homemade playdoh project gone awry.

I must be an idiot for not testing this in advance, but the food coloring package said just wash hands to remove, so I figured it would come off easily rather like finger paints. Well guess what? After numerous washings and an attempt at soaking hands, DS still has green hands as do I. I tried wipes as well and baby oil, but nothing is getting rid of this stuff.

Also a PSA for homemade playdoh--skip the food coloring!

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

Sorry, but maybe he can be the incredible hulk for halloween?
Just keep washing his, and your, hands with soap and water. Maybe even try dish soap? Eventually it will come off!

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

I did think he could be Frankenstein, but it probably will be gone by Halloween--I hope!

I looked online and shaving cream and lemon juice were both recommended. Just tried the shaving cream and there isn't much difference. I'm thinking of trying the lemon juice next.

I had no idea the stuff would stain so badly. Never again!

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

I know as a teenager we used lemon juice in our hair to make it lighter! It can't hurt

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

from ehow.com:

step 1
Rinse hands with warm water.

Step 2
Scrub hands generously with baking soda or toothpaste.

Step 3
Massage gently for 2-3 minutes or until all the food coloring is gone.

Step 4
Rinse again with warm water...and you're done!

If you used toothpaste your hands will now smell minty fresh!

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

Thank you!

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

And for future reference, the winner is:

baking soda! Many thanks to Jess for the recommendation!

I used this on DSs hands, and it didn't remove every speck, but 90% of the dye is gone now which is great. He no longer looks like the Hulk or Frankenstein!

What a mess--I figured we would spend the late morning making playdoh and using it--well, we didn't use it much, but we did spend a good chunk of the morning and early afternoon removing the dye! So it was still an activity of sorts...

Message edited 10/28/2009 2:27:43 PM.

Re: Help Needed: Removing Food Coloring from Skin

so glad it helped!